Portrait Photo Wins Top Award In Photo Exhibition

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MEDIA RELEASE: Thursday 20 October

Portrait Photo Wins Top Award in Bay of Plenty Student Photo Exhibition

Mount Maunganui College student Abbey McCorry-Pratt has won the top prize in the Student Photo Competition run as part of the Tauranga Arts Festival. Abbey won the portrait (15-18 years) category of the contest and Judge John Borren said her image was the stand-out entry to take the top award. "It is well composed and Abbey has used light really well. Many professionals would be happy to say that was their picture." Abbey was named top overall winner at the Student Photo Exhibition opening in the Baycourt Foyer last night. Portrait winner_email.jpg

Her award came as a surprise. "It's pretty exciting for me and my model. I'm quite proud of myself. I didn't think I'd have the photography skills to win." Abbey wins a South Island tour with New Zealand Educational Tours to the value of $2000, a World Press Photo Exhibition catalogue, a day work experience at the Bay of Plenty Times and a cash prize of $100. Other winners in the competition were: Nature (10-14 years): Alexandra Fleming 1st; Katie Webber 2nd; James Lellman 3rd. Merit awards: Alexandra Fleming, Clay Dixon, Nicola Tapper and James Lellman Nature (15-18 years): Rebekah Richard 1st; Joel Dixon 2nd & 3rd. Merit awards: Laura Backhouse, Lucy Lim, Rebekah Richards and Zac Dempsey Portrait (10-14 years): Rachel Waddingham 1st & 2nd; James Lellman 3rd Portrait (15-18 years): Abbey McCorry-Pratt 1st; Kali de Wild 2nd; Ashley Cochrane 3rd Contemporary Issues (10-14 years): James Lellman 1st Contemporary Issues (15-18 years): Katie Gillard 1st; Laura Liddy 2nd; Stephanie Pierce 3rd Arts and Entertainment (15-18 years): Kassie Symes 1st & 3rd; Stephanie Pierce 2nd Sport (10-14 years): James Lellman 1st; Nicola Tapper 2nd Sport (15-18 years): Joel Dixon 1st All category winners receive $100, second placegetters receive $50 and third placegetters receive $25. Tauranga Arts Festival director Greg Latham said the competition attracted 118 entries across five categories in two age bands - 10-14 years and 15-18 years. "We held the contest to showcase the talent of young photographers in the Bay of Plenty and to encourage students to pick up a camera and show us the world through their lens. "We're very pleased with the high standard of entries received. We've ended up with a brilliant selection of images taken by local young people." The contest was organised to run concurrently with the World Press Photo Exhibition and winning entries are on display in the Baycourt Foyer from today until October 30. The World Press Photo Exhibition is at Tauranga Art Gallery until 6 November. Both exhibitions are part of Tauranga Arts Festival and the REAL New Zealand Festival which runs alongside Rugby World Cup 2011. ENDS
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