A talented teenager from the Far South Coast has combined her love for wildlife and photography and won a top photography award.
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Dalmeny's Tess Poyner is the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year's junior winner, with her picture of a dainty green tree frog.
Ms Poyner took the photograph of the frog while on holiday in Queensland's Daintree Rainforest, using a torch and camera.
"It literally looked so perfect. It was sitting on that moss rock looking at me, and a little after the photo it jumped onto my face," she laughed.
"I liked the idea that it was already perfect and I didn't manipulate it at all."
Ms Poyner, 18, said she has been taking snaps since she was a toddler and has always wanted to place in the Nature Photographer awards.
She has been entering the competition for several years, in fact the first year she entered she was runner up while her sister won the junior category.
"It is very exciting, we are very competitive," Ms Poyner laughed.
While being named winner does come with a cash prize, Ms Poyner is more interested in the award itself.
"I'm more excited by the title, being able to say that - it's pretty special," she said.
"I've been a finalist for a few years in a row and even that is pretty exciting because the photographers in it are really amazing."
The judges' comments for her photograph state: "Close, intense eye contact draws the viewer into this image. A striking, simple composition demonstrates the photographer's skill in photographing with flash."
Ms Poyner finishes school this year and has plans to go to university for a degree in science or ecology, but first she wants to take a gap year and focus on her passions.
"Fingers crossed, I hope to travel Australia and look for wildlife and continue to share my photos online to educate people," she said.
"Especially animals most people fear or have a bad reputation, like reptiles.
"I just like educating people."
To see more of Ms Poyner's wildlife photography visit her Instagram page by clicking here.
Albert McKnight
Journalist at Bega District News.
Journalist at Bega District News.
