Pukekohe based Commercial Photographer and Graphic Designer, Harry Janssen of Redzebra Studio, was named NZIPP Auckland Photographer of the Year at the September meeting last week.
Janssen was the winner of 9 awards at this year’s prestigious Epson / NZIPP Iris Professional Photography Awards and a finalist in the Landscape Category.
NZIPP’s Honours Chair Kaye Davis said that this year’s entries contained a lot more imagery that is visually simpler, cleaner and less cluttered. “The judges are looking for consistency, quality, technical execution and command of the craft of image making.”
She said that the winners showed superior levels of photographic practice that made them stand out from other photographers.
“Each year I am amazed at the creativity and professionalism of the award entrants,” said NZIPP President Craig Robertson. “These photographers continue to push their own creative boundaries and this filters down to their day to day work putting them at the leading edge of the profession. The entries we’ve seen this year nudge us into the realm of fine art as we see image making and communication through the medium of photography.”
Organised by the NZIPP for more than 30 years, these annual awards celebrate the excellence of New Zealand’s professional photographers, providing a platform for recognition within the industry and the wider public. The 2011 awards attracted 934 entries with the largest numbers occurring in the landscape, portrait, wedding and student categories.
“Winning Iris Awards is very special because it means my work has passed high quality levels in the eyes of some of the most successful professional photographers in both New Zealand and Australia,” said Harry. “It gives my clients the confidence that they have picked the right guy for their job”.
Harry is a Master of Photography, has 30 years experience as a professional photographer and regularly tutors both amateur and professional photographers. He says “Entering the awards pushes your own personal skill levels to the max. The awards give you the incentive to keep exploring and trying new things. They encourage us to be creative at levels where we might not normally go.”
“The awards give photographers an opportunity to push the boundaries, and to see how their work is judged against the rest of the industry,” said NZIPP President Craig Robertson. “As a result, the bar keeps getting raised higher and higher and this year was no exception.”
You can view Janssen’s award winning images at www.redzebrastudio.co.nz
