Festival Zone

Welcome to Festival Zone for the closing week of the Festival June 2014. Many Festival exhibitions are open in galleries, community spaces and cafes. This week we have more photography exhibitions on across the region in our memory, signature and fringe programmes. Dont forget it is the last few days for the Nikon Photo Contest 2012-2013 winners exhibition closes on 20th June, dont miss this exclusive international exhibition at the Aotea Center.

Nikon 2014 Auckland Photo Day winner  

The winners of the Nikon Auckland Photo Day 2014 competition have been announced. More than 1000 entries were received this year, adding to a unique archive of more than 11,000 images taken of Auckland and its communities since the annual June event first took place in 2004’s Auckland Festival of Photography.

2014’s winner is Dave Barker’s image Time for a Fag which shows a newly-wed couple relaxing at the water’s edge. Judges praised the top photograph for its “fortuitously captured and intriguing moment bathed in a golden light - a photograph that asks questions of the people, customs, traditions and consumption. It’s brilliant because of the multiple readings that can emerge from this single image. A split world of idealism versus reality.”  

Second prize went to Katie Quinney’s engaging photograph, Rugby People, of faces of fans at Eden Park. The judges said: “A decisive moment capturing a lone English supporter amidst a chaotic scene of varying reactions, made more intriguing by the reversed emphasis away from the game”.

Third prize was awarded to Chris van Ryn's image Lazyboy Time, with a photograph of a building site with three men taking a “smoko”. The judges commented: “A building site becomes an outdoor lounge for three men relaxing, using wheelbarrows as loungers, it’s an outdoor setting with the intimacy of a living room”.

2014’s Nikon Auckland Photo Day judges were Associate Professor Megan Jenkinson, Chris Traill, FNZIPP and Nikon Business Imaging manager, Jono Higgins.  

As part of his prize Dave Barker will receive a brand new Nikon D5300 w AF-S DX NIkkOR 18-140MM VR LENS. This lightweight, full-featured DX-format D-SLR has a 24.2-megapixel CMOS sensor, 39-point, and Full HD movie recording. Nikon’s first DSLR to feature a built-in Wi-Fi®, so you can instantly transfer your photos*. Crystal-clear 3.2-inch LCD vari-angle monitor lets you shoot at any angle. 

Full Top 30 winners for 2014 can be seen here. Congratulations to all the winners this year and thanks for taking part to all the other entrants - now you get to be the judge with our Peoples Choice prize. Full media release.

Peoples Choice voting

From today, Wednesday 18th June the judges excellent and inspiring shortlist is online - see them on the link below and start voting for your favourites, the voting completes on Monday 30th June at 5pm. You can view 2014’s shortlisted entries – and vote online for your favourites in the People’s Choice category by visiting http://www.photographyfestival.org.nz/photo-day/peoples-choice/index.cfm. Voting closes at 5pm 30 June.

People's Choice prize:

And dont forget to send in more photos of Festival event openings and exhibition photos during June for Auckland Photo Blog.