Youngsters show off camera talent

COOL WIN: Emily Ferguson, 10, of Douglas Park School, with her image of frozen ice on the roof of a car that won the Year 5 and 6 non-living category.PHOTO/ANDREW BONALLACK

More than 100 young shutterbugs this year vied for prizes at the third annual Masterton Primary Schools Photography Competition.

Steve Hornby, competition co-organiser and Solway Primary School teacher, said the contest held at Masterton Intermediate School on Wednesday night had attracted more than 180 entries divided across two categories - living and non-living - and a range of age grades from Year 1 and 2 to Year 7 and 8.

Images had been entered from all primary schools in Masterton and surrounding areas, Mr Hornby said.

He said a digitally enhanced category had been run for the first time this year for the senior age grade and more iPads and tablets had been used to capture the images, and while phone cameras were still not allowed, that could change in future as the technology improves.

"We have a rule that the images have to be at least a megabyte in size and we have discussed about having phone photos because generally if they win, the photo is printed out and framed and the resolution has to hold quality when it's A4 or A3 size.

"What we're doing is trying to teach the basic elements of photography so they're able to take a reasonable photograph."

The two categories of living and non-living were intentionally broad, he said, and aimed to give entrants "plenty of scope" for their subject material.

Mr Hornby said the contest was organised among lead teachers in information and communication technology.

Professional Masterton photographer Pete Nikolaison had helped judge and also sponsored and completed the enlargement and framing of the winning images that were returned as a prize to each winner.

Winners of the Masterton Primary Schools Photography Competition 2014 include:

Living: Year 1 and 2: Lachie Wyeth - Opaki; Non-Living: Oliver Oakley - Opaki

Living: Year 3 and 4: Jacquelyn Murray - St. Patricks; Non-living: Nikayla Milburn - Fernridge

Living: Year 5 and 6: Tayla Morris - DPS; Non-living: Emily Ferguson - DPS

Living: Year 7 and 8: Holly Morton - Opaki; Non-Living: Zach Venning - Hadlow

Digitally Enhanced: Patrick Wall - Hadlow

Overall Highly Commended: Emily Ferguson - DPS and Jacquelyn Murray - St. Patricks School

Overall winner: Zach Venning - Hadlow