At the awards at the Otago Museum last night, Mrs Booth's shot titled "Sunset Steeds", of three horses at dusk, won her the prize of 2008 Otago Wildlife Photographer of the year.
Her entry was described by the judges as a wonderful execution of a Central Otago scene with golden light and golden colour.
Mrs Booth (48) said she loved the silhouettes of the photo, the way it glowed, and the autumn colours.
The photograph was taken in the Millers Flat area in early April after rodeo horses were moved down from the high hills.
"I knew they were there and went up to get them at dusk. But this shot was just a grab as I was leaving," she said.
Taken on a film camera, she had no idea of its quality until it was processed.
The Ettrick mother admitted to being a reasonably serious photographer, trying to get out and about at least once a month.
She had entered the competition three times, and this was her first win of any kind.
The photo was shot on a Nikon F80 camera, with a 200mm lens.
The competition, in its ninth year, attracted 936 entries, with the animal category the most popular, with 419 photographs entered.
The competition was judged by NHNZ producer Max Quinn, Jonathan's Camera and Video manager Russell Drew, and Otago Daily Times illustrations editor Stephen Jaquiery.
Results of the 2008 Otago wildlife photography competition.
-14 years and under
Plant
Winner: Libby Atkinson (Broad Bay), "Stuck in the Middle".
Highly commended: Jeroen Smulders (Northeast Valley), "Seaweed"; Ted Greensmith-West (Broad Bay), "Laughing Jim".
Animal
Winner: Claudia Flaws (Dunedin), "Just resting".
Highly commended: Libby Atkinson (Broad Bay), "A Very Hungry Caterpillar"; Sarah Pye (Port Chalmers), "Bertha".
Human impact on the natural environment
Winner: Kristine Jopson (Mosgiel), "Pylons in the afternoon light".
Highly commended: Phoebe James (Wanaka), "Smoke O"; Beau Child (Roslyn), "Gold Fever".
15 years and over
Plant
Winner: Jan Valk (Broad Bay), "Blooming Shadows".
Highly commended: Kate Burton (Wakari), "Pods"; Dave Curtis (Dunedin), "Frozen Seed Pods".
Animal
Winner: Gillean Booth (Roxburgh), "Sunset steeds".
Highly commended: Keith Payne (Roslyn), "Reclusive Rail"; Elisha Kemp (Opoho), "We once were many".
Human impact on the natural environment
Winner: Dmitry Sharomov (Belleknowes), "Murder Speed".
Highly commended: Jak West (Fairfield), "Once Proud"; Johanna Hiscock (Roxburgh), "Ellie Seal Airbed".
Overall winner - Gillean Booth (Roxburgh), "Sunset steeds".
Jury prize winner - Anita Jansen (Northeast Valley), "Hi guys . . ."
