Prestigious accolade for Rotorua Daily Post photographer

This photo won Stephen Parker Best Portrait as well as being part of his Photographer of the Year portfolio.

Rotorua Daily Post's Stephen Parker (left) has snapped up Photographer of the Year as well as winning two other categories at New Zealand's Canon Media Awards.

As well as taking the top photography award, Parker won best portrait and best sports photo.

Judges Wayne Harman, Rob Taggart and Mark Baker said "every picture in the set demonstrates a huge talent for having original ideas and producing creative, excellent composed and technically perfect pictures to illustrate routine stories".

Rotorua Daily Post editor Scott Inglis said Mr Parker'swins were a testament to his unwavering dedication and attention to detail in the job.

"Stephen is an invaluable asset to the Rotorua Daily Post team."

Check out Stephen's winning portfolio here:

Image 1 of 6: Rotorua Boys High School tennis courts.

Mr Parker is no stranger to accolades.

Last year he won the best sports photograph in the international Panpa awards. In 2014, at the Panpa awards, he was a finalist in three regional categories-news, sport and portrait-while last year's Canon Media Awards he was a finalist in the portrait category.

He was named Senior Press Photographer of the Year in 2013.

The Rotorua Daily Post was also a finalist in the Newspaper of the Year (up to 30,000 circulation) category.

Katee Shanks, the editor of the Rotorua Daily Post's sister paper Whakatane News, was also a finalist in the Community Journalist of the Year category.

The gala awards evening was held at Te Papa in Wellington last night.