Shoot the Chef Photography

Due to popular demand and after 15 years as a professionals- and students-only competition in The Sydney Morning Herald, the renowned Shoot the Chef culinary photographic competition is now open to amateur photographers across the country.

Held in the lead up to Good Food Month, presented by Citi, Shoot the Chef invites anyone in Australia with an interest in photography to literally shoot a chef, whether it's a professional chef in his restaurant or a child at home baking cookies for the first time.

'It doesn't matter if you wield a high-performance professional camera or you're just a whiz on your smartphone, we're looking for eye-catching and creative entries of all kinds," said Good Food Month festival director and competition judge Joanna Savill.

The other innovative change to this year's competition is that entrants will submit their photographs through Twitter and Instagram using the #shootthechef.

'We're excited about the much broader scope of the competition this year," added Savill, "but it's still all about putting the spotlight on a chef - no matter what your interpretation. Good Food Month is a celebration of every aspect of food, including photographing the people who cook it."

There are two awards to be won both with a $2,500 cash prize. The first is a Critics' Choice Award where judges will be looking for the best combination of skill and creative interpretation. The winner will also have their photo published by Good Food.

The second award is the People's Choice Award based on online votes from the public.

A selection of photos will also be exhibited as Good Food Month pop-up displays around Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra, including a display in The Star casino.

Entries close September 8 with winners to be announced September 24 in The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.