Award stuns Deborah
A decision to pursue a love of photography is paying off for a Warragul mother who recently won the prestigious AIPP Victorian Student Photographer of the Year.
After jugging an administration job with being a single mum, Deborah Brown took a gamble and is now just months away from completing a three-and-a-half year photography degree at Melbourne Polytechnic.
Deborah said winning the student of the year was still surreal.
She entered three photographs in the Australian Institute of Professional Photographers (AIPP) Awards.
With student entries judged alongside those of professional photographers, her entries gained one gold, one silver distinction and one silver award with scores of 90, 86 and 82.
The awards attracted entries from nine photography schools in Victoria with Deborah judged the best overall.
She is now in the running for the AIPP National Student Photographer of the Year Award.
“I couldn’t believe it at first, I was quite shocked,” said Deborah.
“It’s very exciting and I’m very honoured to win considering the amount of student entries.”
Her highest scoring image came from simply mucking about with a camera at home. A few strawberries and leaves off a tree in the backyard were featured.
Another was inspired by an assignment and the third by old pegs discovered at home.
Deborah studied photography at school – amongst the first girls to transition from Warragul High School to Warragul Technical School in year nine in order to do so.
“I didn’t go on with it, which I really kick myself for,” she admits.
However, after entering and winning a few local competitions, including the Gazette’s annual Readers’ Photography Competition, Deborah gained confidence to enter photography studies as a mature student.
A single mum of three children aged 10, 12 and 21, Deborah currently travels to the city twice a week.
With her style continually developing, Deborah’s talent has already been noticed and casual work in commercial photography secured.
“I feel like I’m exactly where I need to be,” she said.
“It’s very satisfying to know I can go somewhere with it. It’s a huge confidence boost actually.
“If you do what you love, it’s not a chore, it’s not work.”