UCOL photography students recognised as New Zealand’s best

UCOL student Leilani Hatch has taken first place in the inaugural national Canon EYEcon awards.

Fellow student Kevin Bone took second place in the awards, launched this year by the giant photographic company to showcase the talent of New Zealand's emerging photographers and give them an opportunity to gain valuable experience with mentors.

The Head of UCOL’s School of Photography, Arts and Design Chris Hubbard says Leilani’s win is an extraordinary achievement and caps a record breaking year for the students and staff of UCOL’s Bachelor of Applied Visual Imaging (BAVI) programme.

Earlier this year, staff, students and graduates of the programme won a record number of awards at the annual Epson/NZIPP Iris Professional Photographer awards, including Tertiary Institute of the Year for the fifth year running.

Leilani won Bronze and Gold awards at the NZIPP event and is also one of two top Photography graduates for 2009, as well as a UCOL High Achiever for 2008.

Her first place in the Canon awards wins her an array of prizes, including $5,000 worth of Canon equipment, $1000 cash and the opportunity to spend a day each with four of the country's prominent photographers, with flights and accommodation included.

The Canon award was open to all tertiary students currently studying photography, and apprentice photographers within New Zealand.

Leilani says she is looking forward to what the future holds. She describes her winning portfolio of six images as “offering an insight into my transition to adulthood. The images investigate my process of defining identity as a young adult woman.”

Her notes accompanying her entry said: “My intention is to communicate a sense of awkwardness which best describes my transition to adulthood. Alongside this, I invite the viewer to reflect upon their own experiences of this stage.”
She credits her study at UCOL as an important factor in her success. “The teachers at UCOL have strengthened my passion for photography by giving me the skills needed to communicate strong concepts and push past making pretty pictures.”
As a UCOL graduate from the BAVI class of 2009, she says she is looking forward to what the future holds.
As second place getter, Kevin receives $2,000 worth of Canon products and membership of the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photographers (NZIPP) for one year.

Kevin was the winner of the Student category in this year’s NZIPP awards.

The Canon EYEcon competition was judged on the basis of creativity, originality and technical expertise, combined with a sense of vision.
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