Gold Coast photographer nabs gold with cheeky stick insect photo

A GOLD COAST photographer has cracked the finals in a prestigious photography competition with a raunchy photo — of a stick insect. But how?

Gold Coast photographer Sheryn Ellis was named a finalist in the Pet Category for the second year at Monday’s AIPP. For a risque photo of a stick insect. Scroll down to see why its so raunchy. Picture: Sheryn Ellis

A GOLD COAST photographer has cracked the finals in a prestigious photography competition with a raunchy photo — of a stick insect.

Perched on a woman’s bottom, the stick insect stands there as if ‘triumphant.’

The cheeky photo, taken by Sheryn Ellis, took out a gold award in the pet category at the recent Australian Institute of Professional Photography.

Gold Coast photographer Sheryn Ellis received a gold award for her unusual picture of a stick insect. Picture: Sheryn Ellis

Hundreds of Queensland photographers submitted their work in the hopes of winning an award.

It is the second time Ms Ellis has been a finalist.

Ms Ellis said she took a huge risk with her quirky images but was “thrilled” judges found them humorous.

A Gold Coast photographer has cracked the finals in a prestigious photography competition with a raunchy photo — of a stick insect on a woman's bottom. Some of her other work. Picture: Sheryn Ellis

“The highlight of the awards was watching the judges examine my image and then have a good chuckle once realisation set in,” she said, adding she had wanted to humanise the stick insect and make people laugh.

Ms Ellis also received three silver awards for her fine-art portraiture shoots of teenagers.

“To be awarded for my photographs of my teen shoots is so very special to me”, Ms Ellis said.

Ms Ellis won silver with this picture. Picture: Sheryn Ellis

“When you’re a teenager, you have so many insecurities and self-doubts about yourself. I am passionate about showing teenagers just how beautiful and confident they can be.”