MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Georgina's first Falklands photo show a total success.

Photographer Georgina Strange's first Falkland Islands' exhibition has been deemed an absolute success, with most of the works on show being sold.

The exhibition of photography by Islander Georgina and her father Ian, who together comprise "Design in Nature", was opened in the Jetty Visitor's Centre in Stanley by His Excellency Governor Howard Pearce on Friday, November 5.

Georgina, 23, has recently completed a three year photography degree at university in Australia and is now in the Falklands for five months; she will spend her time working with her father on New Island South nature reserve where she has "...access to some of the most fantastic wildlife and scenery that any nature photographer could wish for."

She says she will continue to build up her portfolio of photographs and hopes to make use of these images in the near future "...to promote the importance of conserving our natural habitats and their wildlife."

The opening of Georgina's exhibition also marked the launch of an international Falklands photographic competition. The competition is sponsored by leading photography magazine Practical Photography in conjunction with major brands such as Kodak and Lowepro.

During the exhibition's opening evening, Director of Falkland Islands Tourism, Mrs. Connie Stevens, announced that Georgina had donated an image of a Rock-hopper penguin as a prize in the competition.

On Monday Mrs. Stevens said all but one of Georgina's images on display that were available for sale had sold. In addition orders had been received for additional copies of the sold images and a number of people have taken the order forms away with them and may be contacting Georgina directly in the near future to place an order.

Mrs. Stevens said there has been an "extremely positive" response to the images on display by both Georgina and Ian and numerous comments have been made, "...about how these images capture the amazing skies and light that are so typical of the Falkland Islands. The feedback has been very positive."

Mrs. Stevens added that a number of recently arrived people in the Islands were "highly motivated" to travel around the Islands after seeing some of Georgina and Ian's evocative images.

The exhibition attracted a steady flow of people over the weekend to view the exhibition and Mrs. Stevens said she had received, "...lots of positive comments about both the work on display and the fact that the Jetty Visitor's Centre is being used for such events."

For further information you can enjoy a large collection of photographs at "Design in Nature" website www.designinature.comand also the "New Islands South Conservation Trust" www.newislandtrust.com(PN)