Open now: 2016 Sigma D-Photo Amateur Photographer of the Year

Whether you’ve got a stockpile of images that you’ve been patiently waiting to enter or you’re in need of that kick-start to encourage you to pick up your camera and get back into the swing of things, now’s the time to collate all your favourite photographs and submit them to the largest amateur photography competition in New Zealand. That’s right, the 2016 Sigma D-Photo Amateur Photographer of the Year is back and is now open for entries.

We’re very pleased to have CR Kennedy’s Sigma back on board as naming-rights sponsor, and, this year, we are excited to announce that we have added two brand-new categories to our line-up.

First, the Aerial category (sponsored by DJI Drones), which encourages you to get your drones out flying in the sky (abiding by all Civil Aviation Authority regulations, of course). We’re very excited to see the heights to which you can take your photographs in this category.

The second new category is Macro (sponsored by Tamron Lenses), which asks you to get up close and personal with everything from bugs to the everyday objects you have lying around your home.

As well as Aerial and Macro, this year’s competition will host another seven categories to ignite the flame of inspiration in you. The Creative (sponsored by White Studios), Landscape (sponsored by Progear), Monochrome (sponsored by Ilford Paper), Nature (sponsored by Vanguard), People (sponsored by Profoto), and Travel (sponsored by Nikon) categories will all make a reappearance, while the Junior category introduced in 2015 is returning again this year for those who are studying photography or under 18 years of age to submit their images to — this year, the category is sponsored by the Universal College of Learning (UCOL).

Thanks to our new-look website, the competition and its galleries look amazing, and feature far more interactive opportunities than ever before. You can vote on your favourite images in each category gallery to have your say on which image should receive the brand-new Readers’ Choice Award of 2016 — and sharing your favourite images with your friends via your social-media channels or sending them an email is an exciting new feature this year.

Got your images ready to roll? Start submitting now — entries close on Monday, June 13, 2016.