Stock Journal photographer Jacqui Bateman has been named one of the world’s best agricultural photographers, all thanks to a cheeky snap of a naked shearer.
Mrs Bateman won the Star Prize for Photography, announced at the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists 2017 Congress in South Africa on Monday night.
The world-winning photograph was of naked shearer Daniel Telfer, taken in February 2016 in response to the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals’ anti-wool campaign using naked models holding fake bloodied lambs.
Mrs Bateman initially posted the photo on her Facebook page, which then went viral, being shared more than 4000 times and reaching 700,000 people in only two days.
It also made international headlines.
Mrs Bateman said the photo’s reach has exceeded one million people.
“We still get comments all the time,” she said.
“Poor ‘Telf’, I think it was a bit overwhelming. But he’s been a good sport with all this and if he hadn’t given me permission to use the photo, then none of this would have happened.
Mrs Bateman first entered the photograph, as printed in the Stock Journal, in the 2016 Rural Media SA awards in November, which won the people category.
The photo then went on to win the national competition in the people section.
It also took out the people section in the Star Prize for Photography, before being named the overall winner of the competition.
Mrs Bateman found out about the win on Tuesday morning via Twitter, through Fairfax journalist Sally Cripps attending the event.
“I was in bed checking my messages, when these tags kept popping up,” she said.
“I had to get my husband to confirm it as I couldn’t believe it!”
Australian delegate Leigh Radford commented after the overall award was announced, "I can't tell you how much pleasure this award gives us, to get one back on PETA".
Mrs Bateman agreed.
“The photo alongside the article told the real story,” she said.
“It exposed the lies PETA peddles about the agricultural industry.
“I had a nude model, they had a nude model – the only difference was mine was real.
“If producers hadn’t gotten together and posted photos of a similar nature in answer to that initial PETA campaign, the general public would be none-the-wiser.
“That’s what I love about the agricultural industry embracing social media, they are fighting fire with fire.”
“It all started off as a bit of a joke, but then it got serious.”