Media Release
9 May 2006

Manukau looks picture perfect

Steven Matthews’ striking black and white image of ‘Mangere Bridge in fog’ has taken top prize at this year’s Manukau Arts Photographic Competition.

The theme of the 2006 competition, now in its fourth year, was “Tomorrow’s Manukau through today’s lens”.

Awards were presented on Friday 5 May at a special event at Nathan Homestead. Prizes were awarded in six categories; People, Places, Nature, Culture, Open and Junior, plus the Supreme Award won by Steven Matthews.

Manukau’s budding photographers left a big impression on judge, Greg Semu, who says:

“I was pleased to see technical and compositional skills coming through in many of the entries. Competitions like these are a great way to encourage the development of photography as an art form.”

Organiser of the event, Arts Events Manager for Manukau City Council, Chantelle Whaiapu was delighted with the increase in entries for the junior competition.

“It’s great to see so many young people getting in touch with their creative side by taking up photography.”

The entries are now being exhibited at Nathan Homestead until 23 May and at Mangere Community Arts Centre from 26 May until 20 June.

ENDS

Category winners

People:
1. Doug Humby (Bucklands Beach)
2. Lisa Grogan

Places:
1. Steven Matthews (Mangere Bridge)
2. Pam Masson (Eastern Beach)*

Nature:
1. Louise Hitchcock (Manukau City)
2. Pam Masson (Eastern Beach)*

Open:
1. Gabriella Bookhorn (Manurewa)
2. Taria Baquie

Junior:
1. Christina Masson (Eastern Beach)*
2. Briar Wyatt (Manurewa)

Culture:
1. Genevieve Leitu Pini (Otara)
2. Shona Kebble (Pakuranga)

*Notes to editors:
Talented mother and daughter Pam Masson and Christina Masson of Eastern Beach received awards in Places and Nature (runner-up in both categories) and Junior (winner) respectively.

2006 Judge Profile
Greg Semu

Greg has exhibited internationally and was one of the first Pacific Island artists to exhibit at the Louvre in Paris. Renowned both in New Zealand and overseas for his striking images of Pacific Island people, in particular Samoan men wearing full-body tattoos called pe’a.

ENDS

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