“Capture the essence of Leeton shire.” That was the message put out to all who entered the Leeton Shire Photography Competition and some stunning pieces of work were born from it.

The top four were recently announced and they talked of what inspired their creations.

“I moved here when I was 16 and I can't ever imagine myself leaving,” first place winner Leah Shelton said.

“One thing for me was the Sunrice festival, we'd never been around something so big and spectacular.

“So for a long time my goal was to save up and go for a hot air balloon ride.”

It’s fair to say it lived up to her expectations.

“When I got up in that hot air balloon and I saw Leeton, I was literally lost for words,” she said.

“It was spectacular seeing Leeton from that point of view and none of the photos will ever do it justice.”

Runner up Dianne Swaffield went with what she knew.

“Fivebough is my hinting ground for photography,” she said.

“It's absolutely beautiful out there with the nature.”

Tied for third was Ian Gabriel, but he had a number of shots come close to the top.

“I came from the Philippines, I grew up in a rural area, so that's why I love Leeton,” he said.

“I love the sunrise and the sunsets around here, it's got very good colours and that's what inspired me with the photos I got... except for fireworks.

“During the fireworks, it was after the balloons, we didn't have much time to prepare, so I just ran, grabbed camera and my tripod, stuck it in the ground and got that shot."

Anne Lepper was the other entrant that tied for third.

Her photo came with a touch of good fortune.

“The day that I took that photo I was asked to go on a balloon ride with someone who I work with because she was too frightened to go on her own,” she said.

“When the balloon was ready to go, the guy said 'you're too heavy.'

“He said, 'what I'll do is take you a little way and drop you out,’ so that’s what he did.”

The artworks will now hang in Leeton Shire Council.