Over the school holidays, we asked young people to tell us a story by taking a photo!
We took submissions in three categories: Nature, Whānau, and Objects/Books, and in two age groups, 5-12 and 13-18.
Thanks to all our competition entrants who wowed us with your creativity, eye for detail, and wonderful visual storytelling.
We are grateful for the insightful judging provided by the team at Splendid Photo. Thanks Splendid for helping us pick these winners!
Check the winners out here! Underneath each photograph is the story behind them.
5-12 – Nature: Mala
“I wanted to take a photo of a natural beauty. I want people to feel like they are in the photo, surrounded by towering blades of grass.”
5-12 – Objects/Books: Lucas
“This cat was at the playground. I really wanted a photo of the cats paw because it looked interesting . I spent a long time getting the paw in the photo.”
5-12 – Whānau: Mia
“It was sooooo cool! I didn’t know that sunrises in New Zealand could look like this. We were lucky to go to an old fashioned Bach. It was old and had holes in the floor. But the front bedroom had glass for one wall. So me, mum and my sister all slept in there, so that we could see the sunrise from our beds. I got up so early, so that I could go down and take photos. It was so beautiful I couldn’t believe it. Like art in the sky. Only us there on the beach together.”
13-18 – Nature: Brunella
“For me, beauty is also in nature, and it’s not always exposed on the outside; easy to see, touch, feel, and smell… but it also is sometimes in unexpected places where if you look carefully, you can find light and beauty somewhere dark, small and
mysterious.”
13-18 – Objects/Books: Kaitlyn
“This is my netball hoop. Dad bought a new one because the other was tipping over. I have spent a lot of time this holiday practicing shooting for the netball season ahead.”
13-18 – Whānau: Tilly
“The whānau photo took place when my family and I were flying a kite on the beach. People stopped to watch as my family and I laughed willing it to fly higher and higher. The moment captured the familiar essence of whānau.”
Each of our winners won their own reusable film camera, a roll of film, and a voucher to get it developed! We hope they will all enjoy exploring a classic photography medium, that might be what their parents (or grandparents!) grew up with.
Thanks to Ben & Jerry’s Wellington and Light House Cinema who kindly provided some bonus spot prizes for a few other entrants!
Keep an eye-out for the travelling View Finders photography exhibition, including all our young people’s work. Coming soon to a library near you!