UCOL photographers eye the prize

29 July 2014

UCOL photographers eye the prize

UCOL’s photography aspirations will be focussed on the Epson / NZIPP Iris Professional Photography Awards to be announced next Monday.

Thirty six Bachelor of Applied Visual Imaging (BAVI) and Diploma Photographic Imaging students have submitted entries to the prestigious annual print competitions. Twenty of the students will travel to Rotorua to assist during the print judging sessions and attend the conference that is run in conjunction.

UCOL lecturers Ian Rotherham and Paul Gummer will also attend and, like their students, compete for gold, silver and bronze awards in a variety of categories.

UCOL lecturer and 2013 NZ Professional Photographer of the Year Kaye Davis will also be present in her capacity as NZIPP Chair of Honours.

“We are very impressed with the calibre of our students’ entries,” says Ian.

Despite the expected strong competition from two other institutions, hopes are high for a UCOL student to once again claim the Tertiary Student Assistant of the Year award. “We have won it for the last nine years on the trot,” says Ian. “It would be great to make it ten.”

The Awards and conference are a great opportunity for students to make contacts with professional photographers and develop industry connections.

“The professionals are always interested to see the students’ work,” says Paul. “Student work is inspirational and highly regarded. There is a mutual respect between the newcomers and the old hands.”

Print judging takes place from Thursday and industry and category awards will be made at a Gala Dinner on Monday night (4 August).

Head of School of Photography, Arts and Design Rachel Hoskin, says the school is looking forward to the competition with great anticipation, “Our results have always exceeded our expectations.”

ENDS

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