Ekka-winning photographer, 79, prefers snapping birds to people

The 79-year-old winner of the 2022 Ekka senior photography competition category says he tries to avoid taking photos of people “if I can help it”. GALLERY: BEST OF EKKA PHOTO COMP

The secret to a good photograph is anticipation, according to one of this year’s Ekka photography competition winners, John Cupper.

Mr Cupper, who will turn 80 in November, won this year’s seniors category for his snap of two kookaburras out the back of his Bribie Island property.

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“The baby was screaming, and I could see the mum had food, so I knew what was about to happen and thought I better start clicking,” he said.

Mr Cupper came to photography late in life, buying his first digital camera before a holiday cruise 10 years ago.

John Cupper’s 2022 RNA Photography Competition entry of two feeding kookaburras, called Inflight Refuelling, which won the category of Champion & Colour or Monochrome Digital Image – Any subject – Open to Senior Citizens Only. Picture: John Cupper

When he returned home, he joined the local photography club.

“They have a competition every month and I started to get competitive,” he said.

“It’s a disease, it’s never stopped.

“Birds are my thing, what I spend most of my time doing.

“I try to avoid taking photos of people if I can help it.”

This was the first year Mr Cupper entered the Ekka but it was not the first win for his photo, which took home an Australian Photographic Society prize earlier this year.

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The Ekka competition received more than 700 digital photo entries, from seniors to schoolchildren.

Judge Richard Bassett said he was impressed by many of the entries, some shot on smartphone cameras.

The seven judges looked for composition, technical skill and the story told by the pictures.

“When you’re flipping through pages, we want something that makes you stop, and that you can get something from that photo,” Mr Bassett said.

The Ekka kicks off in Brisbane from August 6.