In February, we held our “Best of 2024” photography competition and were amazed by the number of powerful entries. Judging wasn’t easy—our panel sees only the image and its description (no names) to avoid bias. We focused first on storytelling and emotional impact, then on how the story added context, and only after that looked at technical quality. Congratulations to all the winners and shortlisted photographers—your work stood out in the best way!
Now, we invite you to explore the fascinating world of visual storytelling on the next pages, where you’ll find some of the most captivating entries from this competition.
Winners
Reflection by Ruth Boere. I loved both sides of the leaf, so I used a mirror in my lightbox to show the underside as well as the top.Harbour Auckland by Ann Kilpatrick. Multiple exposure of the boat harbour and a colourful building in downtown Auckland.On the edge by Sandy McCleary. A close-up of a blossom fly resting at the end of a leaf.Flamingo by Lorraine Neill. Greater flamingo at Auckland Zoo.Stormy weather by Noelle Bennett
Shortlisted finalists
Overcast days by Tina Rodger.I’m loving all the ICM photos I’ve been seeing from other photographers lately. Over the past year, I’ve been moving towards creating more artistic, fine art-style images, so that’s what I was practising here. This shot was taken from Papamoa Beach, looking towards Mt Maunganui.Woodland wander by Raewyn Smith. West Coast woodland – so green and lush.Bumblebee in flight by Nathan McClunie. Hours spent with the macro lens pre-focused finally paid off with a vertical takeoff and an in-focus bumblebee.Looking through by David Prentice. This is a photo of my son Otto looking through the window outside our bathroom. I had to stand inside the shower to take the shot, capturing it through the shower glass, which added some distortion to the image.Reflections of Brentwood by David Prentice. This was photographed from a puddle using a 106-second exposure with a 3-stop ND filter.A mystical journey by Greg Hughson. A composite image of a mother duck leading her ducklings into a mystical, abstract space.Bee among the lavender by Rebecca McDaid. A bee busy on the lavender – a true garden hero and climate warrior.Peacock in a flowerpot by Lorraine Neill. A peacock perching in a large flowerpot, photographed through the plant’s red foliage. Taken at Hamilton Zoo.Sculpture by Ann Kilpatrick. A sculpture by Max Patte at the Art Bay Gallery in Queenstown.A sense of calm by Sandy McCleary. A macro image of moss with a touch of morning dew.Fern frond by Teresa Angell. Fern fronds have amazing colour, symmetry, and form – nature’s beauty at its finest.Silvereye by Nathan McClunie. Portrait of a silvereye perched on a branch, taken using a speedlight on either side of the camera.Dabchick by Teresa Angell. An early morning visit to a pond at Queen Elizabeth Park, Paekākāriki. This little dabchick was one of two feeding and diving beneath the water right in front of me.Hoar frost in Arthur’s Pass by Raewyn Smith. On our way to Christchurch at the end of our trip, we experienced a hoar frost—there were spectacular photo opportunities everywhere.Taranaki bridge by Ann Kilpatrick. That’s the Taranaki bridge with the Maunga behind it. It’s a multiple exposure done in-camera.Kārearea – New Zealand falcon by Teresa Angell. The handsome and proud New Zealand falcon/Kārearea, photographed at Wingspan National Bird of Prey Centre in Rotorua.Pīwakawaka on a wire by Rebecca McDaid. A pīwakawaka taking a moment in the olive grove.I’m looking at you by Sandy McCleary. A close-up of a bee on the stamens of a poppy flower.Flight by Steve HarperTasty pollen by Steve HarperPukeko by Ruth Boere.A very obliging pūkeko came in close and just stared at me.Misty morning by Nathan McClunie. Morning mist lying low to the ground creates a beautiful separation between the trees and buildings. The backlighting from the rising sun adds a lovely atmosphere.On alert! by Jodine Waghorn.Sunrise in Gibbston Valley.Guardian of our whenua by Esther Birch. Framed by the distant silhouette of Rangitoto Island, a kāruhiruhi (pied shag) perches on the rocky shore of Tiritiri Matangi, drying its wings in the sea breeze. As a guardian of our whenua, it stands watch over the coastal waters, embodying a deep and timeless connection with both land and sea.The White Lands by Noelle Bennett. This image is a bit of a nod to The White Lands of Empathica from Stephen King’s Dark Tower series. These arctic tundras, located in End-World, are described as the lands where snow ends and roses begin. I actually first came across this fictional place through a Nightwish song, The Poet and the Pendulum, which led me to explore more about this mysterious and poetic world. Using multiple ICM exposures helped me depict the feeling of this place—or at least, how it feels to me—with just a touch of realism in the form of the house, adding a hint of intrigue for the viewer.
