2018 Sigma D-Photo Amateur Photographer of the Year winning images
The enthusiast photographic community rallied to D-Photo’s call seeking out the best amateur shooters Aotearoa has to offer. In the 2018 edition of the Sigma D-Photo Amateur Photographer of the Year, we received a record-smashing 13,329 across 12 categories, proving once more the passion and pedigree of our creative community up and down the country.

Grand Prizewinner, Kate Parsonson, The Yin and Yang of Sculpture and Landscape
Considering the veritable mountain of prizes we had up for grabs — worth more than $25K — it’s no big surprise that the contest attracted as much attention as it did. None of which would have been possible without the generous support of brand-name sponsor, Sigma, and all of our category sponsors, listed below alongside their categories. On behalf of the magazine and every eager photographer who entered, we offer our sincere thanks.
Then, of course, there was the unenviable task of having to select but a few of the very best shots from the deluge of impressive imagery we received. Considering the volume, it very much had to be a team effort, and the
D-Photo team certainly went above and beyond to keep things running smoothly. But it was our panel of industry professionals who gave up their valuable time to provide us with the gorgeous gallery that follows — to those generous experts, we also offer our unreserved gratitude.
And, finally, to the thousands of amateur photographers who stepped up and entered images, thank you and congratulations — you’re the ones who make this annual event the extravaganza it is.


First: Mike Vincent, Adventure by road or river

Second: Jamie Ryan, Around the Block

Third: Mark Waddington, New Cars awaiting delivery


First: Michelle Denniston, a bridge to nowhere

Second: Benny Tan, Megalopolis Occulus, New York

Third: Lyn Alves, Samarkand Temple


First: Ilena Shadbolt, salt of the sea

Second: Gen Scott, Battered and bruised

Third: Alberta Hall, Sumner Beach, Christchurch (Sand and H


First: Brendan Gully, Uncertain Path
First runner-up

Second: Richard Laing, Oamaru Harbour

Third: Stephen Milner, Milford sound waterfall


First: Ali Little, White Knight

Second: AnneMarie CLinton, Wasp
Third: Mark Fox, Toupee


First: Tom Young: Sancti Spiritus, Cuba

Second: Elijah Tay, Father and son
Third: Abraham Mora, Rob


First: Kate Parsonson, The yin and Yang of sculpture and landscape
Grand prizewinner

Second: Kate Parsonson, Dogs in Rome

Third: Karen Moffat-Mcleod, I Float Alone


First: Sam Wild, Death's Yawn: A sick female found on New Zealand's East Coast
Second runner-up

second: Grant Thomas, An Elegant humpback whale poses for the camera

Third: Glenda Rees, Golden Gannets


First: Jacky Challis, Winding through painted mountains, Zhangye, China

Second: Dice Sales, Dance with the Fireflies

Third: Jared Buckley, Home Sweet Home


First: Abraham Mora, Man about his business

Second: Shelley Harvey, Womb

Third: Kathy Richards, She is water, powerful enough to drown you, soft enough to cleanse you, deep enough to save you


First: Bethany Judson, Marlee

Second: Bin Bai, Happy Boy

Third: Ray Ludlow, Musical Pigeons

First: Ray Salisbury, Nelson by Night
Second: Martin Kohn, Loving Mavora Lakes
Third: Jonathan Kane Houldsworth, Wild coast, Sri Lanka