Julianne McWhirter, Sunrise Bulli Beach (PLACES 2026)

As I stood at Bulli Beach in the early morning, the first light of sunrise unfolded quietly across the horizon — a fleeting moment of softness and clarity that asks only to be witnessed. In that stillness, I noticed I was not alone, yet not entirely in company either. Among those present, only one other person — another photographer — seemed to be truly engaged with the scene. Around us, others stood absorbed in their devices, their attention pulled elsewhere, their presence partial. This work reflects on that quiet divide: between seeing and looking, between being present and being distracted. The camera, for me, becomes not a barrier but a tool for deep attention — a way of honouring a moment that might otherwise pass unnoticed. In contrast, the omnipresence of screens raises a question that lingers beyond the frame: how much of the world slips past us while we are looking down? Through this image, I seek to hold space for that question. The sunrise is not just a subject, but a reminder — of time, of perception, and of the simple act of noticing. What we choose to attend to shapes our experience of the world; and in moments like this, the cost of distraction feels quietly profound.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.