This is Sydney Life… a pool with a view

Shark in Pool, an amusing photograph by Glebe resident Sally McInerney, has been announced as the winner of the 11th annual Sydney Life photographic competition.

This humorous take on life in Sydney shows sweeping ocean views, blurring the striking blue horizon with a real estate image selling the great Sydney dream.

The unusual effect of a photo within a photo is heightened when the viewer realises that a shark has been pasted into the pool featured in the real estate sign.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore announced the winners of Sydney Life and its junior counterpart Little Sydney Lives at the launch of the City’s annual Art & About festival in Martin Place on Friday night.

“Every year the selection of photos gets better,” the Lord Mayor said.

“It’s inspiring to see shots captured by amateur snappers alongside the work of some of Sydney’s best professional photographers.”

Sydney Life winner Sally McInerney said, “I’ve been wandering around Sydney with my camera for years, trying to do justice to city life in all its great variety.”

“I’m delighted that one of my photographs has been selected as the winner of this year’s Sydney Life competition, to go on display in the beautiful open-air gallery of Hyde Park’s fig-tree avenue, which is one of my favourite places.”

Past winners include James Brickwood (2011), Nicholas May (2010), Tamara Dean (2009), Ross Honeysett (2008), Gary Trinh (2007), Joanne Saad (2006), Tim Barker (2005) and Petrina Hicks (2004).

This year the winning photograph was selected by a judging panel made up of Liane Rossler, renowned Sydney designer, Moshe Rosenzveig, founder and curator of the Head On Portrait Prize, and Sandy Edwards, founder of ARTHERE.

“Each year the entries to Sydney Life capture our city in new and surprising ways, reflecting the rich cultural diversity that makes Sydney such a great place to live,” the Lord Mayor said.

“I highly commend all 22 Sydney Life finalists, whose photographs will be proudly exhibited along the central walkway of Hyde Park North until 20 October.

A crowd favourite last year, Little Sydney Lives features 20 of the best images from photographers aged 11 and under.

This year’s winners are Sunny Days by four-year-old Duke Ryan (three to seven-year-old category), and Noah by eight-year-old Jonathan Jones (eight to 11-year-old category).

“Little Sydney Lives is a wonderful insight into the world of our smallest citizens, and I hope their colourful observations – taken from the knee-high perspective – inspire other budding young photographers,” the Lord Mayor said.

The Little Sydney Lives finalists will be displayed in Sandringham Gardens, Hyde Park North for the duration of Art & About.