OVERSEAS PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR FINALIST AT NZIPP 2011

Well, I had to have a crack at the trifecta...! I sent five entries over the Tasman to the New Zealand Professional Photography Awards a few weeks ago, which was just now finished being judged in Rotorua. I came away with five awards out of five - a Silver with Distinction and Bronze in the Classic Portrait Category and a Silver and Two Bronze in the Landscape Category. This not being cool enough already, it gave me enough points to finally win my Masters of Photography MNZIPP! Woohoo!!!


To top it off I was announced as a finalist for the Overseas Photographer of the Year for 2011 (pretty funny given that I am a proudly a kiwi, but I'll take it!).  Sue Bryce took the win with an absolutely phenomenal set of entries - three Gold and one Gold with Distinction!

I wish i was over there for this one! Maybe next year?

Here 's a link to the very clean and slick NZ Pro Report with all the winners and their award winning entries... there's some absolutely gorgeous work - totally worth some time - so treat yourself!

http://issuu.com/daspray/docs/nzipp_proreport_infocus_2011?viewMode=magazine&mode=embed

AUSTRALIAN PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2011

Well the night of nights for Photography in Australia has been and gone in it’s traditional whirlwind style….It was the biggest yet with a record number of entries over three huge days of judging streamed live all around the world. 

My lovely lady Mandy came away with a prestigious Gold and three Silver with Distinction awards and the coveted title of Runner Up Australian Portrait Photographer of the Year. So proud of you Mandy, you totally deserve it!

Mandy and her Gold Award - awesome!

Mandy when one of her winning prints was announced...

I came away with my Associateship Award, a Silver with Distinction and two Silver awards in the Landscape Category which was cool.

Shireen Hammond and my Silver with Distinction Awards!

High Silver Award

I camped out this year with the very talented and multi award winning crew from Exclusive Photography in Melbourne (including last years Portrait Runner up Damien Bowerman and Portrait Winner Chris Ian). We didn't exactly rough it lounging out in our high rise Penthouse apartment on the edge of Darling Harbour... Thaks for such a great time you guys!!!

Me and the Exclusive Photography Crew

The APPA Awards dinner went off in fine style, a super enjoyable night...

Hiedi Klum, eat your heart out - here's the beautiful Mandarine Montgomery!!!

Announcing Mandy's Runner Up Portrait win

Myself, Rob & Shireen Hammond, and Fiona Harrison

Getting my Associateship Medal

Celebrating!!!

Master of Photography Mandy!

Mandarine and Jackie

Mandy and I

Congratulations especially to Christian Fletcher for his landscape win and him and his brother Michael for the Fusion title win also. Superb work from the twin photographers!

The standard each year keeps reaching new heights - there's some seriously creative people out there!!! I can't recommend highly enough the value in competing, watching the judges delve into the images, soaking in the feedback, creating connections with other gifted photographers and touching base with the technological advances that the PMA show provides as part of the package. Just fantastic!

Doing a bit of 'product research' at the PMA show

I'll be back for more, but first I'm having a crack at the NZ Professional Photography Awards for 2011. Here we go!!!