2013 Photographer of the Year announced

Winners Announced

RICHARD ROBINSON: WINNER–WILDLIFE CATEGORY AND PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2013

THE EXTRAORDINARILY RARE sight of a leopard anemone adrift in the blue was among the images that have tonight earned Richard Robinson the title of New Zealand Geographic Photographer of the Year 2013; and the honour of becoming the only person to win the prestigious title twice.
The winners of the New Zealand Geographic Photographer of the Year 2013 competition were named in an awards cere­mony at Auckland’s Wynyard Quarter tonight.

Now in its fifth year, the New Zealand Geographic Photographer of the Year 2013 competition attracted a record 3,400 entries across four categories; Wildlife, Landscape, Society and Culture and Photo-Story.

The photographer with the best overall portfolio of images earned the title New Zealand Geographic Photographer of the Year 2013. Says publisher and convenor of judges, James Frankham, “To win this award, photog­raphers need to demonstrate an exceptional and original approach to the craft of photog­raphy; something that is both journalism and art. They’re not just a dispassionate observer; they are also a journalist with a critical eye on revealing reality.”

This year, Richard Robinson rose to the top—a press photographer for the New Zealand Herald, long-time contributing photographer to New Zealand Geographic, and winner of this award back in 2010.

Robinson was named finalist three times in this year’s competition—his leopard anemone image took out the Wildlife category prize, and an image of a feeding albatross was runner up in the same category. In the Photo-Story category, a series on the Turtle Rehabilitation Program at Kelly Tarlton’s Underwater World was highly commended also.

“It’s hard to appreciate the difficulty involved in capturing images of this quality and proximity to wild animals in their natural realm,” says Frankham. “It’s a never-ending battle against salt water, limited light and the tyranny of odds involved in drawing close enough to these shy creatures. But by getting these difficult pictures, Richie draws us all closer to understanding and appreciating that world.”

“These are images that communicate the essential qualities of life in New Zealand—unusual, fragile and often poorly understood.”

In addition to cash prizes, Robinson has won and a berth on board a Heritage Expedi­tions voyage on assignment for New Zealand Geographic magazine.

This year’s Young Photographer of the Year, awarded each year to a photographer under the age of 21, went to Oxana Repina—a 15-year-old student from Rutherford College in Auckland—for her birdlife portfolio. “Oxana’s photos showed her enormous potential to visualise a great picture. Her shots are well composed, carefully exposed studies that demonstrate her potential as a photographer,” says James Frankham.

The New Zealand public cast thousands of votes for their favourite image, with Waikato’s Bevan Percival taking the People’s Choice Award for his other-worldly entry Clouds over Rangipo.

All winning images are published in a 28-page feature in the November/December 2013 issue of New Zealand Geographic – out 28 October. Viewers can also head along to Karanga Plaza, in Auck­land’s Wynyard Quarter to view a free outdoor exhibition of these and previously awarded images. The exhibition is on until 13 November, 2013, from 10am – 6pm daily. Online galleries are available on the New Zealand Geographic website: www.nzgeographic.co.nz/photography

2013 WINNERS

Photographer of the Year:
Richard Robinson

Young Photographer of the Year:
Oxana Repina

People’s Choice Award:
Bevan Percival

SOCIETY & CULTURE CATEGORY

Winner:
Ian Harrison

Runner-up:
Robert Kitchin

Highly commended: Carolyn Archer, Peter Graney, Cherie Palmer, Peter James Quinn

LANDSCAPE CATEGORY

Winner:
Jason Hosking

Runner-up:
Derek Morrison

Highly commended: Sharon Brophy, Chris Morton, Bevan Percival

WILDLIFE CATEGORY

Winner:
Richard Robinson

Runner-up:
Richard Robinson

Highly commended: Cherie Palmer, Darryl Torckler, Tania Warbrick

PHOTOSTORY CATEGORY

Winner:
Craig Simcox

Runner-up:
Peter James Quinn

Highly commended: Colin Monteath, Richard Robinson

ENDS

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