Otago coastal delights

DUNEDIN photographer Derek Morrison has been named the

New Zealand Geographic Photographer of the Year.

Mr Morrison received the award, along with the top prize in the wildlife category and the People’s Choice award during an awards ceremony held in Auckland last night.

His portfolio covered a range of Otago coastal landscapes, wildlife and sport.

Entrants competed in six categories: wildlife, landscape, photo story, timelapse, aerial and society and culture.

Mr Morrison claimed the top prize in the wildlife category for a photo of a surfing sea lion called Vega.

Sea lions had been elusive models for Mr Morrison, who had been trying to photograph them for the last seven years, he told the judges.

‘‘I’ve been trying to photograph sea lions in the waves since I started my Box of Light photography project in 2011.

‘‘It is very difficult to find moments where they are relaxed and inquisitive enough to stay surfing the waves around a swimmer with a camera.

‘‘Vega bucked that trend. She was quite happy to dart in and out of the waves for my lens, coming in super close and leaping out of the walls.’’

Mr Morrison has been adding photos to his photography blog, Box of Light, every Tuesday morning since 2011.

New Zealand Geographic

publisher and convener of judges James Frankham said Mr Morrison’s portfolio was ‘‘full of confidence and affection for his subject’’.

‘‘He’s clearly in love with the Otago coast, and that’s reflected in the power and positivity of his imagery.

‘‘It’s something that the viewer feels too. His image of the sea lion not only won the wildlife category but also the popular vote.’’

Twelve thousand votes were cast for the People’s Choice award and Mr Morrison won by 40 votes.

University of Otago masters student Toby Dickson was awarded young photographer of the year, for his documentation of sperm whales off the coast of Kaikoura, and David Wall won the colour award for his aerial shot of a tulip farm in Edendale.

Aerial shot of the coastline, St Clair, Dunedin.

Clean lips during a sunset session in winter at St Kilda, Dunedin.

Davy Wooffindin rides a wave at a remote reefbreak in southern New Zealand.

A female sea lion catches a wave in a small swell off St Kilda Beach, Dunedin.

Summer sunshine at St Clair, Dunedin.

Feathering spring waves in the offshore winds at Blackhead Beach, Dunedin.

PHOTOS: DEREK MORRISON/NZ GEOGRAPHIC Aerial shot of people enjoying the water at St Clair, Dunedin.

PHOTO: DAVID WALL/NZ GEOGRAPHIC David Wall’s drone aerial of workers on a tulip farm in Edendale, Southland, won the colour category.

PHOTO: TOBY DICKSON/NZ GEOGRAPHIC University of Otago masters student Toby Dickson’s series on whales off the Kaikoura coast won him the award for young photographer of the year.