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Hokitika's Wet West Photo Festival NEWS
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20 January 2007. Wet West Photo Festival makes a splash!
The inaugural Wet West Photo Festival has caplured the imagination of photographers around New Zealand, culminating in an exciting, diverse and much visited exhibition in Hokitika. Home of the Wet West Film Festival, Hokitika has embraced the new photographic event, seeing hundreds of votes cast for the People’s Choice image in the first week of the exhibition. Festival Director Jo Kearns laughs, “our biggest problem has been keeping enough voting forms there for the people coming through, and being at the exhibition to hear the sheer enjoyment from visitors loving the accessability of the works.”
The official judges, D-Photo’s feature writer and photographer Wayne Lorimer joined professional photographer Jeurgen Schacke, and selected category winner as follows:
People's Choice: Sue Hustwick - "Mucking About"
Prize: Large Canvas of Winning Entry
Junior: Georgia Bodle - "Foam"
Prize: Tripod
Landscape: Chris Morton - "Water Flowing In Morning Light"
Prize: Andris Apse Authenticated Limited Edition Book
Culture and Environment: Rebekah Wild - "Weeping Stones"
Prize: Andris Apse Authenticated Limited Edition Book
Adventure and Exploration: Chris Morton - "Walking Back To Camp"
Prize: Andris Apse Authenticated Limited Edition Book
Best of Show: Chris Morton - "Water Flowing In Morning Light"\
Prize: Olympus Camera and D-Photo Cover Shot
Over 120 entries were received and pre-selection saw 50 finalists hung at the Carnegie Gallery. All entries exude a watery theme and celebrate the many ways water comes into our lives on a daily, or for some, more occasional habit.
The judges commented on the great variance of interpretation of the categories, which made each section an interesting challenge to compare. As well, the juxtaposition of professional photographers work alongside hobby photographers, “for me, the professional work didn’t always come out on top. Sometimes it was the way an amateur had composed their image that caught my eye, and as long as the technical ability is there, then it works,” said judge Wayne Lorimer. “Overall, the Wet West Photo Festival offers the chance for photographers to become involved in the Wet West Festival. It was encouraging to see the number of entries, and will become a stronger part of the future of the Wet West Festival week.”
The Wet West Photo Festival enjoyed great support from Hokitika’s Photo Corner and Olympus cameras, as well as the exceptional D-Photo magazine. Jo Kearns says “it’s really important for us to start with strong, respected industry support, so we appreciate the input from each of the key supporters, thanks!” Keep a look out at www.wetwestphotofest.com from middle of 2007 for news and entry forms for the 07/08 event and in the meantime, throw yourself out into those watery scenes ready for then!
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20 July 2006. New Festival For Hoktika!
Hokitika, renowned for giving New Zealanders the excuse they need to come on over the hills to enjoy some West Coast hospitality, is doing it again. From 2004 the Wet West Film Festival has shown in the grand old Regent Theatre for four days in early January, this year it’s getting bigger. “The Wet West Film Festival is in its third year and that means it’s time for a growth spurt,” said Festival Director Jo Kearns, “we are really loving the stories that are being told through film, so now we’re sending out the challenge to photographers to do as good a job in their medium. It’s called the Wet West Photo Fest.”
The films arrive in digital format, and now with digital cameras used extensively by professional photographers as well as common place in the home, there’s plenty of scope for The Wet West Photo Fest to become a favourite of photographers the world over. Photos are being called for now on CD in the first instance to go through the preselection process. The categories of competition will be the same as in the Wet West Film Festival, being Adventure and Expedition, Culture and Environment, Amateur, People’s Choice and the supreme award the Judge’s Choice.
All finalists will be exhibited in Hokitika’s Carnegie Gallery for three weeks ending 12 January, and prizes will be announced in conjunction with the Film Festival prizegiving, Oscar-style on Sunday 7 January. Co-director, Dave Kwant emphasises, “we’ll receive entries until 31 October, importantly photographers must use the theme of the Festival within the photographic content, so it’s expected there will be more water than usual in Hokitika in January! The finer details are all on the website.” see more here
Given the influx of film entries for the the Wet West Film Festival, organisers are expecting the Wet West Photo Fest will make for a heavy mail bag in the next couple of months. Time to head out to your favourite watery spot and start snapping.
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