Golden Lens shines as photo comp draws 170 entries, 1000 votes

A 14-YEAR-OLD Cootamundra student and a Junee photographer have emerged as the inaugural winners of the Junee Bulletin’s Golden Lens competition after a remarkable response saw more than 170 images submitted from across the Riverina.

Molly Niemeyer, from Junee Shire, claimed the 2026 Judges’ Choice, while Cootamundra’s Tahlia Lowe, 14, was crowned People’s Choice after attracting almost 400 votes in a hotly contested 24-hour public poll.

More than 1000 votes were cast across the five People’s Choice finalists, capping a four-week competition that exceeded expectations and showcased the Riverina’s spectacular 2026 canola season.

Downside |Stevie Lamont

Junee Bulletin owner and chief editor Jaydan Duck said the response had been overwhelming.

“When we launched The Golden Lens, we really didn’t know what sort of response to expect,” Mr Duck said.

“To finish with more than 170 entries and then have over 1000 votes cast in the People’s Choice is an incredible result for the first year.

“But the numbers only tell part of the story. What we loved most was seeing people get out with their cameras and phones, explore the region and experience the canola season for themselves.”

Judges almost unanimous

Niemeyer secured the competition’s first $100 prize with a striking photograph perfectly framed by a yellow wattle at Marinna in the Junee Shire.

The Bulletin initially planned to select five finalists but was forced to expand the field to 12 after the strength and volume of entries made narrowing the field increasingly difficult.

The photographs were then presented anonymously to an independent four-person judging panel, with each judge ranking the finalists through a points-based system.

Niemeyer’s photograph was an emphatic winner, scoring 47 points from a possible 48.

“I am so glad that the judges loved it as much as I did,” Ms Niemeyer said.

“The competition is such a creative way to get involved within the community. The Junee Bulletin does a tremendous job of organising it!”

2026 Golden Lens Judges’ Choice | Molly Niemeyer

Mr Duck said the near-perfect score showed just how strongly the photograph resonated with the judging panel.

“To have four independent judges look at 12 very strong photographs and have Molly’s image score 47 out of 48 was pretty remarkable,” he said.

“It was clearly the standout for the panel and a very deserving inaugural Judges’ Choice.

“Molly captured exactly what The Golden Lens was about, not just the canola itself, but the colour, character and beauty of the Riverina at this time of year.”

The judging panel brought together representatives from the local photography, business and tourism sectors, with photographers’ names and identifying information withheld throughout the process.

Mr Duck thanked the judges for volunteering their time and expertise.

“There were some outstanding photographs in that final 12, and we’re extremely grateful to our judges for taking the time to carefully assess them,” he said.

Harefield | Taryn Forge

Coota teen takes people’s crown

Following the Judges’ Choice announcement, the next five highest-ranked photographs progressed to a 24-hour public vote.

It was there that 14-year-old Lowe captured the community’s attention.

Her sun-kissed golden-hour image attracted almost 400 reactions, enough to secure the People’s Choice title and another $100 prize.

2026 Golden Lens People’s Choice | Tahlia Lowe

The result was made even more impressive by the fact Lowe had two photographs among the competition’s Top 12, with another of her images – a close-up of a single canola stem against crisp, clear blue skies – also progressing to the independent judging panel.

Tahlia’s mother, Katie Lowe, said the result had given the budding young photographer a huge confidence boost.

“We are very excited that two of her photos were chosen in the Top 12,” Ms Lowe said.

“It is really encouraging for her to pursue this hobby. She has only been using her camera for less than four months.”

Cootamundra | Tahlia Lowe

Mr Duck said Tahlia’s success was an outstanding achievement for such a young and relatively new photographer.

“For Tahlia to be only 14, have two photographs make our final 12 and then win the People’s Choice is an amazing achievement,” he said.

“She’s only been behind the camera for a matter of months, so hopefully this gives her plenty of encouragement to keep pursuing it and developing that talent.”

“One of the things we hoped this competition would do was encourage younger people to get involved, pick up a camera or phone and look at their own backyard a little differently, so to finish our first competition with a 14-year-old winning the public vote was pretty special.”

The final prize of the competition also stayed local, with well-known Junee resident Glenda Clemson randomly drawn from eligible People’s Choice voters to receive the $50 Voters’ Prize.

‘More than a photo competition’

The Golden Lens was launched by the Junee Bulletin in August to celebrate the arrival of the Riverina’s canola season and encourage residents and visitors to explore the region.

Entrants were invited to capture the season however they saw it, from sweeping yellow landscapes and sunsets to weather, wildlife and close-up perspectives.

The Rock | Kelly Cameron

Mr Duck said some of the most rewarding feedback came from families who used the competition as an excuse to explore.

“One mum told us she had taken her kids out exploring to see the canola and the trains because of the competition, and they absolutely loved it,” he said.

“That sort of story is what this was really about.

“Yes, there were cash prizes and ultimately there had to be winners, but the bigger goal was getting people out and about, exploring the Riverina and appreciating what we have right here on our doorstep.”

The sheer quality of entries made selecting the finalists one of the most difficult parts of the campaign.

More than 170 submissions were progressively reduced to about 36 semi-finalists before the final 12 were chosen for independent judging.

Uranquinty | Stevie Lamont

“There were photographs that missed the Top 12 by the smallest of margins,” Mr Duck said.

“If we could have given a prize to everyone, we probably would have.

“There were so many strong and deserving entries, which is why we’ll continue showcasing some of our standout and highly commended photographs over the coming days and weeks.”

Tooma | Juanita Paul

‘Without our readers, we wouldn’t exist’

Mr Duck said the success of The Golden Lens was ultimately another reflection of the support the Junee Bulletin continued to receive from its readers and followers.

He thanked everyone who entered, voted, shared the competition or simply followed along during its four-week run.

“The Junee Bulletin exists because our community supports us,” Mr Duck said.

“Without our readers and followers, quite simply, we wouldn’t exist, and we certainly wouldn’t be in a position to do things like this and give something back to the community that supports us.

“Every person who reads an article, likes a post, follows our page, shares a story or gets involved in something like The Golden Lens helps us continue doing what we do.

“We’re enormously grateful for that support, and this competition was one small way for us to give some of that support back.”

Bomen | Courtney Hawke

With more than 170 entries, over 1000 public votes and $250 awarded across three prizes, Mr Duck said the inaugural Golden Lens had surpassed expectations.

“For a first-year competition, we couldn’t have asked for much more,” he said.

“The Riverina certainly gave us plenty of gold to photograph this year, and our community absolutely delivered behind the lens.

“Thank you to everyone who helped make the inaugural Golden Lens such a success.”