Marking 10 years of the Otago Wildlife Photography Competition, the image judged best over the entire decade has been announced – with the photographer named amateur Otago Wildlife Photographer of the Decade.
Craig McKenzie, of Andersons Bay, took out the top prize for his 2006 entry Bar-tailed Godwit. Taken at Papanui Inlet on the Otago Peninsula, the photograph earned praise from competition judges for its “beautiful execution” of a “technically tough” subject – two godwits on the beach. The judges made the following comment about the winning image: “It is obvious that a fair bit of research had to go into capturing these migratory subjects and probably a bit of knowledge of the tide that day. Mirroring colours, great balance in getting the second Godwit in the background… Congratulations.” Craig receives $1000 worth of professional framing by Neville Studios.
Presented by Otago Museum in partnership with Natural History New Zealand (NHNZ) and with the support of Jonathan’s Photo Warehouse, the Otago Wildlife Photography Competition is an annual showcase for Otago’s amateur photographers. This year’s competition was judged by Craig Baxter of the Otago Daily Times, Quinn Berentson of NHNZ and Jonathan Kemp of Jonathan’s Photo Warehouse.
In the 10 years since its inception, the competition has gained momentum as one of Otago’s most popular amateur photography contests, and 2009 has been no exception with 890 entries submitted by the competition’s closing date on Wednesday 2 September.
From the current year’s entries, judges selected the 2009 Otago Wildlife Photographer of the Year - Karl Van Wynbergen, of Lookout Point, for his entry Forest. Karl wins a photographic accessory pack from Jonathan’s Photo Warehouse valued at $1500. The judges remarked: “The location of this shot, Mt Cargill, is tough to shoot and get the depth that Karl has achieved. Some thought has obviously gone into waiting for the right light – great light.”
Sisters Libby and Katie Atkinson delivered a double act, with Libby taking the top prize in the 14 years and under Animal category, while younger sister Katie was Highly Commended for her entry into the Human Impact on the Natural Environment section.
Competition organisers are delighted with the standard of entries across both age categories, and by the innovative and diverse approach taken to the photographic themes of “Animal,” “Plant,” and “Human impact on the Natural Environment.”
Otago Museum Visitor Programmes Coordinator Emma Burns comments: “The standard of entries this year was incredibly high. Photographers really pushed themselves creatively, searching for new angles on the traditional subject categories, experimenting with light and looking for topical local stories to convey in one shot.”
As a special extra to this year’s exhibition of photographs, a retrospective display will feature category winners – as well as overall winners – from all of the past ten years. The exhibition will run until 29 November 2009 in the Otago Museum’s 1877 Gallery.
Otago Wildlife Photography Exhibition 2009
Until 24 January 2010, 1877 Gallery, Otago Museum, FREE!
RESULTS
14 years and under
Plant
Highly commended: Jamie Parkinson-Wisely, Waterlily
Highly commended: Lewis Anderson, Dew on daisy
Winner: Kristine Jopson, Neon blossom
Animal
Highly commended: Jamie Parkinson-Wisely, Sea lion
Highly commended: Samantha Ayson, Seal pup
Winner: Libby Atkinson, Smiling
Human impact on the natural environment
Highly commended: Katie Atkinson, Light fantastic
Highly commended: Nicole Hebbard, Stop
Winner: Beau Child, Mount Vidrio
15 years and over
Plant
Highly commended: Wei-Ping Tan, Expansion
Highly commended: Richard Munro, Kelp
Winner: Karl Van Wynbergen, Forest
Animal
Highly commended: John Lamb, Preening Stewart Island shag
Highly commended: James Aitken, I see you!
Winner: Craig McKenzie, Silvereye
Human impact on the natural environment
Highly commended: Paul Ayers, Arizona oil slick
Highly commended: Richard Billington, Macraes mine
Winner: John Lamb, Winter inversion pollution
Jury Prize :
Alvin Setiawan, Squirrel in the park
Otago Wildlife Photographer of the Year (2009):
Karl Van Wynbergen, Forest
Otago Wildlife Photographer of the Decade (2000-9):
Craig McKenzie, Bar-tailed godwit (2006) |
