$16,000-plus prize pool announced for our amateur photo comp

All you need to do is open any of the category pages here to see the volumes of stunning images being submitted every day into the 2016 Sigma D-Photo Amateur Photographer of the Year competition. And now, we’re excited to be able to share with those who have already entered, and those patiently waiting to see what they’ll be in to win, what this year’s prize pool has to offer.

For us here at D-Photo, bringing this competition to New Zealand’s amateur photography community is always a highlight of the year, and we would like to thank competition chief sponsor Sigma, and category sponsors DJI Drones, White Studios, Universal College of Learning (UCOL), Progear, Tamron Lenses, Ilford Paper, Vanguard, Profoto, and Nikon for supporting this competition.

Overall winner (sponsored by Sigma)

This year’s overall competition winner will receive a fantastic Sigma lens kit consisting of a Sigma 10–20mm f/3.5 lens, Sigma’s new 50mm f/1.4 Art lens, a Sigma 105mm f/2.8 OS Macro lens, and a Sigma 50mm f/1.4 lens. This whole kit is worth up to $4000.

Aerial category, sponsored by DJI Drones

• First prize: DJI Phantom 3 4K, worth $1599
• Second prize: Lowepro Drone Guard BP, worth $329
• Third prize: Sandisk 64GB Extreme Pro Micro SD Card, worth $179

Creative category, sponsored by White Studios

• First prize: $1000 excl. GST of rental credit, valid for 12 months
• Second prize: $400 excl. GST of rental credit, valid for 12 months
• Third prize: $250 excl. GST of rental credit, valid for 12 months

Junior category, sponsored by UCOL

• First prize: $800 Canon voucher
• Second prize: $500 Canon voucher
• Third prize: $200 Canon voucher

Landscape category, sponsored by Progear

• First prize: $900 worth of Lee filters
• Second prize: $400 worth of Lee filters
• Third prize: $200 worth of Lee filters

Macro category, sponsored by Tamron Lenses

• First prize: Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 DI Macro 1:1 — Canon or Nikon, worth $1295
• Second prize: Manfrotto Large Active Befree Messenger Bag (grey), worth $212
• Third prize: Manfrotto Pixi Evo 2 Section Mini Tripod for DSLR, worth $79.95

Monochrome category, sponsored by Ilford Paper

• First prize: Vanguard Veo 265AB tripod, plus 8MB EyeFi Mobi card, valued at $440
• Second prize: Vanguard Uprise 28 Gadget bag, plus 25-sheet pack of Ilford Smooth Pearl inkjet paper, valued at $185
• Third prize: Vanguard Vojo 22 BK Gadget bag, valued at $135

Nature category, sponsored by Vanguard

• First prize: Vanguard Veo 265AB tripod, plus 8MB Eyefi Mobi card, valued at $440
• Second prize: Vanguard Uprise 28 Gadget bag, plus 25-sheet pack of Ilford Smooth Pearl inkjet paper, valued at $185
• Third prize: Vanguard Vojo 22BK Gadget bag, valued at $135

People category, sponsored by Profoto

• First prize: $1000 excl. GST of rental credit, valid for 12 months
• Second prize: $400 excl. GST of rental credit, valid for 12 months
• Third prize: $250 excl. GST of rental credit, valid for 12 months

Travel category, sponsored by Nikon

• First prize: Nikon 1 J5 10–30mm PD Kit, worth $899 
• Second prize: Manfrotto Befree Aluminium Green Tripod with quick-release ball head, worth $299
• Third prize: Lowepro ProTactic BP 350 AW, worth $299

Readers’ Choice, as voted by you, the reader

To have your say in who wins this prize, head to the individual category galleries and cast your vote by clicking the heart on your favourite image(s). The image with the most votes at the end of the competition will receive a one-year subscription to D-Photo.

Entry details

Entries can be submitted online here at any time before 5pm, Monday, June 13.

Important dates

• June 13: submissions close.
• July 11: winners announced in D-Photo Issue No. 73.