Media Release: Stunning photo of beam pump wins national photographic award

An oil and gas industry worker has won a national photographic competition with a stunning snap of a beam pump at sunrise.

David Warren, a Senior Field Development Planner for Santos in Queensland, is the Overall Winner of the In.Site Photographic Awards for his photo of a beam pump in the Cooper–Eromanga Basin.

David Warren, a Senior Field Development Planner for Santos in Queensland, took the snap of a beam pump at sunrise in the Cooper–Eromanga Basin.

The photograph was selected from more than 100 entries from across Australia as part of the awards, sponsored by the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA) initiative, Brighter.

Entries will be displayed at next week’s APPEA Conference and Exhibition in Adelaide.

Mr Warren, who will receive a $5,000 voucher from Ted’s Cameras, said of his winning photo: “A beam pump or ‘nodding donkey’ is an iconic sight in my industry.

“After working night shift as a rig supervisor and on my drive back to camp one morning, I stopped and took a few photographs, capturing this iconic image with the early sun beaming behind it. After working in the basin for 12 months, it was always a picturesque occasion seeing the sunsets and sunrises, and even more special to capture it with my camera.”

The awards, in their fourth year, are open to APPEA member company employees who submit photos highlighting the environment, community and people within the natural gas industry.

APPEA Chief Executive Samantha McCulloch said: “These amazing photographs showcase the very best aspects of Australia’s oil and gas sector by capturing our relationships with people, the environment and communities where we operate across the nation.

“The competition opened in March and we were overwhelmed by the quality and quantity of this year’s submissions. Thank you to all those who entered.

“The competition also supports a good cause. We will donate $5000 to the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

“Well done to all the winners. I encourage everyone to view all the photos entered on the Brighter website gallery.”

Category winners each receive a $1,000 voucher from Ted’s Cameras.

The Environment category was won by Phil Allen, a geologist at Allen Geological Services in South Australia for his extraordinary image of trucks parked up for the night under starry Northern Territory skies.

Phil Allen captured this image of trucks parked up for the night under starry Northern Territory skies.

Mr Allen said: “Much of the oil and gas industry operates in remote locations, far from towns and cities which provide the necessary supplies and equipment those operations.”

“Truck transport provides the critical link between the two. I wanted the image to make those trucks the focal point, and to capture the night sky of Central Australia.”

Shannon Hemmings, a graphic designer at Beach Energy in South Australia, won the Community Award for her photo of colleagues measuring mangrove seedlings growth in biodegradable lattice structures at Corinella in Victoria.

The image is titled: ‘Blue carbon partnership’.

Beach Energy staff measuring mangrove seedlings growth in biodegradable lattice structures at Corinella in Victoria.

Beach Energy has entered into a three-year partnership with Deakin University’s Blue Carbon Lab, to help restore some of Australia’s critical coastal wetlands.

Ms Hemmings accompanied a group from Beach Energy to see the Blue Carbon Lab innovative program in action.

“This was a great opportunity for staff to get their hands dirty and learn from the Blue Carbon Lab scientists about the differences of blue and green carbon and the impact it has on our environment,” she said.

“I took this photo from a ground level perspective as I wanted to get as close to the living mangrove plant showing perspective of how tiny the plant is, together with the complexity of the 3D printed potato starch structure that will help it establish.”

“Sustainability is a subject I am passionate about and I felt humbled to be asked to be involved in the day. To be involved in planting as part of a regeneration project in the community, had a very humbling effect on me.”

The People category was taken out by Travis Hayto, a contractor for Mitsui E&P Australia in Western Australia.

Titled ‘Conversations over the fence’, his photo highlighted the industry’s efforts to consult with communities in the Shire of Irwin.

Titled ‘Conversations over the fence’, the photo highlighted the industry’s efforts to consult with communities in the Shire of Irwin.

Mitsui E&P Australia regularly meets up with local landowners to talk about activities and initiatives in the Mid West region of WA.

Lisa Azzarello, Mitsui E&P Australia General Manager External, Government & Stakeholder Relations, said: “The image ‘Conversations over the fence’ captures a quiet moment with a local farmer, discussing the land and plans for the year ahead.

“Mitsui E&P Australia is proud to be a part of the local community, and working collaboratively with our communities is a core part of what we do.”

All winners will also receive complimentary passes to this year’s APPEA Conference and Exhibition and a professionally framed print of their winning photograph.

Media contact: 0435 113 224

Photographs can be accessed here.