Congratulations to Clare Doolan on winning the title of Getaway Photographer of the Year for 2019!
First Place
Clare Doolan for her image ‘Watching You, Watching Me’ (see winners gallery below)
The winner’s story
I’m an aspiring hobo and bundu-basher, living as far as possible from the real world in Chobe, Northern Botswana. By day, I’m a Botswana and Zimbabwe travel expert, slumming it in fancy lodges while trying to keep my elbows off the dinner table. By night, I’m happiest spotlighting in search of honey badgers and hyenas and sleeping on my car roof in the middle of nowhere.
I believe in taking the longest (and bumpiest) roads to get anywhere, with a fully-loaded cooler box and a DSLR riding shotgun. I believe in taking lots of bad photos to better recognise the good ones. I believe the best mistakes come from picking up a camera and spinning the dials like you’re on the Wheel of Fortune. I believe a good photo is less about zooming all the way in, and more about sharing the story of an adventure and the personality behind the wildlife. Most importantly, I believe if ever you find yourself torn between juggling a telezoom lens or an ice-cold beer at sunset, the beer should win – always.
Clare wins the grand destination prize
Four nights full-board accommodation for herself and a partner in a luxury beach villa at Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort in the Bazaruto Archipelago off Mozambique. Their stay includes selected beverages, complimentary mini-bar, beach horse-riding and non-motorised watersports. They will fly courtesy of
Airlink from Joburg to Vilanculos.
Value R60,600
Clare also wins
• A Tamron 150-600mm G2 super-telezoom lens
• A Tamron 15-30mm G2 ultra wide-angle lens
Both from Singer Photographic.
Value R44 000
First runner-up
Geo Cloete for his image entitled ‘My Broken Heart’
Geo Cloete wins a Tamron 100-400mm zoom lens and a Tamron 70-210mm lens from Singer Photographic.
Value R22,000
Second runner-up:
Hesté de Beer for her image entitled ‘The Peeper’
Hesté wins a Parrot Anafi drone (extended version)
from Singer Photographic.
Value R15,000
Here are the top ten images submitted to the Getaway Gallery for 2019, as voted by our judges.