Hagen Hopkins wins Best Sports Picture at Canon Media Awards

Getty Images' photographer Hagen Hopkins wins Best Sports Picture at the Canon Media Awards, New Zealand

Auckland, New Zealand - May 30, 2011: Getty Images' contributing photojournalist Hagen Hopkins has been named winner of the Best Sports Picture at the prestigious Canon Media Awards, held on Friday in Auckland at the Sky City Convention Centre.

The Canon Media Awards celebrate the best of New Zealand journalism, recognising excellence in editorial and photographic work published during 2010. Hopkins took top honours in sports, one of 37 categories across newspapers, magazines, websites, blogs, with one video and five photographic categories. Hopkins' winning image captures a unique moment in time, during the lauded Twenty20 match between the Wellington Firebirds and Central Stags at Basin Reserve, Wellington in December 2010. The image captures a rare split second where a batsman who had just faced a ball, neared the bowler while striving for a run.

Stuart Hannagan, Getty Images' Vice President, Australasia and Director of Photography, Asia Pacific commented: "As a nation that is passionate about sport and capturing its iconic moments, this award saw some tough competition. We are thrilled to have two of our photographers recognised at the Canon Media Awards for their outstanding contribution to sport. Our photographers always look to visually document the moments that can tell an entire story and Hagen Hopkins' winning entry highlights this approach that Getty Images is known for."

"It is not often a bowler and batsman run side by side down the wicket, so in the short space of time before the photo was taken, I knew something exciting was going to happen. Out of the sequence of photos taken, this frame stood out with the bowler in full flight and the facial expressions of both players adding to the overall adding to the overall feel of the image," says Getty Images' photographer Hagen Hopkins. "I am thrilled to have won this prestigious award. Witnessing and shooting heroic sporting moments is a privilege, and it is an honour to be recognised for this work as part of the Getty Images news team."

Getty Images' photojournalist Phil Walter was also nominated for an award in the same category, for capturing the reactions of two Silver Ferns team members after the national netball team won the Gold Media final against Australia at the Delhi Commonwealth Games.
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