DIY drone helps to win Photographer of The Year

Aerial view of inflatable boat towing a wakeboarder down an estuarine river at sunset. Picture / Jason Hosking

Auckland-based Jason Hosking has won The New Zealand Geographic Photographer of the Year 2015 award for his innovative work, including building a drone on which to mount a camera for finding new angles on his subjects.

Mr Hosking's aerial images complemented his portfolio of documentary work in a compelling way, said the judges of the competition, which drew 5800 entries for nine categories.

New Zealand Geographic publisher and convenor of judges James Frankham said Mr Hosking, a professional of a decade's experience, also was runner-up in the Landscape category with a frame showing a breaker rolling into Cape Palliser, Wairarapa.

"It was an image of raw natural power, but delicately back-lit by evening light," said Mr Frankham.

Silhouette of shag in Pohutakawa Tree at sunset, Great Barrier Island. Picture / Jason Hosking

Wildlife winner: Blue shark rearing out of the water by Richard Robinson.

Society & Culture winner: Girl performing a pukana on a horse by David White.

Landscape winner: Dawn looking over the Hauraki Gulf towards Rangitoto by Susan Blick.

Former Herald photographer Richard Robinson won the Wildlife Award for his chilling image of a blue shark emerging from the water near Little Barrier Island, in the Hauraki Gulf.

A new category for time lapse photography drew 30,000 public votes.

Category winner, Jordan Poste, spent 40 hours in a glow-worm cave for a single two-minute clip while Mark Gee's Moonrise over Mt Victoria won the People's Choice Award.

A free public exhibition of finalist images and best work from previous years is open daily from 10am to 5pm at Auckland's Karanga Plaza, Wynyard Quarter (adjacent to Viaduct Events Centre) until Sunday night.

The winning images are in the New Zealand Geographic November/December 2015 issue, on sale Monday.

Award winners were:

Photographer of the Year: Jason Hosking.
Young Photographer of the Year: Ricky Wilson, Marlborough.
People's Choice: Mark Gee, Moonrise over Mt Victoria.
Colour: Iain McGregor, 'Color Run' after party in Christchurch.
Wildlife: Richard Robinson, Blue shark rearing out of the water.
Landscape: Susan Blick, Dawn looking over the Hauraki Gulf towards Rangitoto.
Society & Culture: David White, Girl performing a pukana on a horse.
Photostory: Peter Meecham, The finals of Miss Universe New Zealand.
Timelapse: Jordan Poste, Glow worms in Waipu Cave, Northland.