Last year, more than 300 entries from all across the Bay were scrutinised by Mr Buckland, who spent many hours selecting the top 10 finalists, including an overall winner and two runners-up.
Photos including children behind a veil of droplets, people striking a pose against the blue backdrop of the sky and those brave enough to endure a bungee jump, as well as children simply having fun in the sun were in the mix.
Two sisters leaping out of Lake Waikaremoana, with the sunset as a backdrop stole the show, winning the ultimate Panasonic FZ200 camera prize, worth more than $800, donated by Harvey Norman. Amateur snapper Rodney Neverman of Taradale took the winning shot of his two teenage daughters, Hannah and Lucy.
Mr Neverman said he has always taken photos of the kids.
"You get experience by taking pictures. We always go up to Lake Waikaremoana and stay in the camping ground there."
The winning photo was simply taken in the right place at the right time, a tip to potential entrants. "They were just wading in the water - all of a sudden, the sun was right down low. They were already jumping around, I saw the light and lined them up against it," Mr Neverman said. Mr Buckland urged people to get outside and into summer.
"It doesn't matter if it's your backyard or the greater Hawke's Bay. There is plenty out there to photograph. It's not what you take a picture of but how it's done," Mr Buckland said.
The prize pack this year is a Lumix DMC-GF7 camera, worth more than $800.
Send your entries, along with details of who is in the photograph and who took it, to news@hbtoday.co.nz.
