Clarence Valley Council is proud to announce the winners of the 2026 InFocus Photography Competition, celebrating five stunning images that capture the spirit, landscapes, and communities of the Clarence Valley.
The overall InFocus Winner 2026 is Morning Glare by Christine Sweeney (Plunge Category). This evocative image of Yamba Surf Life Saving Club members walking into the surf, bathed in early morning light, is featured on the cover of the 2026 Plunge Arts & Culture Festival program.
Cane Burn, Woodford Island by Jake Murray takes the Environment Category. The photograph transforms an annual sugar cane burn into a dramatic interplay of smoke, fire, and landscape, revealing beauty in everyday industry.
In the People Category, Crabbing at Dawn on the Clarence River by Martin Rohde captures a quiet, misty morning as a man and his dog head out on the river — a tender moment that speaks of rhythm, ritual, and life on the water.
The Ultimate Mud Bath by Gary Nichols wins the Community Category. The image bursts with energy, showing a local football team in mid-scrum, mud-splattered and joyful — a playful snapshot of camaraderie and local spirit.
Finally, the Landscape Category winner, Jacaranda Drive by Kim Talento, offers a striking aerial view of jacaranda trees, roads and clean geometric lines. The photograph balances nature and design, turning a familiar street into a graphic composition of colour and shape.
All five winning photographs celebrate the creativity and vision of photography in the Clarence Valley and are featured in the 2026 Plunge Arts & Culture Festival program and exhibitions at the Grafton Regional Gallery and Community Gallery at the Yamba Community Centre during April 2026.
