aotearoa music photography award 2025 winners
Image Auckland is delighted to announce the winners of 2025 Music Photography Award - Whakaahua Puoro Toa
The 2025 Award was judged by Brenna Gotje is an award-winning live music photographer, honoured with the 2024 Aotearoa Music Photography Award. With over a decade of experience capturing the energy and emotion of live music, Brenna sees music photography as “art capturing art in action” - a vibrant intersection of musicians, audience, and the raw electricity of the moment. (More below as at May 2025 announcement).
2025 Aotearoa Music Photography Award 1st Place: Azrie Azizi – Fazerdaze, Powerstation.
Judge Brenna Gotje said “There's a dreamlike quality to the image, as if you're submerged underwater, conveyed through the lighting, through smokey waves of the background. This image stands out for the intimacy it evokes, the connection between the artist and their equipment, the subtle adjustments made before and sometimes even during the set. The tone is magnificent; it was a clear winner.”
Credit: Ready to Fly - Amelia Murray (Fazerdaze) getting ready to perform her hometown show for her new Album ""Soft Power" by Azrie Azizi
Azrie wins $1250 grant, plus a Harvey Norman Prize pack which includes:
FeuyiTech Scorp Pro Handheld Stabilizer F4
Canon Pro 300 photographic printer
2 X Ilford Pro Inkjet Paper – Smooth Pearl A4 packs
and his winning image will be part of future exhibitions of the 2025 AMPA.
Azrie said 'I’m honored to receive this award from a constellation of amazing photographers who inspire me everyday. It’s incredible validation for what I love to do most."
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2025 Aotearoa Music Photography Award 2nd Place: Ludivine Pellissier - Electric Avenue
Judge Brenna Gotje said, " You can’t look away, this is a photo that invites you to get lost in it. There’s a stillness, despite the crowd. Whatever music is playing, everyone seems deep in conversation, absorbed in their world. It provokes questions, draws you in, and leaves you wondering what stories are unfolding. Intriguing and beautifully captured, it lingers in your mind long after you’ve seen"
Credit: Electric Avenue #2, 21.02.25 Christchurch by Ludivine Pellissier
Ludivine wins $500 grant plus a Harvey Norman Prize pack which includes:
FeuyiTech Scorp Handheld Stabilizer F2
Matterport Axis Smartphone Gimbal + Tripod Starter Bundle
her winning image will be part of future exhibitions of the 2025 AMPA.
Ludivine said "Oh wow that’s absolutely amazing! Thank you so so much! I’m really happy you liked my submission!"
View all the 2025 entries
To date $9750 has been Awarded to support Music photography in NZ through this Award since 2021. Announced 3rd June 2025
aotearoa music photography award 2024
Image Auckland is delighted to announce the winners of 2024 Music Photography Award - Whakaahua Puoro Toa
The 2024 Award was judged by Federico Monsalve, he has worked within the photography sector to publish news stories, building an archive of written and visual editorial over many years, his career stretches across the arts sector. He was also the former editor of Urbis and Interior magazines. A writer and journalist, his work has appeared in a range of local and international media including The New Zealand Herald, Monocle (UK), Urbis, Flying Nun, ARTnews (NY) and Interior.
Music Photography Award 1st Place: Brenna Gotje, Princess Chelsea band - Town Hall.
Judge Federico Monsalve said, "Capturing a single, fleeting moment when a musician is in an almost trance-like communion with its instrument. This photograph is delightful in its composition and its ability to contain an enigmatic burst of energy. The background light is almost heavenly both in its texture and directionality; the backdrop instruments and equipment appear as if officiating whatever primordial dance is going on in front of them while nearby, a pair of pants with fleeting butterflies add even more condensed, solidified movement to this tableau. I was instantly attracted to this raw image because, although intrinsically bound to the music it is trying to capture, it plays by its own rules to create an artwork in its own right."
Brenna wins $1250 grant and her winning image will be part of future exhibitions of the 2024 AMPA.
Brenna stated, "Thanks so much!It was great just to have it on the website, its incredible validation, I just love photographing musicians… but to win… it is absolutely insane!"
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2024 Music Photography Award 2nd Place: Tom Grut - Weyes Blood, performing at Powerstation.
Judge Federico Monsalve said, "This image’s superpower is its ability to capture a single, clear message: “ethereal.” Beyond theatrics or stage settings, a simple, mostly in-camera treatment clearly depicts the singer’s intent and gives a very clear indication as to the essence of her sound. It is simple and minimal, restrained yet moody and it carries within it a rhythmic flow that fits the subject impeccably."
Tom wins $500 grant and his winning image will be part of future exhibitions of the 2024 AMPA.
Tom stated, "Very stoked! Her music was so angelic that I was trying to capture some of that ethereal quality by playing around with shutter speeds and the way the light was reflecting against that white dress. It was all quite dreamy. "
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People's Choice Award - $250 Prezzy card (like a preloaded debit card). People's Choice Winner's announced - Samantha Davies, Jonas Brothers - Spark Arena, Feb 2024 and Doug Peters, Taylor Swift at Mt Smart, Auckland 2018.
View all the 2024 entries
To date $8000 has been Awarded to support Music photography in NZ through this Award since 2021.
music photography award 2023
Image Auckland is delighted to announce the winners of 2023 Music Photography Award - Whakaahua Puoro Toa
The 2023 Award was judged by Robert M Knight, NZ/Auckland based US Rock Music photographer who has a 175,000 image archive, and career stretching from 1968 to recent times. He has photographed pretty much everyone. He is an author and the subject of the documentary film Rock Prophecies. Knight has photographed Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Steve Vai, and Carlos Santana.
Music Photography Award 1st place: Photographer - Andrew Cornaga - Ed Sheeran at Eden Park, February 10th.
Judge Robert M Knight, said, "Its been great seeing so many artists captured as they perform, tough decision, often these big international stars are more challenging to photograph well due to restrictions on the night and where a photographer gets placed. This one by Andrew Cornaga is a stand out portrait which meets all the elements of technical skill, catching the pose of Ed with his guitar held high, significant of a triumphant night of music".
Andrew wins $1250 grant and his winning image will be part of future exhibitions of the 2023 AMPA.
2023 Music Photography Award 2nd Place: Photographer - Amanda Hodge at Homegrown 2023, with Joe Walsh performing with Gin Wigmore.
Judge Robert M Knight, said, "shooting in the pit often is intuitive, this one shows the 'hands on' fans excitement at a well known NZ music Festival. A joyous, fun time for everyone. Joe Walsh's look is one that says "can I stay here a bit longer?"
Amanda wins $500 grant and her winning image will be part of future exhibitions of the 2023 AMPA.
People's Choice place - $250 Prezzy card (like a preloaded debit card). People's Choice Winner is now announced - Wellington based Nichole Davis, with her portrait of Che Fu performing at Homegrown 2021. Congratulations too. View all the 2023 entries
Music Photography Award 2022
Image Auckland is delighted to announce the winners of 2022 Music Photography Award - Whakaahua Puoro Toa
The 2022 Award was judged by
Dave Simpson, of FromThePit fame, which started in 2018.
Dave is a professional photographer covering live events for 20 years, who's images regularly appear in numerous local and international publications including The New York Times, USA Today, The Guardian, The Daily Mail, The Sun, Newsweek, RollingStone, Billboard, Forbes, Vanity Fair, People, The Huffington Post, Pitchfork and NME, and is a Getty Images contributor.2022 Music Photography Award 1st Place: Photographer - Dave Watson, Foo Fighters (Dave Grohl) performing at Mt Smart Stadium, 2018
Judge comment: “This winner really does capture the moment beautifully despite the tricky photoing with the rain. There's a confidence and lightness in the image which matches the stance of the musician who has plenty of room to breath in the picture. The lighting and technical handling are perfect despite the rain. I know we only judged the best single image, but all the images Dave Watson's submitted are exquisitely presented, and he's a master of his craft.”
David wins $1500 cash. Dave said he's delighted and its "great this one won, as it signifies the pre pandemic years where New Zealand was a main touring country. He's looking forward to the return of these big stadium concerts with world's superstars in town to photograph"
2022 Music Photography Award 2nd Place: Photographer - Shelley Te Haara, Julia Deans, performing at the first Songbirds in Suburbia
Judge comment: “Whilst not technically perfect, it tells a strong story. It's dark and moody, with harsh lighting and I like the graphic handling. It speaks to me about a musician performing against adversity and everything that nature is throwing against her (rain being an allegory for Covid and lockdowns?). Yet, she continues to perform sheltered under an umbrella.”
Shelley wins $750 cash. Shelley said the win had "made my day" and "thanks to the judge, who she has "stood with in the pit" on many occasions"
Music Photography Award 2021
Watch now on You Tube - Veronica McLaughlin, Award winner -
Auckland Festival of Photography are proud to present the inaugural Aotearoa Music Photography Award | Whakaahua Puoro Toa competition winners:
Winner: Veronica McLaughlin, Delaney Davidson
2nd Place: Doug Peters, Florence + The Machine
View all the 2021 entries
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