Photographers achieve outstanding success in National photographic competition
Patience and practice perfecting their skills have paid off for a handful of New Zealand’s talented photographers as
they scooped the top trophies in the Photographic Society of New Zealand’s (PSNZ) annual Canon National Exhibition
(Natex).
The photographers, some amateur and some professional are scattered around the country and say they are ‘ecstatic,
surprised and honoured’ at their photographic works being recognised.
Natex represents an opportunity for any PSNZ member to submit their work to be selected for this prestigious exhibition,
which is comparable to any photographic exhibition on the world stage.
For the majority of entrants, photography is a passion combined with a full time job, however when you look at the works
selected, one would think it is their career, said Peter Wise FPSNZ, PSNZ Councillor for Natex.
This year the selectors saw an increase in the number of entries with a total of 1961 images entered from 300
photographers, compared to 255 people submitting 1700 images in 2013.
A total of 484 photographs - including prints and projected images - make up the exhibition, which the public can view
in the Exhibition Hall at the Marlborough Convention Centre during the PSNZ National Convention from April 23 – 27, 2014.
While the selectors consider technical competence in selecting a winning image, they also consider the composition and
execution of an image, as well as the creativity, character and illustration to suit the specific category in which it
was entered.
Initially the selection process is fairly straightforward, choosing images that would become part of the projected
section. The next process was to review all the images that either ‘just made the grade’ or ‘just missed out’. Then on
further consideration and panel discussion, some of these were either added to or deleted from the exhibition, explained
Peter Wise, PSNZ Councillor for Natex.
Three expert photographers were challenged with the task of selecting photographs from four separate categories: Open
Prints, Open Projected Images; Nature Prints, and Nature Projected Images.
The selection panel had hundreds of images to get through in two days, which meant that a photograph has to have an
instant WOW factor. Something outstanding to make them want to look again and again.
“Choosing images for the top awards from the best of the best is not always an easy task, said Peter.
THE NATIONAL EXHIBITION IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FROM 10AM TO 2PM ON SATURDAY 26 APRIL AT THE MARBLROUGH CONVENTION CENTRE.
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