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Latest press releases
Latest press releases
Press release to Kapi-Mana News: A family of photographers
When Plimmerton resident Marie Love takes her grandchildren to the Pauatahanui Inlet for a spot of photography, what do these champion photographers look for? As regular entrants in the Guardians of Pauatahanui Inlet annual photo competition, the Love children all have a winning eye.
Sixteen-year-old Elly won the Nature category in the Youth section last year with a beautiful photo of a fantail, but she thinks her best winning shot was in the Recreation category in the previous year's competition. She says the photo actually arose out of boredom. 'I was just sitting in the car, pretty bored, because the weather was rotten and I couldn't get any decent shots. Nan was out there doing her own thing with her camera, so I rubbed the cobwebs off the wing mirror and used it to frame a few interesting shots.'
Reuben, 12, was lining up a shot of some seagulls sitting on a post, but before he managed to push the button, the seagulls took wing and Reuben was left with an unexpected photo of flying birds, their legs still dangling clumsily beneath them. The photo took the eye of judge Geoff Marshall and won the Youth prize in the Nature category. Reuben, winner of several categories in recent years, is certainly a photographer to watch out for.
Elly, Reuben and brother Joe, also a previous winner, credit their Nan with encouraging them to photograph the Inlet and enter the competition. 'It's a great activity to do with grandchildren,' says Marie. 'I take them one at a time, because it gives us special time together. Besides, they all like to photograph different things. They've learnt to really look at the Inlet and see what's there.' The Love children have also learnt that a trip to the Inlet with Nan might get a bit uncomfortable. They do an ever-so-subtle eye roll when their Nan talks of how they enjoy 'sloshing' around on the mudflats to get photos of spoonbills. 'She loves getting her shoes muddy,' says Elly.
The Guardians photo competition is now in its 12th year. Entries close on 13 April, so the Guardians are encouraging everyone, young and old, to get their entries in soon. This year the categories are Nature, Recreation, Human Impact and a new category, Artistic: any subject. This last category is for entrants who like to bring extra creative flair to their prints through enhancement programmes such as Photoshop - in the other three categories only improvements to sharpness, straightness, colour and contrast are permitted. The competition is sponsored by local businesses, and this year there's a special prize for younger entrants. Harvey Norman are giving a Panasonic camera to the best photo by an entrant under 18. Full details of the competition are available on the Guardians of Pauatahanui Inlet website, www.gopi.org.nz.
Press release to Whitby Newsbrief: Inlet photo competition gets a shake-up
'Auntie Jean, your hat's taking up half the photo.'
'Ralphie, stop making your sister cry.'
'Would you all just stand STILL, please!'
Ah yes, the joys of photographing a family picnic in the not so distant past. Stand still. Don't squint. Smile. You took one photo and if it was blurred or Uncle Ron had his eyes closed, that was just tough luck. You wouldn't know about it anyway until the prints came back a week later, complete with the negatives in case you wanted another copy - as if!
How things have changed. And for the most part, that change has been for the better. Now you can take as many photos as you like, check them out on the spot, delete the ones you don't like (or post them on Facebook) and then turn to any number of computer programmes to make them even better.
The Guardians of Pauatahanui Inlet have been running their annual photo competition for 12 years, and they say they're enjoying the challenge of keeping their popular contest thoroughly up to date.
This year a new category has been introduced. Replacing the category called 'Scenic Impressions', there's now 'Artistic: any subject'. This is where all the Photoshop fans can really go to town, tweaking and manipulating their photos to create an image or a special effect. Guardians Chair John Wells says that in recent years several entrants have submitted beautiful photos that are clearly a combination of photographic skill and artistic use of computer manipulation. 'This section is for them,' says Dr Wells. 'They can choose any subject related to the Inlet - birds, animals, plants, scenery, people, activities...'
The three categories of Nature, Recreation and Human Impact remain, but the digital manipulation allowed in these three sections is restricted to sharpness, straightness, colour and contrast. 'Photos in this section can also be cropped,' says Dr Wells, 'but they're not allowed to be drastically changed.'
'We know the Inlet is hard to resist and we want everyone out there with their cameras. We're specially trying to encourage entries in our Youth sections this year.' The Guardians have received excellent sponsorship, and are particularly pleased that each major prize has this year been sponsored individually. Harvey Norman have donated a Panasonic FH2 camera for the best photo by an entrant under 18, and the four major adult prizes have been sponsored by Whitby Pharmacy, Jason Clark Real Estate, Medix 21 and Mexted Performance Sports Surfaces.
Entry forms are available on the Guardians' website www.gopi.org.nz. Entries close 13 April.