Welcome to Festival Zone for late June 2024.
2024 Sony Auckland Photo Day winners
Auckland Festival of Photography’s annual 24-hour day in the life of Auckland - Tāmaki Makaurau competition took place on Saturday 8 June, with the hundreds of entries submitted adding to an archive of more than 15,000 unique images of Auckland - Tāmaki Makaurau taken since the competition began. The announcement of 2024’s Auckland Photo Day winners marks the end of June’s successful festival, which included more than 60+ online, in venue and outdoor exhibitions across the region, including many exploring the ‘Believe’ theme.
Clint Schubert; Faces of Freedom - 1st Prize 2024 Sony Auckland Photo Day
Aaron Key, Sony NZ, judge’s comment: “A stunning black and white portrait that beautifully captures the strength and dignity of the subject. By using a shallow depth of field, the photographer has isolated the protester in a chaotic environment, while also giving the image a cinematic quality that elevates it from the mundane. The composition draws the eye to the face, where the attention is held by the details, textures and powerful expression. It’s a very striking image that illustrates the individual’s commitment to a common cause.”
Taken at the recent 'March for Nature' event in central Auckland.
First Prize: Sony Alpha 6700 camera (RRP $2799.95) & E 16-55mm F2.8 G lens (RRP $2399.95). Total value: RRP $5199.90
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Jack Reed - Hallwreckers 2 - 2nd Prize Sony Auckland Photo Day
Jack said he was out and saw posters for an all ages rock gig at the Grey Lynn Library Hall. “I enjoy making portraits of youth culture and wanted to be involved in Auckland Photo Day. Whenever I go to a gig, I find photographing the audience more interesting than photographing the performers.”
Metro editor Henry Oliver’s judge’s comment: “... love this photo. The passion, the intensity, and the life-affirming energy of the subjects are equally evident in the photograph itself. Aesthetically, it bridges high culture and low — you don't know whether it's the work of a friend of the subjects or a seasoned professional. Everything is a little off but also exactly on point. I could just as easily imagine seeing it on the walls of the city's most prestigious art galleries as on some random dude's Instagram story.”
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Debbie Chan; Layer Up - 3rd Prize 2024 Sony Auckland Photo Day
Debbie took this photograph on Pah Road after a Saturday coffee. “I saw the car and thought it was a good opportunity for a photo. It looked interesting, something you don’t see very often.” She kept thinking about the car and its contents.
The judges selected Debbie Chan’s image for third place. Sylvie Whinray, photojournalist's insight “This picture is elegantly composed and has a cinematic feel. It intrigued the judges and left us with more questions than answers; without people visible in the frame we wondered about the story, and felt the moody tone reflects our current times.”
AFP Founder and CEO, Julia Durkin, MNZM, said “Congratulations to the winners and entrants to this year’s ‘day in the life of Auckland’, and past competitions for contributing to a significant archive of our region’s diversity and communities over time. Thanks also to Sony NZ for sponsoring the competition and prizes and to the Creative Communities Festival Fund for project funding.”
This year’s competition judges were:
2024 Judges:
Aaron Key, Digital Imaging Product Specialist, Sony New Zealand
Sylvie Whinray, Photojournalist
Henry Oliver, Editor, Metro magazine
This year's top 30 images are curated to give real enjoyment and insight to our visual lives on Auckland - Tāmaki Makaurau - Photo Day.
People's Choice Prize 2024
Voting for the People’s Choice prize takes place for one week from today, 20 June.
Derek Teague: Happy Days, taken on Richmond Road, Ponsonby
People's Choice Prize:
Sony 64GB SF-M Tough UHS-II SD card worth $149.95
Profoto Silver/White Collapsible Reflector worth $304.00
The diverse sampling of daily subject matter that makes up 2024’s 'best of’ Auckland Photo Day provides a great treat of visual stories about who we are as Aucklanders in June 2024.
Believe - NASA James Webb exhibition - Queens Wharf
NASA James Webb Telescope- Jupiter Images Showcase Auroras Hazes
(NIRCam Image) by NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Ricardo Hueso (UPV), Imke de Pater (UC Berkeley), Thierry Fouchet (Observatory of Paris), Leigh Fletcher (University of Leicester), Michael H. Wong (UC Berkeley), Joseph DePasquale (STScl)
Deep Space, Queens Wharf Fence - 29 May – 30 June.
Thanks to NASA, and Queens Wharf Fence team, and Eke Panuku Development. And at Karanga Plaza on lightboxes as part of the 'Believe' theme.
Alex Mao Youth Photo Award 2024
Image Auckland [tāmaki makaurau] are delighted to present the 6th annual Alex Mao Youth Photo Award which will take place again during June.
This is an annual photography grant for emerging photographers, at the start of their careers or study. We invite photographers and artists under 25 years to enter their NZ photography work/photo essay/project for the 1st place cash grant, NZ$1200 and a trophy, and are delighted with the support from Alex Mao Photography Foundation and to Print Art for the introduction of NZ$500 print and frame voucher 2nd place and certificate.
Entries open now to 30th June 2024. Entries will be via Auckland Photo Blog. Terms and Conditions apply.
Supported by the Alex Mao Photo Foundation, Print Art and presented by Image Auckland [tāmaki makaurau] - winners announced in early July and Award giving in Auckland w/c 8th July.
See all our wonderful Youth Photo Award winners since 2019. To date over $6600 has been Awarded to support Youth photographers in NZ through this Award.
Magical Pollinators - Kinder House
The Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust goal is to save our butterflies and moths. This photographic display features a gallery of 30 photographs of our Lepidoptera, and aims to bring the magic of nature's knowledge to New Zealanders/Aotearoa. Check opening times at this historic heritage venue before heading out.
Damon Marshall; Blue Butterfly Golden Light