The two award winning photos from the Air New Zealand America's Cup Photography Awards can be viewed below. For more background on the awards see… America's Cup Photography Awards Captured
Professional Winner
Dean Barker Thinking - Geoff Dale
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Geoff Dale of Mt Albert won the professional award for a head and shoulders shot of Dean Barker at the press conference after the first disastrous race in which Team New Zealand suffered catastrophic equipment failure. The photograph was published in the Sunday Star-Times.
Chief judge Marti Friedlander says she was "moved by the photograph" and vividly recalled seeing the image when it appeared in the paper.
"When the black boat broke, Dean broke too. The whole of New Zealand felt for him and were united behind him," she says.
Hobby Winner
Loyal Kids - Bob Wharton
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Bob Wharton of Torbay entered a colourful photograph in the hobby section titled 'Loyal - tooth and nail!'. It captured a group of seven children sitting on the deck of a boat in Auckland's Viaduct Harbour holding up homemade artwork displaying the 'Loyal' symbol.
The judges agreed the highlight of the America's Cup was the huge ground swell of support for Team New Zealand's defence.
Marti Friedlander says, "The winning hobby photograph clearly portrays the hope of a nation through the eyes of children.
"It groups the different levels of support together from the corporate banner and campaign symbolism to the children's artwork," she says.