Entries are now open for a recently-launched photography exhibition designed to showcase the Western Bay of Plenty.
The TrustPower Photographic Exhibition launched on December 20 invites budding or professional photographers to submit photographs taken in the WBOP that showcase our people and places.
And with more than $10,000 in prizes up for grabs, organisers are hoping to attract some of the Bay's best amateur and professional photographers to take part.
Downtown Tauranga project manager Sally Cooke says the exhibition is about showcasing the region and our emerging and established creative talent.
'The theme for the exhibition is ‘Our Place to Shine'. Its purpose is two-fold; to showcase the Bay in what we hope will be a visually dynamic large-scale outdoor exhibition for locals, visitors and tourists to enjoy; and as a way of supporting and encouraging both established and emerging creative talent we have in abundance here in the Bay.”
A judging panel will select the winning photographs to be displayed in a large outdoor photographic exhibition on The Strand, Downtown Tauranga, from January to April 2017.
Sally says judges will be looking for entries from people of all ages, from amateur to professional and hope to see diversity in the photos.
'There is a condition of entry that all photographs must have been taken within the WBOP and then entrants can choose one of four categories for their photo or photos they are entering: ‘Our People', ‘Land and Sea', ‘Our Heritage' and ‘Emotion'.
'It will be exciting to see photographer's interpretation of the categories and to see the photos that come into the competition.”
Prizes will be awarded for first and second in the four categories, plus judges will award prizes for a Young Photographers section (18 and under), a Student section (for full-time or part-time students) and a digital section.
Cash and travel prizes are up for grabs as well as two ‘Creative Media Internships' for the winners of the Student and Young Photographer sections thanks to UNO. Magazine, The Weekend Sun and Media Works.
The competition is open from December 20, 2016, until January 20, 2017. The TrustPower Photographic Exhibition opens on The Strand, Downtown Tauranga, from January 27-April 9.
The free exhibition will also include a People's Choice section asking the public to vote for their favourite photo.