rock face and waterfalls

NZAC Photocomp 2024 - Alpine Landscape

The judging for this year's NZAC Photo Competition is now complete! Stay tuned to our website throughout this week as we reveal the winners for each category, leading up to the announcement of the overall winner at the end of the week.

The Alpine Landscape category consistently stands out, showcasing breathtaking images that truly capture the allure of these remarkable places and why they captivate so many of us. The winner of this category, with the photo shown above, is Ruari Macfarlane. He captions it: Donne. 

The judges' comments were: By focussing on Fiordland's towering verticality, the photographer resisted the siren-call of wide-angle photography. This close-up study masterfully captures the essence of shape, light, colour and contrast. Beyond its artistic brilliance, our alpine landscape photo of the year evokes a profound sense of place in one of New Zealand's most iconic environments. - Judge Dennis Radermacher.

Congratulations to Ruari on his winning image. He has won a pair of MSR Lightning Ascent Paragon 25” Snow Shoes

There were also four images awarded honours recognition, as shown below, Paul Wilson, Mathew Denys, Christopher Tangvisethpat, and Andy Wooods. They win A Wild Life from Potton & Burton or a prize from Berengia. Congratulations also to Christopher Tangvisethpat, Larryn Rae, Mathew Denys, Michael Beckmann and Tom Hoyle who entered images awarded with Accepted recognition.

Thanks again to the photo competition judges Simon WaterhouseMark Watson and Dennis Radermacher.  

Our 2025 NZAC Calendar features many outstanding photographs from this year's competition. Pre-order yours today here: https://shop.alpineclub.org.nz/product/nzac-calendar-2025/ 

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Lenticular cloud over Aoraki Mt Cook
 Paul Wilson. Aoraki at sunrise, crowned by a glowing lenticular cloud, catching the first light on its snow-covered peak. Nature's perfect moment of colour and form in the crisp alpine morning. https://instagram.com/paul_wilson_images https://facebook.com/paulwilsonimages 
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Sunset in mountains
Mathew Denys. Taranaki at sunset. 
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midnight sun in Alaska
Christopher Tangvisethpat. Alaskan midnight sun https://www.instagram.com/ct.outside/ 
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Torres Del Paine
Andy Woods. Torres Del Paine. https://www.instagram.com/andywoods_photographer/