We are delighted to announce the Judging panel for the 2021 Capture the Cosmos – Under Warrumbungle Sky Astrophotography Competition.
They are Dr Angel Lopez-Sanchez, Brad le Broque and Peter Ward
Dr Angel R. López-Sánchez
Angel is a passionate science communicator who continuously gives talks and public lectures, writes popular science articles and organises science communication events and stargazing activities. An astrophysicist working at the Australian Astronomical Optics (AAO) and the Department of Physics and Astronomy of the Macquarie University (MQ) in Sydney Angel also provides support for visiting astronomers to the Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT, Siding Spring Observatory).
As an active amateur astronomer Angel enjoys observing the sky with his eyes, binoculars, or small telescopes and taking astronomical images using his own equipment. He is very active in social media, his Twitter feed is @El_Lobo_Rayado. You can check out his images at http://www.flickr.com/photos/angelrls
Dr Angel R. Lopez-Sanchez has been our esteemed judge for Capture the Cosmos – under Warrumbungle Sky in 2019, 2020 and now joins us again for the 2021 competition.
Brad Le Brocque
From Astrophotography to intimate portraits, Brad Le Brocque will have a go at shooting anything. He is passionate about photography and has won many awards for his work. He enjoys sharing his knowledge and encouraging people to enjoy the many aspects of photography.
Brad is the president of both the Northern Photographic Federation (NPF), and the Maitland Camera Club, multiple time winner at the David Malin Astrophotography Awards. He has been doing photography for over 30 years starting as a kid at school. Started off with a Pentax ME Film camera in 1982 and has owned every high end Pentax DSLR released since 2007. Check out Brad’s Instagram page
Brad Le Brocque has been our esteemed judge for Capture the Cosmos – under Warrumbungle Sky Astrophotography competition in 2019, 2020 and now joins us again for the 2021 competition.
Peter Ward
Peter Ward (B.Sc. ATPL AIPA) has been photographing the sky for over five decades and is one of Australia’s most lauded astrophotographers. His images have won over 60 national and international awards. He was the Deep Sky photography winner for the coveted Royal Greenwich Observatory Astronomy photographer of the Year awards in 2020.
Peter was an Associate Editor at Southern Astronomy and Sky and Space magazines. His astrophotography has been published on the web, local and national newspapers, numerous magazines, text books and have featured in a national advertising campaign and have been screened on national television . He was a vetting judge for the inaugural CWAS Malin awards in 2004 and was guest judge for the RASNZ Astrophotographic competition in 2016.
His portfolio is extremely diverse. He has won every photographic category of the CWAS David Malin awards showing mastery over an impressive range of imaging techniques using varied cameras, lenses, telescopes, filters, focal lengths and software to create unique, compelling images of the heavens.
This is the first year that Peter Ward has joined the judging panel for the Capture the Cosmos – Under Warrumbungle Sky Astrophotography competition.
The Capture the Cosmos committee thank all three judges for their commitment of time and their highly valued expertise.
