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.

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“Fastier’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 ​​that make Braden Fastier a worthy holder of the title of Photographer of the Year 2021.”

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.

“2021 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. “

“The 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