Stuff Photographer Wins New Zealand Geographic Photographer of the Year

Braden Fastier / Stuff
One of Braden Fastier’s winning images from his portfolio.
A Things visual journalist won a prestigious photography competition.
Nelson-based photographer Braden Fastier was named New Zealand Geographic Photographer of the Year for a broad portfolio of social documentaries.
Fastier first won the Nikon Photographer of the Year award and also won the Resene Color award.
In a statement released Wednesday evening, New Zealand Geographic editor James Frankham said Fastier’s images were rich in color and context, were technically sound and demonstrated an original and imaginative approach to photojournalism.
READ MORE:
* “Right place with the right lens”: photojournalist Stuff Alden Williams wins prestigious award
* The NZ Geographic Photographer of the Year exhibition presents “a year in Aotearoa”
* Four Stuff Photographers shortlisted for the New Zealand Geographic Award
* Collective focus on Nelson’s life in a new photography exhibition
âFastier’s images captured a second level of meaning – the humor of the paperwork around a pair of concrete playground seals, a mask on a statue, phone calls on a golf course – the realities oddities of life in Aotearoa in 2021 that go some way to understand the year that has been.
“His approach borrows from street photography, but with the discipline and talent for storytelling of a photojournalist, values ââthat make Braden Fastier a worthy holder of the title of Photographer of the Year 2021.”
Braden Fastier / Stuff
One of Braden Fastier’s winning images from his portfolio.
New Zealand Geographic has received more than 6,000 nominations for the title of Photographer of the Year this season, a record in the 13-year history of the competition.
â2021 started out as a cure for 2020, but in many ways it felt like a repeat of history. This was reflected in the registrations we received. There were images of more blockages, more protests and cultural themes were also close to last year – Covid-19, Black Lives Matter and a process of adjusting to smaller, more isolated lives. “
âThe images also reflected, however, our resilience as a nation, our creativity and our determination. There were landscapes of quiet solitude, without the rush of tourists. There were images of small circles of family and friends. Even the images of wildlife were silent and careful studies of behavior, marked by the patience of the photographer. “
2021 winners
Nikon Photographer of the Year – Braden Fastier
Young Photographer of the Year – Mattheus Elwood
Ockham Residential People’s Choice – Grant Nicholson
Resene Color Award – Braden Fastier
Electric Kiwi Wildlife – Danilo Hegg
Resene Landscape – William Patino
Lumix Company – George Heard
Built Environment Resene – Matthew Connolly
Progear PhotoStory – Ralph Piezas
Aerial Lightforce – Hunter Smith