Capturing the elements
Natural gas workers across Australia share images of natural wonder for the nationwide In.Site Photographic Awards, presented by APPEA and Brighter.
To celebrate the diverse landscapes of our unique country, employees of the natural gas industry were invited to take part in a photographic competition hosted by the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) through its community engagement initiative, Brighter. “The Australian natural gas industry operates in many of the most secluded and picturesque areas,” says APPEA’s chief executive, Andrew McConville. “The idea behind the In.Site photographic competition was to showcase Australia’s beautiful landscapes, towns and people through the creative talents of workers in our industry.” The winning image, Pipes in Space (opposite), captured in Western Queensland by Phil Woodhouse, health and safety manager from Spiecapag, demonstrates the unexpected beauty of working at night on a pipeline site. APPEA donated $10 to the Royal Flying Doctor Service, a vital regional lifeline, for every entry received in the competition. “The natural gas industry has sites all over the country, often in rural and regional areas, so the broader Australian community may not know what it’s like to work in the sector,” says McConville. “This competition has allowed the industry’s workers to reveal what they see every day and the large number of entries show how proud they are of their workplaces. Hopefully, this gives people a better sense of how much care and respect our industry has for the world around us.”