• The Grrreat Invercargill Photo Competition showcased stunning local talent in four categories.
  • Parag Tambe won the Iconic category with a striking photo of Queens Park’s band rotunda.
  • Judges praised the competition’s celebration of Invercargill and Bluff's unique faces and landscapes.

Invercargill’s up-and-coming photographers were celebrated as the winners of the first-ever Grrreat Invercargill Photo Competition were revealed. The competition, held over the summer, encouraged people to explore the beauty of Invercargill and Bluff, capturing its unique faces, places, and spaces.

Divided into four categories, participants could enter photos under Colour and Light, Iconic, Our Faces, and a People’s Choice award. The competition attracted more than 100 entries, showcasing vibrant images of local life.

Budding photographer Parag Tambe took home the Iconic category prize with his stunning image of the Queens Park band rotunda lit up during the Matariki celebrations.

Originally from the UK, Tambe said his move to New Zealand in 2021 allowed him to fully pursue his passion for photography. He waited patiently for the perfect moment to capture the rotunda without anyone in the frame, impressed by the vibrant lighting display.

Tambe expressed his joy at winning, saying: "I never thought I would win a prize, let alone a first prize, because there are so many amazing photographers in Invercargill who I have been learning from."

Other winners included Anne-Marie Gutschlag, Heather Cooper, and Debbie Corbin, who impressed judges with their submissions. The judging panel featured Invercargill Public Art Gallery manager Sarah Brown, Te Anau-based photographer Graham Dainty, and Southland Times chief photographer Robyn Edie.

Brown said the competition highlighted the creative talent within the community and celebrated the special qualities that make Invercargill and Bluff stand out.

"The entries were a great reminder of what makes Invercargill and Bluff special, and it was wonderful to be part of an initiative that encouraged the public to celebrate that."

Winners of the main categories received framed copies of their photographs, certificates, and vouchers from Invercargill Central, while the People’s Choice winner took home a certificate and voucher.

Winners are listed below:
Colour and Light: Anne-Marie Gutschlag A photo of a stroll through Queens Park in the morning, after a slight frost.
Iconic: Parag Tambe A photo of the Queens Park band rotunda, lit up during Matariki celebrations.
Our Faces: Heather Cooper A photo of an owl sunning itself on a headstone at Eastern Cemetery.
People’s Choice: Debbie Corbin As voted for by the public. A photo of sunset at the Invercargill Estuary.

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