Canberran Samuel Chapman has reached the finals of the Down Syndrome Association’s My Perspective photography and short film competition. 

Two of Samuel’s images have been featured in the finals of the international competition, with entrants from Guatemala, India, South Africa, Australia and the US. 

The My Perspective competition aims to give people who have Down’s syndrome the opportunity to showcase the world through their eyes.

Participating photographers have flipped the lens and have a chance to use the images to convey stories that are most important to them.

“I am very happy and proud when other people like my photos,” says Samuel. 

“Photos are a record of what I see and do. I take photos in my science class because it is an important record of our experiments.”

Samuel says he is inspired by nature, particularly flowers.

“Flowers are really lovely because I can look closely at the details and get the light and angles right,” he says. 

“I like taking photos of birds but it is hard to take a good shot because they move so fast.”

Regarding his shortlisted image, Light on a Spider Lily, Samuel says: “I loved that sunlight was on the flowers and the leaves were darker and more mysterious.”

A special awards ceremony will be held in London on November 7.