Pastoll, who also lives in Waverley was crowned at the Photo and Film Expo for her photograph titled Bubbly Pomegranate. The competition is administered by the Photographic Society of South Africa and has been running for the past 15 years.
Over 120 pupils from around the country entered the competition. Because the competition is for schoolchildren, the Grade 8 pupil bagged a bronze medal although she was the winner. Gold and silver medals are reserved for professional photographers.
Pastoll comes from a creative family. She said she has had a love of photography for as long as she could remember. The modest teenager said she had not decided on a future in photography but she would venture into the creative arts once she comes of age.
Her father David, who is also a photographer described his daughter as a creative individual who had many interests, including voracious reading and writing. He said he was proud of his daughter’s achievement. “I would start crying if I described the joy and pride I had for my daughter.”
David said his 14-year-old daughter did a lot of preparation to take the photograph. A glass tank was filled with soda water, which was much clearer than tap water, and pomegranite pips were thrown into the tank while she took the photograph. Pastoll said she had tried various options to find the picture-perfect subject.
Her photo was the result of good camera technique, lighting, focus, composition and depth – which were some of the criteria the judges considered.
