1. The Penola Pennant, James Murphy, "Frontrunners on Front Foot"

Sports photography can't always be perfectly framed due to its run-and-gun nature and lack of expensive-big-lens availability at local level. Murphy's capture of North Gambier's Penny Coleman marking above the pack in the rapidly growing sport of womens football illustrates the importance of seeing the image within the image. What was an ordinary picture due to ordinary camera gear has been cropped into a dramatic front page for the Pennant's sports section. The woman's face is clearly visible and full of concentration, the ball is falling into her outstretched hands and the action abounds, showing what skilled camerawork and smart photo editing can achieve for a newspaper.

2. The Transcontinental, Phil Williams, "A Bucking Great Time"

The ferocity, danger and pain of bronco riding are spectacularly illustrated in Phil Williams' frightening image of a man thrown from his ride at the Carrieton Rodeo. It's a terrific action capture which could only have been better were the subject isolated by using a wider aperture to blur the background. The printed version appeared unsharp but the supplied JPEG looked in focus. (Judge's note: That's a bucking great headline, too!)

3. Yorke Peninsula Country Times, Rod Penna, "Come on Cowie"

A solid sports portrait by Penna who continues to create fine images with off-camera flash. In this case the flash might have created more dramatic sidelight if placed somewhat further left of camera to wash across the subject's face. This would have also decreased the brightness of the ungloved hand which could have been dodged a little in post production. Also, an unwritten rule for sports portraiture: Grinners are Winners, otherwise scowl!

(Commendation: The Plains Producer, Lisa Schulz, "Game on!")

Great to see another of our Country Press shooters using off-camera flash in a sports portrait. In this picture of two netballers, Schulz gave herself a difficult task by using a single flash to light the two faces which did lead to some uneven shadow spread. If the flash were a bit higher and angled down then the nose shadows would have been a little more Rembrandtesque and if the faces were closer to the same plane relative to the light source the lighting would have been a little more even. The resultant image nonetheless evoked drama for the coming season and is exactly the style and technique we need to see in sports portraiture.