2023 photo competition winners announced
Capturing the mood of the Gardens
The winners of the 2023 Friends of the Botanic Gardens photo competition have been announced.
The competition was to find the best photos that 'capture the mood of the gardens' and were judged by photographer Doug Scott.
Over- 18 winners:
1st Prize and Overall winner - Corrine Kiernan
2nd prize - Pamela Suen
3rd prize - Janice Thomson
Youth Category winners:
1st Prize - Amber Whoolery
Second prize - Mercedes Basevi
Third prize - Madysin Brown
People’s Choice Awards
Youth – Isabelle Dmello
Adult – Alan Stokes
Winning images
Over-18 category
Corrine Kiernan's winning photo 'Summer garden'.
What the judge said: From a non-scientific point of view this ‘me time’ image exhibits all that is best in the gardens and is a very competent gentle image.
2nd prize is Pamela Suen's image of a family walking beneath a gingko tree in our Urban Trees Garden.
What the judge said: This band of intrepid explorers is putting the public use of the gardens to good purpose.
3rd prize went to Janice Thomson for an image of spring festivities in our cherry blossom orchard.
What the judge said: I enjoyed the humor of this picture showing the ‘rare people-flowers’ beneath the trees. Overall, a nice composition.
Youth Category
First prize is Amber Whoolery's image of our tōtara grove.
What the judge said: The strong top and side lighting provides a lovely feeling of shape and texture to the sentinels standing in formal rows in the garden.
2nd prize is Mercedes Basevi's image of a family in our Camellia Garden.
What the judge said: Very eye-catching composition and a lovely interplay between the man-made structure, the people, and the gardens.
3rd prize is Madysin Brown's image of something going on in the Rose Garden.
What the judge said: An ‘arresting image’ where all the people are looking at something that the viewer is not privy to. Good use of foreground, middle ground, and background to create a feeling of depth in the image.
Public Choice
Alan Stokes won the popular vote in the over-18 catgeory for his image 'Autumn Fall'
Isabelle Dmello won the popular vote in the under-18 catgeory with this charming image called 'Lone Adventurer'.