Getty Images is on the hunt for images capturing iconic instances of life in New Zealand and, with help from Canon New Zealand, have a stack of gear to giveaway for the effort.

The competition, entitled Grab NZ, invites ‘anyone with a camera’ to submit up to ten images that show an authentic vision of life in New Zealand.

The three top images will win a share in $5,500 worth of Canon equipment, with a grand prize of a Canon 7D single lens kit, as well as the opportunity of being invited to be a Getty contributor via the agency’s Flickr page.

First place and runner-up, who will score a Canon 600D twin lens kit, will be selected by a panel of industry veterans, including photographers Norrie Montgomery and Hannah Johnston, creative director Tony Bradbourne and Canon’s imaging brand manger, Rochelle Mora.

A third prize will be awarded to the most popular image as votes by fans on the Getty Images Facebook page, winning a Canon PowerShot G12.

Images should be submitted online by June 1, with winners announced on June 21.

World-renowned documentary photographer Stefano de Luigi visits New Zealand this month to talk at the Semi-Permanent creative conference. He has won Multiple World Press Photo awards in a number of categories, was awarded a Getty Grant for editorial photography in 2010 and is by the prestigious VII Photo Agency.

The Milan-based photographer has travelled the world documenting all manner of alienated subjects, including the global blind community, pornographic film stars and third world filmmakers. His work also regularly appears in such publications as Stern, Paris Match, Le Monde Magazine, Newsweek and the New Yorker.

Ahead of his visit to Auckland for the Semi-Permanent event on May 18 and 19 de Luigi took the time to talk to D-Photo about his work.

D-Photo: How did you find your way to photography as a career?

Stefano de Luigi: I was twenty and I gave up my second year of Political Science because I couldn’t see any future.

I had a deep necessity to express myself and I was very interested in figurative arts. So I arrived in front of the door of a photography school and opened it. (more…)

If you’re looking to bone up on your flash lighting techniques Kingsize Studios in Auckland are offering a number of intensive weekend workshops for just such training.

On Saturday, May 12 the Grey Lynn studio invites photographers, educators, students and enthusiasts to a practical half-day workshop focusing on the flash basics in the studio and on location.

Geared for those with little or no experience using flash lighting, the session, running from 8am to 1pm, will cover studio flash and speedlights as well as touching on constant light and other light sources.

The organiser promises the workshop will be both fun and extremely intensive and, upon competition, will qualify attendees for special rates at the studio for the following month.

“At the end you will know how to shoot a basic still life, single and group portraits in the studio or on location. You will be familiar with a range of flash accessories, monoblocks and head and pack units.”

A place at the workshop will cost $270, contact accounts@kingsize.co.nz for payment details, and if you can’t make this session the studio will be doing it all again on the Saturdays of June 16 ...full story

Did you know last Sunday, April 29 was Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day?

Well, luckily a lot of dedicated pinhole photographers across the globe did, celebrating by creating a splendid gallery of images taken with lensless cameras on the day.

Photospace in Wellington has been a key supporter of the event since it began in 2001, running a pinhole workshop each year to ensure New Zealand is well represented in the international gallery. (more…)

As part of our coverage of this year’s Cathay Pacific Travel Media Awards D-Photo brings you a gallery of the winners in the programme’s photography section.

Cathay Pacific Travel Photographer of the Year Award (in association with Royal Caribbean’s Celebrity Cruises)

Winner: Natasha Martin (more…)