Power couple take top photo awards

POWER COUPLE: Featherston couple Terry Hann and Esther Bunning were thrilled to win several major awards at this years New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography Iris Awards.

Images of a Martinborough vicar, a kids' fashion show, a Masterton "pilot" and a cloak of steel poppies made in Carterton have earned a Featherston couple several national photography titles.

Long-time photographers Esther Bunning and Terry Hann are the proud owners of three first place trophies and a swag of distinction awards from the recent NZ Institute of Professional Photography (NZIPP) Iris Awards -- the premier national photography competition.

At the awards ceremony in Queenstown last month, Bunning was named Illustrative Photographer and Commercial Photographer of the Year for her experimental portfolio -- and was the only contestant to win in multiple categories.

Hann, her husband, won first place in the Travel Photographer category with his photos of Balinese and Singaporean fishing communities, and was also runner-up for Documentary Photographer of the Year.

Of the 12 categories, seven were won by photographers from the Wellington region, with Bunning and Hann as the sole Wairarapa winners.

"The Wellington area is so competitive in photography -- it was great to represent Wairarapa," Bunning said.

"We're thrilled -- after all these years, awards are still exciting."

For this year's awards, both their bodies of work had a strong Wairarapa theme: with Bunning's moody portrait of Wairarapa Archdeacon May Croft, dressed as Mary, Mother of Jesus, clinching the top Illustrative prize.

Her other works of Hadlow School pupils modelling upcycled clothing, an advertisement for Changes-Medi-Spa in Masterton featuring a model dressed as "an ethereal angel", and dancers from Tangle Dance Company in Greytown also won distinction awards.

Her Commercial Category images included the cover of Esther's last summer's "Wairarapa Lifestyle Magazine", featuring Masterton resident Adam Jackson, dressed in World War I pilot's garb.

Hann received praise for his documentary photos of Carterton sculptor Sean Crawford who was commissioned to make a cloak out of individually-cut steel poppies for the New Zealand Embassy in Washington DC.

"It was great to tell these local stories," Bunning said.

"We enjoy working with ordinary people, and bringing out the magic in them."

Though Bunning and Hann have almost half a century of photography between them, the awards shows present a challenge to stay relevant as the medium constantly changes.

"Every year, there are a lot of young people and all this new technology coming though," Hann said.

"It gives us a chance to test our creativity and push beyond what we'd normally do.

"It flows on into our regular with with clients - we experiment, otherwise things just get repetitive."

Both photographers say they are extremely proud of their talented other half.

"There's a bit of friendly competitiveness between us from time to time but we're really excited for each other," Bunning said.