The Border Mail photographer James Wiltshire has been named as a finalist in the Walkley’s 2017 photography awards.
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His chilling shot of murderer Michael Cardamone being led into Wangaratta court by police won him the nomination in the “news photography of the year” category.
Given only a couple of seconds as Cardamone was taken from the police van and out of sight, Wiltshire captured the moment the evil eyes looked down the barrel of the camera.
The prisoner was that day sentenced to life in jail, with no parole, for the murder of Whorouly’s Karen Chetcuti (nee Verbunt).
Wiltshire had to factor in the movement of the sun, and knew he would have to focus manually to capture the subject through two chainwire fences. There was also the possibility the subject wouldn’t even look up.
“Court photos are not the easiest things to nail,” he said.
“My reporter raced over to see what I had and we were overcome with relief to see this image come up on the back of the camera.
“Those eyes, staring straight through the holes in the chain wire.
“His eyes honestly burnt onto my brain and I couldn’t get them out of my head for the rest of the day.”