Winners

The Capture New Zealand Photo Competition was a real success. We were overwhelmed with the number of entries we had, over 1200 in total, and the quality of these images was exceptional. But, in the end, there could only be a few winners. Ollie Dale (NZIPP), the judge, had this to say about the competition:

"There were some stunning images in this year's AA Capture New Zealand competition, and a very wide range of entries in each topic, which is good to see. Some photographers stood out above the rest though, in their creativity and story telling. Competitions are supposed to inspire both the photographers in their picture taking, and in turn the viewers of the final images. The winners did exactly this and really encapsulated the idea of their respective categories, and the images were technically very good, if not great. Congratulations to the winners, whose images are a testament to New Zealand and its people."

Competition Winner

Congratulations to Eugene Polkan, the overall winner of the Capture New Zealand Photo Competition with his stunning picture of Cape Road!

Judge's comment: "After looking through the winners of each category, one stood out over the others as an example of beautiful photography and an image I’d be proud to call my own. Congratulations for illustrating New Zealand in such a serenely beautiful way!" View photo

Category Winners

Winner: Mitchell Round, for his unique capture of the Moeraki Boulders.

Judge's comment: "This is a beautifully crafted image, with just the right amount of light kissing the rocks in the foreground, while instantly recognising the boulders in the background. Truly a perfect fit for this category, taking something very recognisable and shooting it in a different way, while still being of a professional standard. Well done!" View photo

Winner: Ella Trotter, for her snap of a day snowboarding at Turoa, Mt Ruapehu.

Judge's comment: "A great action shot, and a great illustration of one of the many holiday activities we have to choose from in New Zealand. It's technically very difficult shooting into the sun, and you've balanced the image brilliantly." View photo

Winner: Amos Chapple, for a shot of the end of a day's surf at Ninety Mile Beach.

Judge's comment: "I loved this image! It really stood out as the winner from the finalists because of its clever composition, and it was one of the only examples of interaction between Kiwis and their cars, which was the whole point of the category." View photo

Winner: Mike Jensen, for a gorgeous photo of the iconic Aoraki/Mt Cook.

Judge's comment: "There were a number of strong entries in this category, but the power and majesty of Aoraki/Mt Cook with the beautifully shaped cloud behind it made this image stand out." View photo

Winner: Richard Burson, for a picture that speaks volumes for the Kiwi male and his love for fishing, taken on Lake Wanaka.

Judge's comment: "This shot made me laugh, and an image that instills an emotion is a success. It also tells a story about New Zealand and Kiwis, and epitomises the outdoor culture that we love." View photo