The 2018 CWAS AstroFest

"The David Malin Awards"
The Shortlisted Finalists


The Central West Astronomical Society is proud to announce that the judging in the 2018 CWAS Astrophotography Awards - the "David Malin Awards" has been completed. The following images are the shortlisted finalists. The winners will be announced, and presented with their awards, during the 2018 CWAS AstroFest, held in Parkes from 14-15 July 2018.

This year's competition had eight categories:

  • Deep Sky
  • Wide-Field
  • Nightscapes
  • Solar System
  • Animated Sequences:
    • Scientific
    • Aesthetic
  • Themed Section - "Revealing the Colours of the Stars"
  • Junior (18 years old or younger)

The photographs were judged by world-renowned astrophotographer, Dr David Malin, without David being aware of the identity of the photographers. The winners will be presented with the "David Malin Awards" in the presence of invited dignitaries, during the CWAS AstroFest conference on 14 July 2018.

It was not just technical skill that was assessed. The prizes will go to pictures that are technically excellent and capture the beauty of the sky and the intrinsic interest of astronomy in an aesthetically pleasing manner. Canon Australia is supporting the competition with Estore Vouchers to the value of $10,000.

Mr Jeff Darmanin, a News Corp. Australia Picture Editor, has judged the "Photo Editor's Choice" awards and has given his pick from each category, plus an overall winner. These will be announced during the presentation ceremony.

Last year's associated exhibitions were a resounding success. The two parallel exhibitions were viewed by over 200,000 people Australia-wide.

This year's permanent exhibition will be on show at the CSIRO Parkes Observatory's Visitor's Centre from Sunday, 15 July 2018, for an entire year. A second touring exhibition, organised by the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, will travel to selected venues country-wide, beginning with Sydney Observatory on 6 September 2018.

To have received any one of these awards is a great honour. Congratulations!



The Shortlisted Finalists by Category

(in no particular order)

Click on the images to see the larger versions.


Theme - "Revealing the Colours of the Stars"



© Ian Inverarity

© Ian Inverarity
"Old Wagon and Neon Lights"
Ian Inverarity
"Star Fall on a Dry Landscape"
Ian Inverarity


© Peter Ward

© Saeed Salimpour

© Alex Cherney
"Here There Be Treasure"
Peter Ward
"Eyes on the Cross"
Saeed Salimpour
"Cosmic Fouetté"
Alex Cherney


Solar System



© John Kazanas

© Paul Haese
"The Rings and Belts of Saturn Near Opposition"
John Kazanas
"Seeing is King"
Paul Haese


© Stefan Buda

© Phil_Hart
"Colours of Serenity and Tranquillity"
Stefan Buda
"Teton's Eclipse"
Phil Hart


© Bratislav Curcic

© Peter Ward
"Hidden Forces"
Bratislav Curcic
"Diamond Halo"
Peter Ward


Nightscapes



© Megan Watson

© Kamil Sustiak
"Venus Bay #5"
Megan Watson
"The Gateway"
Kamil Sustiak


© Arwen Dyer

© Eddie Trimarchi

© Luke Tscharke
"Moonlit Mountain"
Arwen Dyer
"Full Moon Rising"
Eddie Trimarchi
"Crescent Moon at Lake Oberon"
Luke Tscharke

© Noeleen Lowndes

© Gary McDougall

© Peter Ward

© Alex Cherney
"The Northern Lights in the Arctic Night"
Noeleen Lowndes
"GeeHi Hut"
Gary McDougall
"Snake River Overlook"
Peter Ward
"Galactic View"
Alex Cherney


Wide-Field



© Greg Priestley

© Greg Priestley
"Sprite and Orion"
Greg Priestley
"Southern Celestial Pole around a Fleurs Radio"
Greg Priestley


© Tom Elliot

© Colin Robson
"Barrenjoey Milky Way Arch"
Tom Elliott
"The Milky Way"
Colin Robson


© Ross Giakoumatos

© Brad Le Brocque
"The Pleiades M45"
Ross Giakoumatos
"The Diamond Ring"
Brad Le Brocque


Deep Sky



© Uri Abraham

© Uri Abraham
"Space Balloon"
Uri Abraham
"Nebulous Treasures of Sagittarius"
Uri Abraham


© Diego Colonnello

© Andrew Campbell
"Omega Centauri"
Diego Colonnello
"A Mountain of Gas in Puppis"
Andrew Campbell


© Peter Ward

© Peter Wardh
"E lucevan le stelle"
Peter Ward
"Silver Dollar Galaxy"
Peter Ward


Animated Sequences - Scientific

(videos not yet available)


© Phil Hart
"Contact"
Phil Hart


Animated Sequences - Aesthetic

(videos not yet available)


© Greg Priestley

© James Stone
"Capertee Valley"
Greg Priestley
"Cape Bruny Nights"
James Stone


© Phil Hart

© Rod Evans
"Yukon Aurora"
Phil Hart
"Full Moon Rising in Byron Bay"
Rod Evans


© Matthew Maas
"Southern Skies"
Matthew Maas


Canon Australia Prizes

Canon Australia is supporting the competition with Estore Voucher prizes to the value of $10,000. "Canon is proud to continue to be involved with the CWAS AstroFest", said Kate Guaran, Senior Product & Consumer Marketing Manager - Canon Australia. "It enables us to celebrate the people behind the camera who, with patience and commitment, truly capture the beauty of what is possible, to produce incredible other-worldly images."



In addition, the exhibition prints are produced using Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1000 and Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-4000 printers at SUNSTUDIOS.



Congratulations to the finalists!


We look forward to seeing you in Parkes for the 2018 CWAS AstroFest and the presentation of the "David Malin Awards". Be the first to hear the results of the competition. Come along and experience the hospitality of the Central West and share with us your enthusiasm for the grandeur and beauty of astronomy. Click here for more information on the 2018 CWAS AstroFest.


The 2018 CWAS "David Malin Awards" is proudly supported by Canon Australia and


Comments and Enquiries: John Sarkissian OAM of the AstroFest Organising Committee