Snapper’s journey to big State win

A local photographer has been recognised on a State level for capturing the natural beauty of the Kimberley.

Mat Beetson was named Western Australian Nature Professional Photographer of the Year at the 2019 WA AIPP Epson State Awards.

The nature category involved a single image true in its representation, with only colour, tones and cropping allowed as adjustments.

“Having recognition as a category winner alongside some of the best names in Australian photography is still just sinking in,” Beetson said.

“It is a huge honour and something I’m really proud of.”

Beetson said he’d had a keen interest in photography since receiving a camera from his aunt when he was 14 years old, eventually progressing to an interest in nature photography.

“It led to a career with companies such as Fujifilm and Canon that lasted 20 years before I left it behind for a sea change to Broome,” he said.

“I have always had a keen interest in wildlife and in particular the natural landscape, having travelled around this beautiful State extensively.

“It was an easy progression to photographing our natural environment.”

Beetson found his muse when he moved to Broome eight years ago, although he did not start tak-ing photos of the Kimberley landscape until 12 months later, des-pite working with cameras every day.

“Photography has been a huge part of my life and when you live in a town and region as beautiful as Broome and the Kimberley, it is hard not to get the camera out and photograph it,” he said.

“WA has some of the best sights to photograph by far, but Broome and the Kimberley is just something else.

“The landscape up here is so vibrant with colour and life and when you see it from the air, Mother Nature turns it on to another level.

“The great thing about photographing this region is the whole experience. The journey to some of the amazing places here is often the best part.

“Right on the doorstep of Broome is some of the most spectacular scenery anyone could hope to photograph.”

Beetson said he hoped to have more adventures around “this beautiful part of the world” before hopefully impressing on the national stage at the AIPP Australian Photography Awards in August.

“It’s always a nerve-racking time but something that is so worthwhile,” he said.

“The awards are a great way to continuously challenge yourself to improve your photography, but getting out there and being on the journey is by far the best part.”