Photo competition marks 150 years of Botanic Gardens

Seasoned and budding photographers can celebrate next year’s 150th anniversary of Christchurch Botanic Gardens by giving us their best shot.

Christchurch City Council and the Friends of the Botanic Gardens are launching a photo competition tomorrow, with the winner announced in July 2013 as part of the Gardens’ anniversary celebrations.

Mayoress Jo Nicholls-Parker, who will speak at the launch, says photographers have almost a year to capture the splendour of one of New Zealand’s most beautiful public spaces.

“We want to encourage photographers to capture the Gardens in different seasons. The light and shadows stand out at some times of the year, while others are great for colours and people.”

Photographers can enter in adult or youth sections across three categories:

• The ever-changing Gardens – reflecting the Gardens through the seasons.
• The Gardens through your eyes – illustrating the personal experiences of the Gardens that make for enduring memories.
• The nature of the Gardens – focusing on plants and animals.

The winning entries will be announced at a ceremony in July 2013. The great prizes include photographic equipment, display mounted prints and the chance for photographers to see their photo displayed in a public exhibition of the winning entries.

A photography workshop is planned at the Gardens in Spring 2012 to help competitors understand some of the opportunities and challenges of shooting on this site.

More information about the competition is available at www.friendschchbotanicgardens.org.nz