NZ Amateur Photography Awards 2024

In addition to being a semi-professional artist, I am also a hobby photographer. I take the reference pics for my paintings. This year, when I decided to go from hobby to semi-professional with my art, I invested in a camera which is more suited to make fine art prints from my original paintings. Also, more suited to dim lighting conditions.

I entered three photos into the 2024 NZ Amateur Photography Awards, NZAPA, (run by the NZIPP - New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography).

Secret Bees' Business

What are the NZAPA Awards?

As far as I could tell, the NZ Amateur Photography Awards is a new award. It's a digital only competition, to introduce amateur photographers to photography competitions. It was only for amateur photographers within New Zealand. (Whereas the IRIS awards are for professional photographers, internationally).

I thought the fee was reasonable, so I entered three photos, all taken with my entry-level price-point mirrorless camera. What also appealed, was the images were only permitted to have basic post-production (not artificial intelligence, AI). A lot of professional photographers AI their images to death these days, with 'denoising', 'sharpening' etc. More a competition of who can afford the most expensive photography equipment and post-production softwear.

My other, older camera is a bridge camera (with a built in zoom lens) and is not suited to the fine art prints. It has however, taken plenty of very good reference pics as inspiration for my paintings.

This year, I have been making an effort to use more of the settings and features on both my cameras. I already had a basic understanding of photography and postproduction from when I used to work as an assistant for some photographers at a publishing company. I will admit, that prior to stretching myself this year, I usually just used 'auto' for everything, previously. I was just keen to get my reference pics, quickly, before the bird flew away (rather than fluff with settings).

The Categories

The 2024 NZAPA categories were:

• Open (conceptual, post-production allowed but not Artificial Intelligence, AI)
• Photojournalism (authentic portrayal of people, places, documentary).
• Under 18 Year Old Entrant (which I obviously don't qualify for).
• Portrait (may include pets). Traditional or interpretative.
• Nature (animals, wildlife, underwater etc). Only basic post-production permitted, without introducing or hiding elements.
• Landscape (traditional or interpretive).
• Black and White (either captured or converted to black and white).​

Glowing Confidence

My Entries

Even though I expect these to be large categories, I entered a swan into the 'portrait' category and two other photos into the 'nature' category. The judges were looking for storytellling, so I tried to indicate that in the names I gave them.
Swan = 'Glowing Confidence'.
Bees = 'Secret Bees' Business.'
Kereru = 'Water Brings Life.' (Taken in dim lighting. This pic is the main reference pic for a painting I am starting).

The Judging

The entries were scored anonymously by 5 judges, each giving a score between 0-100, which were then averaged. Judges were looking for technique, originality, visual impact, connection and/or storytelling. The top 25 in each category would receive feedback in addition to the score. There is further selection and judging for the higher scoring entries.

On the website, is says there is no award for entries scored 69 and under. Seems they changed their mind, as they have a 'commended' award for 60-69 points, then 'highly commented' for 70-79, then silver and gold awards

Water Brings Life

My Scores

All three of my entries were awarded 'commended', which is described as: 'shows a good level of craft, skill and technique.' Consistent, I guess.

The bumble bees on a sunflower pic was scored 69/100, just 1 point short from 'highly commended'.
The swan was scored 63.8/100.
The kereru was scored 60/100, only just scraping in for a 'commended'.

No feedback was given.
​

What Now?

I will browse though the entries in the galleries (not public), to see if I can learn anything about improving my photography. I expect a lot of the other entrants will have much higher-spec equipment. I was however pleased that the rules didn't allow AI generated image or significant post-production.

I will be curious to see which images were 'commended' (good level) and 'highly commended' (high level) plus the 'silver' (very high level, excellent) and 'gold' (outstanding, exceptional) categories. Browsing through some of the galleries, most of the images have 'commended' or 'highly commended' with the odd 'silver'. I haven't seen any 'gold' yet - perhaps the gold haven't been awarded yet?

I am interested in taking a look at the categories I didn't enter (and was a bit confused about anyway).

I am not sure if amateur photographers are allowed to enter again (I don't see why not). [Update: Apparently we can, according to a reply to my question on Facebook. Whether I do, depends on their decision about AI, plus the cost].

It's no point me entering into professional photographer competitions, as I don't stand a chance against images produced from very expensive gear. Just to give you an idea, an award-winning photographer I used to work for, owned a camera that was approximately 100,000 times the cost of mine! Plus the mega-expensive post-production software, hardwear etc. Professional photography is only for those who can afford it (that includes travel to locations, expensive professional memberships etc).

I haven't seen many legitimate and reasonably priced amateur photography competitions around. Apparently, this competition will clarify rules about AI. I hope they keep post-production to only basic, as those who have more expensive equipment and software have an unfair advantage. Post-production can significantly change an image, even without adding or subtracting elements.

[Update: I've had a chance to browse the galleries, with over 1600 entries on display. The smallest category was 'Under 18' (which seemed to allow editing). The largest categories, predictably, were 'nature', 'landscape' and 'portrait'. There were a lot of 'highly commended' and 'commended'. The old silver here and there. I haven't seen any gold. Category winners were awarded 'silver' or 'silver with merit'. Seems the overall score doesn't necessarily determine the winner.]

Accomplishments

I am happy with my 'commended' awards. It's nice to get some acknowledgement for one's efforts. I do my best with what I have.

This year, I was a 'red ribbon winner' in an international book competition, for my memoir, Bipolar Courage: Are You Sure You're Not Autistic? The red ribbon is for books the panel of judges enjoyed but did not score high enough to be a finalist (my book was 1 point off). I was also given some constructive feedback.

Writing is very challenging for me, which is one reason I do it. In comparison, photography is more relaxing, which I mainly do as a 'mindfulness' activity for my mental health.

Paintings from my reference pics

Some of my paintings are just from a phone pic as a reference. I doubt a phone pic would do well in a competition against 'proper' cameras but they can make adequate reference pics for paintings. 'Refreshing' (lake) was using a phone reference pic. The reference pics for 'Just a Typical Office Job' and 'Explore Outdoors' were taken with my inexpensive bridge camera.

'Refreshing' Lake fine art print

NZ$35.00

Inspired by Lake Taupo (viewed from Kinloch), a freshwater lake in New Zealand. Fine art print reproduction from an original painting by Xanthe Wyse.

Archival rated giclee print on 275gsm soft white, matte, textured art paper with pigmented inks.

Price is in New Zealand dollars and excludes shipping.

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'Not a Typical Office Job' Fine Art Print

NZ$35.00

Window-washers abseiling off a skyscraper in Sydney (Westpac building). Archival fine art prints from an original painting by Xanthe Wyse.

It was like painting a complex jigsaw puzzle, with all the reflections. The original is on cradled gesso panel, so there is no canvas texture.

Available on 8x10" (203 x 354mm) art paper in two options - with a generous border and without a border.

Archival fine art print on 275gsm, acid-free, soft white, textured, matte paper with pigmented inks.

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'Explore Outdoors' dog fine art print

NZ$35.00

Portrait of Pip, who loves walks. Pip is a miniature fox terrier.

Archival-rated giclee fine art print. Pigmented inks on 275gsm soft white, textured, matte, acid-free paper.

Options 8x10" (203x254mm) with or without a border. Canvas texture is visible in the print.

Proceeds from sales of this print will support an animal rescue charity.

Prices are in New Zealand dollars and exclude shipping.

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