Top honours for Herald photographers

Brett Phibbs won the big prize in a top photography contest with outstanding shots, like this one of a toddler after the 2009 Samoa tsunami. Photo / Brett Phibbs

New Zealand Herald photographers have been recognised for their outstanding work at a highly competitive awards show.

Herald photographer Brett Phibbs particularly impressed the judges at New Zealand Geographic and was named Photographer of the Year 2011 last night.

Among nearly 3000 entries, the judges said his work stood apart for its attention to detail, consistency of approach and photographic vision.

The editor of New Zealand Geographic, James Frankham, said a hallmark of Phibbs' approach was his fearless dedication to capturing human emotion.

"He will stand inches from his subject with his widest lens and shoot, point blank. He is a deserving winner in a competition that puts greatest value on real photographs of real life."

Phibbs also won the society and culture category for his shot of a 3-year-old Samoan girl surrounded by broken coconuts being dried for market at the newly formed village of Seleapaga after a tsunami in September 2009.

He was also runner-up in the same category for his sombre photo of a soldier standing in heavy rain during the Anzac Day dawn service at Auckland War Memorial Museum this year.

Two other Herald photographers, Dean Purcell and Greg Bowker, were highly commended for their society and culture works. Purcell was acknowledged for his shot of a hongi between two men during Sir Paul Reeves' tangi and Bowker for his photo of an elderly woman outside a broken house, shattered by the September 4 Christchurch earthquake.

The 3000 entries across four categories were submitted by seasoned professionals, weekend shutterbugs and children, National Geographic said.