PRETORIA, South Africa (3 April, 2017)—Australian photographer Jacqui Bateman has won the 2017 International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) Star Prize for Photography for her “Naked Truth” photo, which ran in Stock Journal magazine. She was honored at IFAJ’s World Congress in Pretoria, South Africa on April 3.
The image, of a nude man shearing a sheep, gained worldwide recognition when Bateman tweeted it as a response to a PETA ad featuring a nude fashion model holding an injured lamb and claiming it represented the results of the shearing process. Bateman’s shearer was as nude as PETA’s model, and his sheep was experiencing the shearing without injury.
“Agricultural photographers share the world of farming with their readers, bringing the power of beauty, emotion, and information to their audiences,” said Steve Werblow, IFAJ secretary general.
“Jacqui Bateman’s image delivered all that and humor, too—a wonderful idea delivered with technical brilliance. That photo, and those that were recognized in the contest’s three categories, are truly the world’s best agricultural photojournalism.”
The judges applauded the composition of the photo, as well as Bateman’s skill in communicating the irony of the scene.
Bateman’s entry was also the First Place pick in the contest’s People category.
Other winners in this year’s competition included:
Production Category:
First Place: Theuns Botha, Landbouweekblad, South Africa
Distinguished Recognition: Elaine Shein, DTN/Progressive Farmer, USA
Distinguished Recognition: David Lundquist, C Magazine, USA
People Category:
First Place: Jacqui Bateman, Stock Journal, Australia
Distinguished Recognition: Knut Valberg, Nationen, Norway
Nature/Landscape Category:
First Place: Todd Klassy, Montana Quarterly, USA
Distinguished Recognition: Knut Valberg, Nationen, Norway
Click below to see other 2017 IFAJ contest winners: