Open for entries: the New Zealand Photo Book of the Year Awards

The photo book format is currently seeing a big resurgence around the world, and local artists now have a chance to get their own photo book in front of international audiences — and win $10,000 in prizes while they’re at it.

The annual New Zealand Photo Book of the Year Awards is back for a third edition, seeking impeccable examples of the form from local creators. Up for grabs this year is a $1000 cash prize and $4000 printing credit from the contest sponsor, Momento Pro, for the winning photo book. There is also a People’s Choice category with an attached $500 cash prize and $2000 printing credit, and Commended spots with $500 printing credit prizes.  

Successful photo book entries will also travel internationally as part of the Australian Photo Book of the Year Award circuit, including five stops in Australia, the Vienna Photo Book Festival in Austria, and a local show in Auckland.  

The deadline to enter a publication is November 30, after which the entries will go before this year’s judging panel. The judges include veteran Wellington photographer Mary Macpherson; architectural photographer and winner of the previous New Zealand Photo Book of the Year Award, Simon Devitt; celebrated art photographer Neil Pardington; founder of boutique publishing house Clouds Publishing, Warren Olds; and international photographic and moving image artist Katrin Koenning.

Judges will be assessing submitted photo books, in both physical and digital forms, across all aspects of production. The quality of photography, design, layout, typography, and cover art will be scrutinized, as well as the successful editing and sequencing of images in service of storytelling. Books will also earn points for originality of concept and implementation, as well as the effectiveness of any additional elements (imagery, text, ephemera). Consideration will also be given to how suitable the book is for its intended audience.

There have been a number of changes to the entry criteria from the previous edition of the contest. A photo book may now only be submitted by the photographer or publisher who produced it (although books by multiple photographers are allowed). International students are eligible to enter, as long as they are studying at a local institution during the period January 1, 2016 to November 30, 2017 (this is also the period entries must be produced within). Finally, books must not have also been entered into the Australian Photo Book of the Year Awards in the same year.

For full detail, and to enter, click here.