Heartbreak, celebrations and relief all captured in one breathtaking shot, Basketball Victoria are proud to announce the winner of the 2024 From The Sidelines Competition is Meagan Vuillermin.
With thousands of submissions received and fierce competition provided, it was Vuillermin’s emotive submission captivating the judging panel.
Image: Meagan Vuillermin
Vuillermin’s submission not only captured basketball but displayed the heart-felt emotions residing in the competitors. Such an image is a rare occasion to capture, with prestigious sports photographer Michelle Couling detailing the image's rarity.
“Jubilation images are some of the most difficult images to capture in sport. You don’t know when or where the play is going to unfold... so to capture a moment of pure happiness, you’ve got to have great instincts, an ability to stay focused and you’ve got to get to the right spots. Megan has done all of this and has been rewarded with an amazing image that captures so much action and emotion that you can’t help but smile when you look at it.”
Michelle Couling also describes the emotive storytelling in Vuillermin’s submission highlighting this as a factor for success.
“This brilliant image by Megan Vuillermin tells a whole story in a single frame. The elation in the foreground and the heartbreak of the opposition in the background, with hands on head.”
When speaking to Meagan Vuillermin she described the incredible story behind the captivating image.
“It was my son’s team... everything was against us; we were fighting to get to Div 1 from Div 2 and were total underdogs. It was the semi-final, my son ended up making the three pointer and I ran over and would have captured a hundred photos.”
Not only was this image made special due to the passion and dedication Megan has shown for her local grassroots club, but it’s also the reason why she captures these moments that make this even more special.
“The reason why I do photography is the kids love it, the parents love it, and I always get questioned from the kids when photos are coming out. I've always unofficially made myself the official team photographer... I just love it, I’ve been doing it for years.”
When congratulating Vuillermin on a wonderful submission, she couldn't contain her excitement at the opportunity to shoot an NBL game with Michele Couling - “I’m just gob smacked, I’m so excited, it's such an honor.”
Amateur photographers submitted their grassroots photos to win the opportunity to shoot an NBL game with award winning sports photographer Michelle Couling and an incredible $1000 cash prize to support the purchase of equipment to further their passion in sport photography.
The judging panel also wanted to acknowledge and give special mentions to Matt Gleeson, Cirstin Bedson, Libby Mikus and Emmanuel Barbas.
Michelle Couling shared some kind words for each of the close competitors who made it a difficult decision to select just the one overall winner.
2024 Special Mentions
Image: Matt Gleeson
“This is a great frame from Matt Gleeson, not only because of the raw power of the image but also because it is technically excellent. It’s super sharp, he’s made the most of the available light and he’s captured a classic sports image that makes you grit your teeth while looking at it because you can feel how tough this play was.”
Image: Cirstin Bedson
“Cristin has managed to capture a really unique perspective as we glimpse an emotional moment, framed by the live action on the floor. The look on this player’s face draws me in and makes me want to know more about what’s happened. There is also a lot of skill demonstrated in this image, to be able to hold focus on the background and wait for a window to open while the play is unfolding in the foreground.”
Image: Libby Mikus
“So much of a sports photographer’s focus is on what happens within the white lines but if you can widen your perspective, there are often lots of hidden gems off the court. Libby Mikus’ photojournalistic approach has resulted in a brilliant capture of a young fan off the court and tells the story of so many young kids who grow up watching the game.”
Image: Emmanuel Barbas
“Another unique perspective from Emmanuel Barbas, capturing the aftermath of a spectacular dunk from an angle we don’t normally see. The lights through the backboard give this a cinematic feel and highlights the power and athleticism of the game.”We’d also like to acknowledge the participants who took part in the competition, delivering stunning imagery but ultimately falling short.
This initiative was an incredible success, with amateur photographers able to showcase their talents from all over Victoria. Basketball Victoria is grateful and fortunate to have some talented local photographers capturing moments across the Victorian basketball community. Furthermore, we hope to see more memorable moments captured and even more talented individuals participate next year - bring on From the Sidelines 2025!
Click below to have a look at the full TOP 50 gallery of images for the 2024 From The Sidelines competition.
