Recently I was a finalist at the Iris Awards – the only professional photography awards for New Zealand and Australia.
For the last 35 years the awards have been organised by the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photographers (NZIPP). They are an annual celebration of the innovation and excellence of photographers; providing a platform for recognition for photographers within the photography community and the wider public.
“They’re considered to be the Oscars of the professional photography world here in Oceania”.
Photographers entering the competition are challenged to push their creative boundaries.
I have submitted to the Iris Awards every year since 2020, making it as a finalist in the Nature Category in my very first year of submission. The awards have helped to improve my photography skills and challenge my creativity.
2023 has been my most successful year yet. I submitted 12 entries – 11 of which won awards: 5 Bronze, 4 Silver, 1 Silver with Distinction, and 1 Gold. This made me a finalist in the Nature Category. I was also awarded the title “Master of Photography (with Distinction)”.
Gold Award - Nature Category
Shorebirds roosting on a tidal mudflat.
Silver Award with Distinction - Nature Category
'When two become one' - A pair of mating New Zealand fantails. This image was taken at the precise moment the male began his dismount, opened his wings and was about to fly off. Look closely and you'll see that the open wings belong to the male while the fanned out tail belongs to the female.
This image generated quite a bit of discussion during the live judging which is always a good thing. It came quite close to winning me my very first Gold at the IRIS Awards.
Silver Award - Nature Category
A pair of mating New Zealand dabchicks with an inquisitive juvenile dabchick onlooker. The juvenile happens to be one of the pair's own offspring.
This image generated quite a bit of discussion during the live judging which is always a good thing.
Silver Award - Nature Category
A New Zealand dabchick photographed with a morsel of food in its beak as it navigated the choppy waves of Lake Rotorua.
Silver Award - Nature Category
A Buller's Mollymawk photographed in flight.
My vision for this image was for the viewer to be captivated by the beautiful features of the eye and beak of the bird. Hence the eye-level perspective and composition. The inclusion of the curved wing gives the viewer a sense of motion and flight.
Silver Award - Nature Category
A pair of mating Tūī photographed in amongst resplendent Taiwan Cherry blossoms.
Bronze Award - Nature Category
A juvenile New Zealand Sea Lion photographed as it was play-fighting with its sibling.
Bronze Award - Nature Category
A White heron (Kōtuku) captured at the exact moment it catches a fish and turns its head to trash it to submission. Look closely and you'll see the nictitating membrane over the kōtuku's eyes. Love the mirror reflection of the bird on the water's surface.
Bronze Award - Nature Category
A Blue Duck (Whio) clambers over a rock through the rapids of the Tongariro River in Turangi, New Zealand.
Bronze Award - Nature Category
An adult alpha-male Bengal Tiger yawns as it rises to begin its prowl over its vast territory in the forests of Bandhavgargh, India.
Bronze Award - Nature Category
An adult New Zealand falcon (Kārearea) in flight with its feet outstretched captured from a unique perspective. This is typically the last thing a prey would see as a falcon swooped down on it.
