A Plimmerton woman with a passion for photography has won the first annual Martinborough Summer Pix competition.
Natalie Gascoigne, who often visits Martinborough during the summer, snapped the winning photo titled Strolling through roadside fields of gold in Martinborough.
The competition held by Martinborough Village, a group of residents whichpromotes the town, was open to all.
Entries had to be summer-themed and taken in the Martinborough area.
Second place went to Esther Bunning's "dreamily summer" style photo titled The perfect Wairarapa evening and third place to Jannelle Preston-Searle for her homage to summertime in End of the day.
"We just went over to escape the Wellington wind on Wellington Anniversary Weekend."
The woman in the image is actually herself.
"I thought it would look so much better with a person in it."
She set up the camera and got her husband to press the button.
Mrs Gascoigne didn't know about the competition when she took the photo but later saw a call for entries on Instagram.
"Strolling through fields of gold"
The competition judges, John Casey, Pete Monk, Emma Melhopt and Brooke Hoskins, said the photo was well-composed and technically well-delivered.
They said there was "an evocative sense of connection with nature and summer; a contemplative appreciation of something as simple as wandering through tall grass".
"There's a free-and-easy, slow summer pace about it that makes you want to stop and stick your toes into it too, rather than drive on by.
Peppers Parehua, a major sponsor, held the prizegiving on Sunday, when Mrs Gascoigne was presented with her award and prizes by South Wairarapa Mayor Adrienne Staples.
