2025 : 06 Alex Mao Youth Photo Award

Mars Cook;Ritual;This is a photo taken of noise artist MDTH at Whammy Bar. The performance was even more intense than this photo looks, it felt like a summoning ritual of some kind. I used a low angle to emphasize his sillhouette and to make the viewer feel small.
Mars Cook;Hit;I find that drummers often forget theyre being watched when performing and as a result it's a fun challenge to get dynamic looking photos of them. I like how this one from Fullnoise 2025 turned out.
Mars Cook;Queen;This is a photo from a time I put my friend Evie in drag for the first time. We took this in my bathroom. I love putting other people in drag because I get to dig deep into what gender presentation the other person thinks would be the most affirming, or fun, or interesting. It's a way to espress who you truly are just as much as it's a way to become someone totally different.
Mars Cook;Jack Crowdsurfing;This photo was taken at an all ages gig during a performance by local Tāmaki Makaurau band Ratso. The red lights outside are from a fire truck that called in the middle of the show. The photo is taken after we were all let back in after evacuating to continue the show so people were pretty hyped. I jumped onto the stage to take it because I'm a bit short. My favourite details are the hands. It was a pretty rough pit but the hands in this shot look graceful and relaxed even though theyre helping carry a person.
Uriel de Proença Ruiz;Next Stop: Home;Shot on a calm night ride through Central Auckland, this photo represents more than the journey. It’s about a moment of quietness, a comforting look shared between souls, depicting the kind of companionship that makes even a bus ride feel like belonging. Home is where the heart is.
Winny He;Streets of Hong Kong;It was my first time back in Hong Kong in a while. Every corner we turned reeked of sewage water. As we come to a stop, my brother tells me he likes the sound the lights make when waiting to cross. I look out into the distance of busy workers and scurrying kids. Maybe it wasn't as bad as i imagined.
Mars Cook;Fog;This photo from Fullnoise 2025 has huge halos around the singer because my camera lens got fogged up along with the windows from how many people were in the room and how intense the moshpits were. I decided to delay wiping it off for a few minutes and play around with the condensation and blurryness.
Uriel de Proença Ruiz;Soft Chaos;Captured in the kitchen frenzy during a night of celebration, this photo holds the warmth of a chosen family. A blur of movement, laughter, and unspoken rhythm, all combined to create a glimpse into queer collectivity while celebrating with a special menu.
Winny He;When the world turns white;Delicate white branches painted in white frost. A magical moment where the icy trees meets the still water
Winny He;A secret between two;Caught between dusk and dawn as secrets linger in the fog. A discussion scatters across the atmosphere whilst two trees stand side by side, whispering to eachother.
Winny He;Abyss of Mist and Stone;Rocky slopes are inhaled by the fog, creating a sense of solitude where the earth dissapears into a mysterious realm of nothingness.
Winny He;duck patterns;As i stood on a bridge, i notice a recurring pattern on the water. A partially frozen part of the river had caught my eye.

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