Whale Image Wins Hobbyist Photographer Prestigious Award

Mazdak Radjainia - NZ Geographic photographer of the year award

News Release

Whale Image Wins Hobbyist Photographer Prestigious Award

Auckland, New Zealand. December 14 2011 – A tourist who visited Niue and captured his up-close experience of a whale and its calf has been awarded the 2011 New Zealand Geographic Photographer of the Year Award for the Wildlife Category.

Mazdak Radjainia, a researcher at the University of Auckland enjoys photography as a hobby, but has never been a professional photographer. In September he spent three weeks in Niue to indulge in his hobbies of diving and photography.

“I have been to Niue a few times before, I guess you could say I’m in love with the place,” says Radjainia.

“This time we went over with a refined game plan for deep sea adventures and diving which led to many fabulous wildlife encounters. That humpback shot was just the icing on the cake.”

Niue Tourism Development Manager Hayden Porter was thrilled to be informed of Radjainia’s award.

“The photograph is absolutely beautiful and perfectly captures the other worldly experiences that everyday tourists experience in Niue,” says Porter.

Niue is one of only three places in the world where you can swim with humpback whales which migrate past the island every year between July and October. Niue is also regarded as having some of the best diving and snorkeling in the world due to the extremely clear visibility and extensive marine life.
www.niueisland.com

ENDS