Scientists’ stunning images

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From one pole to the other, NIWA scientists work in some of the world’s most extraordinary landscapes.

On any given day you might find a NIWA staff member under the ocean, on the ice, atop a mountain or deep in a lake or river.

These stunning environments, which form the backdrop for the vast array of environmental science undertaken by NIWA, are celebrated each year in an annual photographic competition for staff.

The competition is unique for the diversity of images which this year includes everything from the vastness of the Arctic to the minute stony-cased caddisfly.

Overall winner

The winner of this year’s award was specialist diver Crispin Middleton, with his photo entitled Underwater Angel, taken near the Poor Knights Islands. Mr Middleton has been trying to capture photos of flying fish for years, but every time he tried they would simply dart away. This year he managed to get his shot by hovering above the fish where they would linger for a few seconds before darting away.

UNDERWATER ANGEL: A rare shot of a juvenile flying fish. [Photo: Crispin Middleton]

The judges – photography professionals Ross Giblin of Fairfax Media, Gerry le Roux from Science Lens -  described the flying fish as looking like a piece of jewellery set against a dramatic black background.

“It has beautiful colour and is a very detailed image.  An iridescent jewel against the dark of the ocean, beautifully captured and nicely lit to shows all its subtle colour. This would have been a rare shot to capture.”

Other category winners

  •  Dr Rob Murdoch who won two categories, Our Places and Our Work. The former was for a photograph of a stormy evening at Lake Rotorua while the latter is a close-up of a Southern Buller’s albatross.

STORMY EVENING: Lake Rotorua as night falls. [Photo: Rob Murdoch]

BIRD’S EYE VIEW: A Southern Buller’s albatross. [PHOTO: Rob Murdoch]

  • Dr Alison Kohout won the Our People section for her shot of an Arctic sunset.

ARCTIC SUNSET: At the end of a day measuring sea ice on the Arctic. Winner: Our people [Photo: Alison Kohout]

  • Shannan Crow won the Freshwater section for his photograph of the Rakaia River headwaters

FRESHWATER WINNER: The blue glacial headwater of the Rakaia River. PHOTO: Shannan Crow

  • Ayushi Kachhara won the People’s Choice category for her shot of the night sky near the Remarkables.

MILKY WAY IN THE REMARKABLES: Clear skies provide an astronomical view on a lookout near The Remarkables. Winner: Peoples Choice. [Photo: Ayushi Kachhara]

The judges commented on the extraordinary variety of work carried out by NIWA staff which offered unique photographic opportunities and said NIWA was widely known for the excellence of its imagery.

The six section winners and a selection of other entries can be also seen in the video below.