2025 : 06 Alex Mao Youth Photo Award

Saryu Mae;Eye Contact Through the Lupins;The Rifleman | Tītitipounamu is the tiniest bird species in Aotearoa. During my time in Fiordland, I had a special encounter with a curious individual—an unforgettable moment when it emerged from a patch of blooming lupins.
Saryu Mae;Carrying love ;White fronted tern, carrying a fish for its mate. At Muriwai Beach, Auckland. Spent three hours to capture this moment perfectly.
Saryu Mae;wrybill;wrybill at Kaipara
Saryu Mae;Aerial Hunter;Though it may look cute, the New Zealand Fantail / Pīwakawaka is a fierce hunter of flying insects. I had long hoped to photograph this behavior, so I waited patiently for four hours near a swarm of midges until, at last, the hunter arrived. By placing myself where the bird would be partially backlit, I was able to highlight its golden tones and create a striking contrast.
Saryu Mae;Nocturnal Predator;The majority of New Zealand’s spiders are active at night, and Cryptaranea atrihastula is no different. I photographed this individual in complete darkness within native bush in Auckland. To emphasize its nocturnal habits and highlight its intricate details, I chose to present the image in black and white.
Saryu Mae;Werewere kōkako: A Fungal Icon of Aotearoa;This vivid blue mushroom is Entoloma hochstetteri, also known as Werewere Kōkako, a species found only in New Zealand. After years of searching, I finally discovered one in the Waitākere Ranges this May. I spent an hour capturing it, aiming to highlight both its striking natural colour and the forest habitat it calls home.
Saryu Mae;One of The Last: A Cry for the Future;The New Zealand Dotterel is a vulnerable shorebird found only in New Zealand. I photographed this chick on a beach in northern Auckland, one of the few places where they managed to breed last season. While taking this image, I witnessed people carelessly disturbing the nesting area. Through this photo, I hope to show both the delicate nature of these birds and the need to protect them.
Uriel de Proença Ruiz;Love Lives In The Quiet Moments;A soft, unspoken connection unfolds in the routine of shared space. With its natural light coming from the kitchen windows and the domestic stillness, this image captures the comfort of being present without doing, without posing, simply being. Shot with affection and a quiet eye, this photograph reveals the kind of love that doesn't need words. A hoodie, a meal being made, the hum of appliances, it's all about being a witness to the simple and profound time shared in silence. The soft, warm tones, diffused lighting and casual framing evoke the authenticity of being with someone without needing to perform. It's a study in subtle intimacy, a tender narrative of a private moment made universal that turns the everyday into art.
Uriel de Proença Ruiz;Liminal Hunger;Drawn to the fridge's glow, the subject embodies a universal craving for food, for pause. Caught between darkness and cold light, this image dwells in a liminal space where the rich purples and shadowed details lend a cinematic intensity to an otherwise mundane, human act.
Uriel de Proença Ruiz;Hands That Feed;There’s a quiet reverence in the act of preparing a meal, especially for others. This image captures that moment just before nourishment is shared, where care is translated through touch, steel, and steam.
Mars Cook;Spectrum;This is of someone I know called Riley, we met at a volunteer run camp focused on nature, collective action and political organising. It was full of all kinds of people including queer and trans people and I felt very at home. I was running around the camp at the last hour of the camp asking everyone if they wanted a portrait and she said yes. I used firework glasses I got for $2 to turn the sun into a rainbow star and to soften the image.
Uriel de Proença Ruiz;In Between Spaces;A quiet moment captured between inside and outside, presence and reflection. This image explores how stillness can hold many layers, like light, memory, and emotion dissolved in everyday intimacy.

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