Wellington’s Billie Win took photos of Sam over a couple of months last winter for “Sam Sam but Different”, which has won this year’s Photo Essay Competition.
Sam, who was born Louise, is sibling to Win’s partner. Win says it was “an eye-opener” when she found out about Sam’s change a couple of years ago, and she has since learnt much about transgender issues and stereotypes. Sam has been taking testosterone for a year.
The essay began as an assignment for Win’s training at The Photo School in Raumati Beach. She entered it after realising that Sam’s progress was something in her life she really wanted to document. Sam is “so much happier” after beginning the process, Win says, and the photography has brought them closer.
For winning the competition, Win, who recently set up Billie Brook Photography, receives $1500 to spend on photographic equipment of her choice. The runner-up, Anna Jacobs, receives $500.
Listener Photo Essay Competition gallery