Highly commended: Craig Green.
Third place: Hal Bruce.
Winner: Where's the Wagon by Tim Lashbrook.
Photo excellence: Brad Liber.
Second place: Anthony McQuade.
An image of a 19th century cast iron wheel now exposed in the sands near Windang Island has taken out the What I Love About Shellharbour photo competition.
Tim Lashbrook's entry Where's the Wagon? was declared the best of the 74 photographs submitted to the Shellharbour City Council competition, each entry accompanied by words describing how the subject depicts what the photographer enjoys most about the city.
"Hidden gems like these historic wheels go unnoticed by so many from day to day . . . yet spend a day really looking and it's amazing what you can find," Mr Lashbrook said.
Shellharbour Mayor Marianne Saliba said the photographs were an insight into what people valued most.
"Some people wrote in their entries that it was the remnants of our history that made Shellharbour so special, while others pointed to promises of a bright future," Cr Saliba said.
"This balance between the protection of old and the development of new, the security of our natural assets and increased construction are ongoing considerations of council."
Second place went to Antony McQuade for his photo of a waterfall in the escarpment. Third place was awarded to Hal Bruce for a picture taken of the shared path beside Warilla Beach, with a bicycle in the sea mist.
The photographic excellence award went to Brad Liber for a picture taken at Killalea and Craig Green was highly commended for his picture of surfers on the beach, titled Friendship.
The photographs will be on display at the Shellharbour Village Exhibition Space until October 28, with votes for a people's choice award being taken on the council's Facebook page.