NZ Photographer of the Year 2023 finalists capture colour and soul through the lens

14 Sep 2023

Choosing favourites is a hard job when it comes to the New Zealand Geographic Photographer of the Year Awards, and with over 8,000 entries this year it was clear just how much talent and creativity the photographers brought to the competition.

Resene Built Environment and Resene Landscape are among some categories that cast a spotlight on colour, architecture and landscape - and you won’t want to miss the incredible finalists that are up for winning the awards in these areas. 

“The past 12 months have seen New Zealand open to the world, our lives open to each other’s, and then the weather cave in upon us,” says NZ Geographic publisher James Frankham. “Photographers have revelled in newfound freedoms, and submitted some 8000 entries into Photographer of the Year 2023.”

From Hawke’s Bay floods to ice climbers, bushfires and mating harvestman spiders, 68 finalists are now on display in Britomart, downtown Auckland for two months. Alternatively visit the website to see the finalists and vote on your favourites: https://www.nzgeo.com/photography/photographer-of-the-year-2023-finalists/

Stay tuned for Award Night updates!

Here is a small taste of some of the finalists:

Amid many fascinating images submitted in the Resene Landscape category, photographer Spencer Clubb shows the Pike escarpment, an impressive sandstone formation along a ridge, stand out as a striking element on the Paparoa Track. Seen to the north during sunset, with subalpine shrubs and dracophyllum trees in the foreground, creating a breathtaking scene.

Among the finalists in the Resene Built Environment category, photographer Phil Irons took this captivating image of a foggy morning in Auckland from the slopes of Mangawhau/Mount Eden.

A finalist in the Resene Landscape category, photographer Roger Wandless noticed a crop burnoff in progress and stopped to compose a picture: fire, crop sprayer, birds escaping the flames, and mountains appearing through the smoke.

Published: 14 Sep 2023