Photographer of the Year celebrates photographic craft and those moments that make our society and environment unique. There will be an exhibition in Britomart, Auckland, and winners will be announced at an awards night in Auckland on October 29. There is $7000 cash up for grabs, $8000 worth of camera gear from Sony, and a voyage from Heritage Expeditions worth $17,200.

The Sony Photographer of the Year will be picked from all entrants, as will the Young and Senior Photographers of the Year. All finalists will have a crack at the Ockham Residential People’s Choice award, voted on by the general public. A Te Ao Māori award will be judged independently by Māori. Categories include Resene Landscape, Wildlife, Motat Aerial, Built Environment, Portrait, Society, Adventure, Photostory and Stardome Astrophotography categories.

All photos must have been shot after January 1, 2025 (except PhotoStory, after Jan 2026) and within New Zealand territory—including New Zealand-administered Pacific and Antarctic dependencies. A maximum of 26 entries per entrant over the nine categories (in other words 20 images and one set comprising four to six images in the Photostory category).

Read the full terms and conditions here. Entries closed midday, July 15.

Enter Photographer of the Year

AWARDS

SONY PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

Chosen from amongst all entrants, the winning portfolio demonstrates skills, consistency and creative insights that make for quality visual storytelling. It rewards originality and competence across all the images entered, and the ability to reveal a fresh perspective on our land or people.

OCKHAM RESIDENTIAL PEOPLE’S CHOICE

Visitors can vote on finalist images at the Photographer of the Year exhibitions in Auckland and on the New Zealand Geographic website. Public votes are tallied across the exhibition season in time for the awards night.

YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

The young photographer is chosen from all entrants under the age of 25 on September 30, 2024, and like Photographer of the Year, the quality of the entire portfolio of entered images is considered.

SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

An award to acknowledge the best portfolio of images shot by a photographer aged 60 and over on September 30, 2024.

TE AO MĀORI AWARD

Recognising exceptional coverage of kaupapa Māori and te ao Māori. Judges will be looking for deep, committed engagement with their subjects.

CATEGORIES

RESENE LANDSCAPE

Showcase the wonders of New Zealand—its mountains, wetlands, coasts and plains. The judges will be looking for attention to light and drama.

WILDLIFE

Capture New Zealand’s flora or fauna in its natural environment. We are looking for images that exude life and show behaviour or adaptations that make the animal or plant unique.

MOTAT AERIAL

The aerial category celebrates the art of aerial photography, be it from planes, helicopters or drones. Judges will be looking for images that defy the old visions from above and bring innovation and new perspectives of our landscapes and life.

BUILT ENVIRONMENT

Our cities, towns and structures reflect who we are as a society and how we interface with the natural world. We are looking for images that exemplify this connection.

PORTRAIT

Celebrating the time-honoured art of the portrait photograph, exuding the personality and lived experience of the subject.

STARDOME ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY

A new category recognising the art and technical craft of astrophotography, expanding the vision of our landscapes to the star spangled banner above.

ADVENTURE

A category covering outdoor adventure in Aotearoa—climbing, caving, diving, mountain biking, hiking, surfing. Tell the story of your adventure.

PHOTOSTORY

A set of four to six images. Judges will be looking for the quality of the images overall, as well as how they work together to tell a story.

SOCIETY

This category celebrates the traditions and relationships of all New Zealanders. The winning entry will be an image that captures our identity as a people.