Thinking it would be "quite a cool shot", she snapped the image, added a filter and then realised it was "quite a good photo".
The budding photographer, who has been taking photos with her phone for just over a year, heard about the Otago Museum photography competition from her grandfather, who lives in Dunedin, and decided to enter that image and one other.
"I was expecting to get the other photo in but, no, it was that one."
Josie’s was one of 1997 entries received in this year’s awards across three categories — plant, animal and human impact on the environment.
Her image won the human impact category (14 and under) and, along with other category winners and "hand-picked" entries, formed an exhibition at the museum.
All entries were viewable on touch-screen computers within the exhibition, with visitors able to vote for their favourite for the People’s Choice award.
After votes closed on Monday Josie, now 14, was named the winner.
Her prize includes a photography voucher from Jonathan’s Photo Warehouse, which will probably go towards upgrading her equipment.
"Mum’s thinking of getting [a camera] with my voucher and she’ll pay the rest," she said.
