Lisa Roach works her magic to calm down a mare in one of the nursery paddocks at Cambridge Stud. Photo/Alan Gibson/New Zealand Geographic
Lisa Roach works her magic to calm down a mare in one of the nursery paddocks at Cambridge Stud. Photo/Alan Gibson/New Zealand Geographic
Alan Gibson's image of a horse and woman illuminated by spotlight late at night was an image 25 years in the making.
Gibson is one of two Tauranga photographers this week named as finalists in the prestigious New Zealand Geographic Photographer of the Year 2018 awards. The NZME photographer already has three national awards to his name but the image, titled "Nursery Paddock", holds a place close to his heart.
"My father shot it 25 years ago," Gibson said.
"I always thought that I'd go back to that."
Gibson spent two nights in November at Cambridge Stud shadowing a woman who walks with the mares each night during foaling season. Rather than waiting for the birth of a new thoroughbred, Gibson was preparing for that particular shot.
NZME Photographer and videographer Alan Gibson. Photo/file
Gibson's father did photography work for Ansett's in-flight magazine. He always wanted to recreate the image because the technical aspects of such a shot were so challenging, he said.
"It's just lit with a few spotlights up on poles. It's incredibly challenging photography but when it all comes together, it's also incredibly rewarding.
"You are working, working, working and waiting for that right moment. And you are dealing with animals under the most extreme lighting you can ask for, so it's awesome to get a picture like that, seeing the old man had one 25 years ago."
A still shot of Jack Burden's moonlight timelapse video. Photo/Jack Burden/New Zealand Geographic
Tauranga man Jack Burden joins Gibson in the shortlist of 52 photographers, selected from 3000 entries. The electrical contractor specialises in astrophotography and has one of four time-lapses selected.
"While I was down at Mount Cook and I got the opening scene, I got the idea to stick to scenery being illuminated by the moonlight. As an astrophotographer, usually, those times when the moon is up is usually the times you don't go out because it's too bright."
Burden can spend up to three hours capturing enough footage for a quality time-lapse video. A section of his entry which features a tree in Lake Wanaka comprises about 600 individual photographs.
It's incredibly challenging photography but when it all comes together, it's also incredibly rewarding.
"The good thing about timelapse is you can set it up, sit back and take it all in. I love getting under the stars."
All images in the competition reflect visions of the nation's society and environment.
Publisher James Frankham said the finalist images range from Antarctica to Auckland, Edgecumbe to Edendale, pictures of mines to glaciers to cathedrals — "together it forms a tapestry of the complicated place and people we have become".
Vote and view your favourite Finalist images will be broadcast in a distributed exhibition to Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton and Tauranga town centres. People can also view all finalist images and vote for the Panasonic People's Choice award at www.nzgeo.com/photo.
