Molly Simon the winner of Hawke's Bay Today Canon Harvey Norman Summer Photo Competition

Judges said Molly Simon's winning photograph transported the viewer into a timeless, peaceful Hawke's Bay vista.

And the winner of the Hawke's Bay Today Canon Harvey Norman Summer Photo Competition is ... Molly Simon.

Molly's photo was taken at Blackhead Beach, and caught the professional eye of Hawke's Bay Today's photographers, Paul Taylor and Warren Buckland, who judged the competition.

The 12-year-old wins a $1400 prize package that includes a Canon 200D camera, plus a 18mm-55mm Canon lens, and a voucher for 1000 prints.

After viewing the eight finalists, Taylor and Buckland each chose Molly's photograph.
They did so independent of each other, unaware they had selected the same winning picture.

Buckland, Hawke's Bay Today's chief photographer, said the picture showed a maturity well beyond Molly's 12 years.

"Molly has produced a photograph that transports the viewer into a timeless, peaceful Hawke's Bay vista. The composition draws the viewer in to ask questions, imagining the thoughts of the subject captured in a quiet, contemplative moment.

"That's what a good photograph should do, make you think."

Second place - a 500 print voucher worth $125 - was awarded to Martin Williams' fun shot taken poolside on Napier Hill on Christmas Day, of his nephew, William Brown, being launched into the water by dad Richard Brown.

Second place was awarded to Martin Williams' fun shot taken poolside on Napier Hill on Christmas Day, of his nephew, William Brown, being launched into the water by dad Richard Brown.

And third place - a 250 print voucher valued at $62.50 - went to Wilray Price, from Flaxmere, whose shot of Peita Aramoana at Kuripapango captured the sun in Peita's tousled hair.

Third place went to Wilray Price from Flaxmere whose shot of Peita Aramoana at Kuripapango captured the sun in Peita's tousled hair.

All our winners will be contacted by email today with details of how to claim their prizes. They also each receive an 12 x 18 print from Harvey Norman.