Awards validating for Featherston photographer

Midweek. Photos by Esther Bunning, who has gained international recognition for two of her photos. Her photo "John Angel", of John Kingdon, got an honourable mention at the International Col

Jesus Christ and an angel have won Featherston's Esther Bunning overseas recognition for her "unconventional" photography skills.

Two of Ms Bunning's artisan photographs have won international awards: the first, titled "Angel John", gained an honorable mention at the US-based International Color Awards, and "Matt" was a semi-finalist for the portrait prize at the Head On Photo Festival in Australia.

Both photos are examples of the multiple exposure technique, combining several different images into one single frame: a signature Ms Bunning uses often.

She said receiving her accolades was "a real buzz", and an affirmation of her idiosyncratic photography style.

"I've never been particularly conventional. I like to reinvent the wheel a bit," Ms Bunning said.

"Though, I have wondered if there's a right or wrong way to do photography, and mine might be the wrong way. So this is really validating for me; it's an incredible feeling."

The "Angel John" and "Matt" photographs came from Ms Bunning's Angel Project and Fire and Water collections -- both featuring dancers and actors from shows choreographed by Greytown dance teacher, Justine Eldred.

The first is of Mrs Eldred's father, John Kingdon, who danced in her 2013 show When the Poet Dreamed an Angel, playing one of the titular angels.

"Matt" captures a shirtless Matt Lamason, who played Jesus in the Easter-themed show Fire and Water, gazing out of a rain-splattered window.

Ms Bunning said she had a hard time choosing two favourites to enter -- but thought her final choices best represented the gentle nature of the subjects.

"Matt is such a beautiful soul -- I felt the photo had a gentle, quiet feel, which encompassed the role he was playing. And John moved, and danced, and expressed himself so beautifully."

Ms Bunning has been a photographer for the past 20 years, discovering the medium while doing a diploma in textile design.

While she does photographic portraits for customers, her trademark style is more abstract, experimenting with colour, movement and texture.

All her photographic "tricks", including the layering of images in multiple exposure, are done in camera, with minimal use of Photoshop.

"Photoshop is a great tool, but I prefer to let the creative process take over, and see what gorgeous things happen.

"With photography, you always have to stay one step ahead: anyone can take a good photo on their cellphone, so it helps to be a bit different."

Ms Bunning is now working on a second series of angel photos with Mrs Eldred's dancers, and is preparing a portfolio for the 2015 NZ Institute of Professional Photography Iris Awards.