Tayla Harris, Sam Kerr, Ash Barty, Jess Fox and the Australian Women’s Cricket Team are just some of the powerhouse female athletes that featured in last year’s finalist images for #WISPAA – the Women in Sport Photo Action Awards.
Today Women Sport Australia (WSA), the national advocacy body for women in sport, has launched the Women in Sport Photo Action Awards (#WISPAA 2021) and is calling for professional and amateur photographers to submit images of women playing sport.
Now in its third year, #WISPAA aims to generate greater recognition and respect for the power and athleticism of Australian women actively participating in sport and in 2021 will be supported by News Corp as a media partner.
Minister for Sport, Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck said since its inception, the Women in Sport Photo Action Awards has presented spectacular images of women participating in sport across the country, demonstrating the skill, strength, and resilience of athletes.
“WISPAA is giving the opportunity for professional and amateur photographers to capture, present and display athletes. The awards will continue to provide insights into women’s sport and inspire participation of young girls and women across the country.”
Backing up winning the inaugural #WISPAA title in 2019, award-winning AFL Media photographer Michael Willson won the professional category again in 2020. His image titled ‘From The Kick to a Punch’ captured AFLW player and professional boxer Tayla Harris delivering a knockout blow to rival Janay Harding during their contest for the Australian super welterweight title in November 2019.
The winner of the amateur #WISPAA category for 2020 was the pole vault image ‘At Full Flight’ by Queensland photographer Casey Sims. The image captured Australian pole-vaulter Elizaveta Parnova clearing a World Championship Qualifier at 4.60m in the Senior Women’s Pole Vault at the Oceania Athletics Championships in Townsville in June 2019.
To celebrate the launch of #WISPAA 2021 both these winning images, as well as the 28 other finalist images from #WISPAA 2020, will be on display via the digital facade at Federation Square in Melbourne from today.
Over the last two years, #WISPAA has generated hundreds of entries across Australia. Despite the challenges of COVID in 2020 the number of #WISPAA image submissions grew by 23%, with an increase of 32% in photographers submitting entries.
#WISPAA 2021 will once again have award categories for both professional and amateur photographers and for the first time they will be able to submit up to five photos of Australian sportswomen in action to the WSA #WISPAA Page.
To qualify for #WISPAA, photos submitted must show an Australian sportswoman or sportswomen aged over 18 actively participating in sport at any level in Australia. In 2021 images can be entered that were taken between 1 May 2020 and 30 April 2021.
#WISPAA entries will close on May 31.
