The Arrowtown Promotion and Business Association has opened entries for the 2025 Arrowtown Biennial Photography Competition, inviting photographers to capture the beauty and spirit of the town and its surroundings.
Opened to all snappers — from pros to people who are dab-hands with their phones — the competition provides an opportunity to win some cash, have their work displayed during this year’s Arrowtown Autumn Festival, which runs from April 24 to 27, and support the Arrowtown calendar and marketing activities, plus display considerations at the museum.
Last held in 2023, a record number of entries were received from over 70 photographers — judges Todd Weeks and Joe Bailey noted a significant increase of photos taken on phones, highlighting that "stunning images" can be captured without professional equipment.
That year’s overall winner was Queenstown’s Rico Stevens, whose landscape entry A Couple of Ducks earned him the Jade & Opal Factory Trophy and a $200 prize.
APBA manger Nicky Busst says whether it’s a moody nightscape, the golden hues of Arrowtown in autumn, or the playful charm of the village’s wildlife, they’re keen to see what people believe makes Arrowtown special, through their eyes.
Subjects of photos must be from the Arrowtown area bordered by the Crown Range, Shotover River, Lake Hayes and Gibbston, but include the accompanying backcountry of Coronet, Macetown, etc. Pics must have been taken no earlier than January 1, 2023.
Horizontal-only competition categories are seasonal, landscapes, wildlife/nature, outdoor recreation, nightscapes, while vertical or horizontal images can be submitted for black and white and youth (15 years and under).
Submissions close at midnight on Sunday, March 23, via arrowtown.com/discover/photo-competition
