Image gets gold among CBH snaps

It's a golden handshake in more ways than one.

Not only does it represent a bumper season for WA growers, but this picture has also won Cunderdin farmer Alan Carter $1000.

Winning the 2013 CBH photo competition's people's choice award, this inspiring photo stole the hearts of more than 500 voters.

Against 180 entries in the Statewide competition, The Golden Handshake was voted the best photograph by the public, across all four categories.

Mr Carter said the photo represented a small but important moment in time that captured the essence of grain farming.

"My images try to capture a tiny slice of what we see each day, and focus our attention on what we might have completely missed because of all the other 'visual noise' about us," he said.

"I saw that poignant little scene of the hand in the grain (and) I thought that it was so typical of what we have always done.

"Whether in the old days with grain in the bags, or today with the modern machinery, you always put your hand in the wheat and sample it.

Mr Carter said it was something people did when grain was flowing.

"It's something about the contact of you with the grain," he said.

"Like feeling the ripe tomato, you have a personal connection with it."

CBH chairman Neil Wandel congratulated Mr Carter on his winning entry.

"With more than 180 entries this year, it takes a remarkable photo to stand out and that's what Alan has done," he said.

"This picture sums up the feeling a grower has when the load is delivered and you breathe a sigh of relief that your grain has made it to site."

Now in its 13th year, the photo competition attracted entries from across the State's agricultural areas, with the winning entries displayed at the Dowerin field days.

Mr Carter said his prize money would be donated to Quairading Photo Club.