Entry into this competition is deemed acceptance of the following terms and conditions. In brief: The images must be yours, you retain copyright but allow us to use the images for the purpose of the event, you can’t add or delete stuff in software, there are lots of prizes and if you are selected as a finalist you need to attend the awards in Auckland else have a damn good excuse. Here’s the long version:

1. The New Zealand Geographic Photographer of the Year competition is open to all amateur and professional photographers.

2. Closing date for entries is midday, Wednesday 12 July, 2023.

3. Entries to Wildlife, Landscape, Society, Aerial, Built Environment, Adventure and Portrait categories must have been shot after January 1, 2022, and within New Zealand or New Zealand-administered Pacific and Antarctic dependencies. Due to the time required to photograph a PhotoStory, entries in this category must have been shot after January 1, 2021.

4. Entries will only be accepted digitally and must not have been manipulated in any way other than global colour and exposure adjustments considered standard in RAW processing. Focus and exposure stacking, HDR, and stitched panoramas are allowed, but discretion is expected. Compositing or airbrushing is not permitted, nor anything added, removed or substituted from the original image other than dust spots or scratches. Over-indulgent use of filters, effects and unrealistic results will not be rewarded by the judges. Judges will request an original RAW file from finalists. Any images deemed by the judges to have been manipulated beyond these boundaries will be disqualified.

5. Images uploaded for judging purposes must be at least 1200 pixels in the longest dimension. Finalists must be able to supply a high resolution file at a minimum of 4000 pixels in the longest dimension on request. Photos scanned from transparency are acceptable. Limited cropping is allowed, but the native resolution of the image must still be 4000 pixels on the longest edge.

6. Images entered into the Aerial category must have been shot from an aircraft—either manned or unmanned—to qualify. In the case of drone images, the ‘photographer’ is the individual who released the shutter.

7. The photographer must be the sole author and owner of the copyright of all images. For the avoidance of doubt, this also prohibits the use of AI or generative imaging in all or in part of an image. It must be the product of a camera controlled by the photographer. It’s outrageous that we need to write this, but there you have it… no robots allowed.

8. Each entrant may submit a maximum of 20 images over the categories of Landscape, Wildlife, Society, Aerial, Built Environment, Adventure and Portrait. In addition, photographers may submit a set comprising four to six images in the Photostory category. The total number of entries allowed per entrant is 26.

9. Photographs that have previously won an award (ie winner or runner-up) in this or any other another photographic competition at the time of entry may not be entered.

10. All entries are submitted at the photographer’s own risk and the organisers cannot accept liability for any loss of file data of images previously entered in the competition.

11. By entering the competition, the photographer accepts that images may be published in New Zealand Geographic, online at www.nzgeo.com as part of its coverage of the Photographer of the Year competition and in a calendar produced and distributed with the Jan/Feb 2024 issue. You also accept that work may be published in the future in formats (print, electronic or exhibition) that showcase the best of the New Zealand Geographic Photographer of the Year competitions. Use of images will be credited to the photographer, and the photographer retains full copyright on all images.

12. By entering the competition you accept that your image may be used by New Zealand Geographic in media that specifically advertises, promotes or celebrates the Photographer of the Year competition. Use of images will be credited to the photographer, and the photographer retains full copyright on all images.

13. By entering the competition you accept that if your image is chosen as a category or overall winner, the relevant sponsor may use the image to promote their association with the awards for a period no longer than three months from the date the awards winners are announced. The words “New Zealand Geographic Photographer of the Year” will accompany the publication of images used by sponsors and appear with a photo credit to the photographer asserting your copyright. This does not extend to a sponsor using an image to promote a product or service. This is not a commercial license.

14. New Zealand Geographic reserves the right to print/mount/frame/project/screen shortlisted entries for exhibition purposes, and crop/alter the images in respect of that format, taking all due care to preserve the original impact and intent of the image. Judges will not alter images or crop entries to improve picture composition, however New Zealand Geographic may need to alter the colour balance or contrast of an image to ensure good reproduction on the printing/screen technology used.

16. Judges will be looking for interesting composition, subject matter and narrative, as well as technical expertise and a genuinely original approach. Judges will be looking for images which give an original perspective of New Zealand life or environment, or which take the viewer into a world they have never seen for themselves—be it a social or natural environment. Images of captive animals, restrained animals and animals being exploited for profit will not be considered except in the Photostory category.

17. By entering the competition you confirm that you have complied with New Zealand law while shooting your entry. Please refer to the CAA website for specific aerial photography regulations. There is some useful tips on the Airshare page.

18. Ensure that your photographs are entered into the correct category. Images entered into the wrong category will be rejected. To qualify for consideration in the Young Photographer category, entrants must be under 25 years on September 30, 2023.

19. The prizes are as follows:

a) Category winners (Wildlife, Landscape, Society, Built Environment, Aerial, Photostory, Adventure, Portrait) each receive:

• $500 cash
• Publication in New Zealand Geographic magazine and the New Zealand Geographic calendar
• A one-year subscription to New Zealand Geographic magazine
• A copy of the New Zealand Geographic calendar
• The Sony Young Photographer of the Year will receive a Sony camera and lens package valued at $7,000

b) Award winners of The People’s Choice, Young Photographer, Senior Photographer, Colour Award, Mobile Award and Environmental Impact Award each receive:

• $500 cash
• Publication in New Zealand Geographic magazine and the New Zealand Geographic calendar
• A one-year subscription to New Zealand Geographic magazine
• A copy of the New Zealand Geographic calendar
• The winner of the Electric Kiwi Mobile award will win a mobile phone to the value of $2,500

c) The overall winner will receive:

• The title of ‘New Zealand Geographic Photographer of the Year’
• $1000 cash, additional to anything received for other awards
• Publication in New Zealand Geographic magazine and the New Zealand Geographic calendar
• A one-year subscription to New Zealand Geographic magazine
• A copy of the New Zealand Geographic calendar
• A trip for two on a RealNZ overnight cruise on Doubtful Sound

20. Finalists must be available to attend an awards evening in Auckland on October 27, 2023, or to send a representative to collect an award. Travel at finalist’s cost. If the event is hosted virtually due to Covid-19 pandemic requirements, finalists must attend on the platform chosen by the publisher.

21. The prizes are as stated and cannot be redeemed for cash. Values of prizes are accurate at the date of publication.

22. There is a modest $25 fee per entrant payable on submission by credit card. Entry fees are waived for young photographers. All entrants receive a free six-month digital-access subscription to NZGeo.com.

23. The decision of the organisers and judges on all matters relating to the competition is final, and no correspondence will be entered into at any stage.