Photographer claims top prize at Motorsport New Zealand awards

A Hamilton photographer has snapped up two national awards for media excellence.

A Hamilton photographer has snapped up  two national awards for media excellence.

Photographer Geoff Ridder won Photographer of the Year (Portfolio) and the President’s Award (Single shot) at the 2012 Motorsport New Zealand awards held at Skycity in Auckland.

Taking Flight: Geoff Ridder's single shot winning photograph Photo: Geoff Ridder
Taking Flight: Geoff Ridder's single shot winning photograph Photo: Geoff Ridder

Ridder, who is a photography team member in the Bachelor of Media Arts at Wintec , accepted the awards in front of an audience of volunteers, media personnel and motorsport celebrities, including New Zealand world rally championship driver Hayden Paddon.

The photograph which won Ridder the President’s Award was from the final Hamilton V8 event earlier this year. Ridder also submitted a portfolio of photos taken last year to take out the Photographer of the Year award.

“There’s a mixture of rally and circuit racing with a few arty-action shots. The rally photos are my favourite because it is about landscape as well,” Ridder said.

Ridder will cover the World Rally Championship when it comes to New Zealand in June.

Four motorsport personalities were also recognised at the awards night.

Richie Stanaway won the Jim Clark Trophy, Hayden Paddon the Rally Founders Trophy (for the fifth successive year), Nick Cassidy the Steel Trophy, and Brian Dixon the Lupp Trophy.