Kingscliff High School student Larissa E is literally a shooting star, having been named among the winners in the prestigious Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize.

The Year 10 student won the $6,000 Year 9 and 10 section in the secondary schools division. Larissa keeps half of the money, while $3,000 will go to the school for the development of photographic courses.

The competition called for images of “contemporary life in Australia with an emphasis on portraits of Australians going about their day-to-day lives within their environment”.

Larissa, pictured with her winning photo, Sinking (right), said the shot evoked a sense of mystery and intrigue.

“It’s about youth and how a lot of youth are really superficial, like you don’t get to know somebody unless you can see their face,” she said. “I wanted the viewer to try to get to know the girl without seeing her face.”

Kingscliff High School principal Alan Tolley said Larissa would negotiate with art teachers on how the school’s prize money will be spent.

“Larissa is a very bright and charming young lady and is a credit to the school,” Mr Tolley said.

The winners in the $210,000 2008 Moran Prizes – the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize and the Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize – were announced at the State Library of NSW last term.