Winterstellar Astrophotography Competition 2024

Thank you to this year’s prize sponsors:

Nikon New Zealand

Southern Alps Imagery

Winterstellar Stargazing Tours

NZ Photo Trips

Antimony Observatory

Jonathan’s Photo Warehouse, Dunedin

The winners of this years competition are as follows.

Overall Winner

Cosmic Flow – Tom Rae

Super sharp image of galactic core of milky way over mountains and river in foreground.
Composite Category and Overall Winner – Cosmic Flow – Tom Rae

Jury Prize

Winner: Frosty Moonlight Night with Mount Cook – Brian Bezalel

Moonlit mountains with photographer in foreground next to river
Jury Prize Winner – Frosty Moonlight Night with Mount Cook – Brian Bezalel

Central Otago – Vicky Bowman Prize

Winner: Ethereal Home Hills Runs – Tania Stockdale

Green glow of an Aurora over distant hills and line of round hay bails.
Vicky Bowman Prize Tania Stockdale – Ethereal Home Hills Runs, Central Otago

Aurora Category

Winner: Bay Dreams – Phil Hawtree

Stunning Aurora fills sky behind boat houses and water in foreground.
Aurora Winner – Bay Dreams – Phil Hawtree

Runner Up: Lindis Pass Green Band – Rita Baker

Green Aurora over road going up to mountain pass.
Aurora Runner Up – Lindis Pass Green Band – Rita Baker

Deep Space Category

Winner: – Fighting Dragons of Ara Nebula – Joe Nidd

Red nebular and dust clouds with fine detail.
Deep Space Winner – Fighting Dragons of Ara – Joe Nidd

Runner Up: The Amazing Carina Nebula – Jim Bazsika

Blue and gold nebular.
Deep Space Runner Up – The Amazing Carina Nebula – Jim Bazsika

Natural Category

Winner: Lake Matheson Reflection – Tori Harp

Milky way reflected in still waters of lake surrounded by forest.
Natural Category Winner – Lake Matheson Reflection – Tori Harp

Runner Up: That Wanaka Tree – Mike Mackinven

Tree in a lake with nesting shag backlit by milky way.
Natural Category Runner Up – That Wanaka Tree – Mike Mackinven

Composite Category

Winner: Cosmic Flow – Tom Rae

Super sharp image of galactic core of milky way over mountains and river in foreground.
Composite Category and Overall Winner – Cosmic Flow – Tom Rae

Runner Up: Church Under the Crux – Max Inwood

Old church with highly detailed Milky Way.
Composite Category Runner Up – Church Under the Crux – Max Inwood

Junior Category

Winner: Aurora Over Makara Coast – Gabe Martins

Thank You

A huge Thank You to Competition Judges:

  • Paul Le Comte
  • Stephen Voss
  • Dakota Brown

And also to competition Prize Sponsors:

  • Nikon
  • Antimony Observatory
  • Jonathan’s Photo Warehouse
  • Southern Alps Imagery
  • NZ Photo Trips