Blind woman wins national photo award

A legally blind Winnipeg photographer has taken top prize in a national photo competition.

Tara Miller, 39, found out Tuesday she has been awarded the grand prize in the Canadian National Institute for the Blind's Eye Remember national photography competition.

Miller's striking photo of lightning over a sunflower field during sunset taken last summer near Starbuck, Man., earned her top spot.

"I was so excited to get home and see what I got and praying that it worked out," she said of the photograph.

The competition was open to all photographers across the country, not solely the visually impaired. Miller was the only entrant of the five who were shortlisted for the grand prize who has sight loss, and the CNIB was unaware of her limited sight until her image was selected for the final five.

Miller has less than 10% of her eyesight due to glaucoma, the disorder the CNIB was raising awareness about with the photo contest.

"It feels wonderful and it's unbelievable for me," she said of her win. "It's a great feeling. I entered the contest because it was about glaucoma awareness and I've had it for 20 years."

Miller also regularly volunteers for the CNIB.

"It's part of my life," she said.

The five finalists were selected by a trio of celebrity judges and were then voted on by the general public worldwide.

Miller and her husband Jeff work as commercial photographers who specialize in agricultural and food photography.