ROOKIE photographer Ashleigh Gersbach, 24, is set to learn from the best, thanks to her winning entry in the Western Advocate’s photo competition.
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The competition asked for four photos of any subject that tell a story, with the winner to shadow Advocate photographer Zenio Lapka at the Bathurst 1000.
A veteran photographer of more than 30 years, Mr Lapka said he was looking not just for great photos, but ones that told a story.
In Gersbach’s application she wrote, “I know my images probably aren’t what you are looking for. I haven’t had a whole lot of opportunity to photograph motor sport as much as I would like”.
It was this honesty, her potential for improvement and the stories her photographs told that caught Mr Lapka’s eye.
Her series of four photos depicted the action at a small cars club meet at a quarry, one of the Rockley Rodeo and the another showing a taxi zipping along the road.
Mr Lapka said her car photo showed great technique of capturing action, the bull was action “at its peak”, and the taxi photo showed an understanding of technique and shutter speeds.
A very excited Miss Gersbach dropped into the Advocate office yesterday and was still surprised she won the competition.
“I didn’t even think that winning was an option for me,” she said.
The amateur photographer is mid-way through a two-year correspondence photography course and said she hopes to make a living from her photos one day.
“I tried to choose photos that captured the moment, and ones that told a story,” she said of her entries.
Overall, entries in the competition were of a very high standard according to Mr Lapka, but he said he was looking for something “out of the box”.
“I always work on the assumption that if something catches my attention I come back to it,” Mr Lapka said of Miss Gersbach’s photos.
“She has the vision but not the opportunity and this is why I chose her.
“She’ll get to photograph the racing and the action on track from places where the general public don’t go.
“Ashleigh will also get to photograph off-track action and the personalities.”
The Manildra born woman only moved to Bathurst four years ago, and the avid motor sport fan said she has been to the Bathurst 1000 for many years.
“I’m looking forward to the excitement and the crowds and knowing everyone gets revved up for it,” she said.
Miss Gersbach also scored a $100 voucher to use at the Harvey Norman Photo Centre in her prize package.
