Photographers focus on Christchurch conference

19 September 2012

Photographers focus on Christchurch conference

Professional photographers are focusing their attention on Christchurch with their upcoming annual conference and awards this weekend.

The return to Christchurch of the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography Infocus Conference and Epson/NZIPP Iris ProfessionalPhotography Awards is a welcome fillip for the conference sector in Canterbury.

One hundred and fifty delegates will attend the awards and conference in Christchurch this weekend (September 22-24), the first time they have been held in in the city since 2006.

Mike Langford, president of the NZIPP, said they wanted to return to Christchurch to support the city and its local professional photographers. He was delighted that this year’s awards have attracted 1211 entries, up from the 934 in Rotorua last year.

But Christchurch’s diminished infrastructure does make it difficult to stage a conference for more than 250 people, according to Nerida Ramsay, of conference organisers Composition Ltd, said.

“There is a great deal of support for Christchurch but sometimes time there are just not the facilities available to successfully host a conference with larger numbers. Although there are large facilities, it is the infrastructure around them that is not easily available – such as nearby accommodation and suitable dinner venues within a client’s budget.

“But the good news is that facilities that are up and running are doing their utmost to help meet the requirements of organisations wanting conferences in Christchurch. There’s a real collaborative effort going on among restaurants, accommodation providers, transport and the like.”

Ramsay said that conference goers visiting Christchurch were grateful for the opportunity to visit the city and to better understand the devastation – and the recovery plans - first hand.

Ramsay applauded the commitment of some organisations to holding their conference in Christchurch.

For instance, the CAUTHE 2013Conference (Council for Australasian University Tourism and Hospitality Education) will hold its conference at Lincoln University next February.

“This conference was originally booked in at the Convention Centre before the earthquake and has since moved venues three times. They are committed to holding it in the region and supporting Christchurch. This is an international conference for about 250-300 people and it is the first time it is being held outside of Australia so they have put a huge commitment into having it here.

Langford said the NZIPP Awards provided a platform for professional photographers to benchmark their work against others.

“The NZIPP Iris Awards celebrate the cream of the cream in New Zealand photography. Photographers train for years to produce work that is considered as being a ‘professional’ standard, and the Epson/NZIPP Iris Professional Photography and Infocus conference provide ongoing education opportunities.”

Next year, NZIPP celebrates its 75th anniversary.

• Photographic entries will be open to the public on Saturday, September 22, Chateau on the Park, 9am-5pm. Award winners will be announced on Monday evening, September 24.

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