The Whanganui Salon, a pre-eminent national salon of photography from 1953 to 1992, was re-established on the national photography calendar in 2019 after a gap of 27 years. With a thematic approach (Humanity and Earth) that distinguishes the Whanganui Salon from other national salons and attracting over 400 digital entries in 2019, it was a great rebirth. Despite the challenges of Covid, the 2021 and 2023 runnings of the Salon built upon the 2019 success and saw the awarding of the Vonnie Cave Gold Medal to the overall winners. We are now confident the salon, running as a biennial, will become a permanent event on the national photography scene, enjoyed by those who are seeking a more boutique salon that showcases meaningful images about our world and our place within it.
Our vision is
To establish the Whanganui Salon as a biennial national salon of distinction for digital images focused on meaningful photography that shines a light on issues of national and global significance.
Our overarching theme is
Humanity and Earth - demonstrating the impact of human beings on, and their interaction with, our planet
Change in 2025
As in 2023 the Salon will run early in the year, following the Sony National Salon in February and before the various other national salons later in the year. While the overarching theme remains the same, we have changed one of the sub categories: Aotearoa New Zealand Heritage being replaced with Made in New Zealand.
To establish the Whanganui Salon as a biennial national salon of distinction for digital images focused on meaningful photography that shines a light on issues of national and global significance.
Our overarching theme is
Humanity and Earth - demonstrating the impact of human beings on, and their interaction with, our planet
Change in 2025
As in 2023 the Salon will run early in the year, following the Sony National Salon in February and before the various other national salons later in the year. While the overarching theme remains the same, we have changed one of the sub categories: Aotearoa New Zealand Heritage being replaced with Made in New Zealand.
In 2025 the Salon will be for images in three categories:
Humanity and the Natural World -relationships between humanity and all aspects of the natural world. Images that demonstrate the interactions (actual or implied, positive and/or negative) between humans and nature, be it with animals, plants or the wider environment.
Living in a Changing World - the human experience in the 2020s. Images that show people responding to or experiencing the many changes they are facing in the modern world- from climate change, to pandemics, to technology, to poverty, to opportunity, innovation and more.
Made in New Zealand - Not only must all images in this category have been exposed in New Zealand but they should also be a celebration of Aotearoa - the land, the people and all things we consider quintessentially “Kiwi”.
Timing in 2025 is:
Entries open 1 April and close 26 April
Judging will be in May with Salon and Category winners announced in June
The Salon will be open to all New Zealand based photographers with a maximum of twelve digital entries each (four per category). Apart from the Made in New Zealand category, images may be from anywhere in the world. Entries must be, or derive from, exposed images generally considered to be photographs. All elements of the photograph must be the work of the photographer/entrant. Creative techniques in camera and post processing are acceptable but must not introduce elements that were not originally exposed by the photographer. Images entered in previous Whanganui Salons are not eligible. Entry fees will be a $5 admin fee plus $5 per image. Images will be assessed by three category judges to determine general Acceptances and Judge's Commendations plus the selection of their top four images for each category. The three judges will then agree the overall Salon winner and three Category winners from the top 12 images. The remaining 8 images will be deemed Runners Up in their respective categories.
The overall Salon winner will receive the Vonnie Cave Gold Medal. Vonnie Cave (FPSNZ, Hon FPSNZ, MNZM) passed away in 2021 having been a life member and past patron of the Whanganui Camera Club with a distinguished career in photography. Vonnie served as both president and patron of the Photographic Society of New Zealand. This medal recognises Vonnie’s considerable contribution to both Whanganui and New Zealand photography and has been supported by donations from Whanganui Camera Club members.
We are delighted to welcome back Judy Stokes APSNZ ( https://judystokesphotography.com/ ) as one of our three judges in 2025, having previously judged for us in 2021. Judy is joined by John Boyd Hon FPSNZ Hon PSNZ APSNZ and Jackie Ranken GMPhotog. II. Hon.F NZIPP, GMPhotogIPB AIPP (https://jackieranken.co.nz/about).
In addition to winning the Vonnie Cave medal the overall Salon winner in 2023 will receive a $1000 redeemable voucher from our primary sponsor PROGEAR Photographic and all three Category winners will receive a matted print of their entry from PRINT ART. Category Winners and Runners Up will receive A3 print vouchers from Photography by Woolf who will also be supporting a mini print exhibition of the Salon.
In addition, all awardees will receive a personalised Certificate made for us by Whanganui Photo and Print.
Entries will open on 1 April 2025 via our Jotform which will be posted here.
If you have any queries or want a reminder when entries are open let us know at [email protected]
Humanity and the Natural World -relationships between humanity and all aspects of the natural world. Images that demonstrate the interactions (actual or implied, positive and/or negative) between humans and nature, be it with animals, plants or the wider environment.
Living in a Changing World - the human experience in the 2020s. Images that show people responding to or experiencing the many changes they are facing in the modern world- from climate change, to pandemics, to technology, to poverty, to opportunity, innovation and more.
Made in New Zealand - Not only must all images in this category have been exposed in New Zealand but they should also be a celebration of Aotearoa - the land, the people and all things we consider quintessentially “Kiwi”.
Timing in 2025 is:
Entries open 1 April and close 26 April
Judging will be in May with Salon and Category winners announced in June
The Salon will be open to all New Zealand based photographers with a maximum of twelve digital entries each (four per category). Apart from the Made in New Zealand category, images may be from anywhere in the world. Entries must be, or derive from, exposed images generally considered to be photographs. All elements of the photograph must be the work of the photographer/entrant. Creative techniques in camera and post processing are acceptable but must not introduce elements that were not originally exposed by the photographer. Images entered in previous Whanganui Salons are not eligible. Entry fees will be a $5 admin fee plus $5 per image. Images will be assessed by three category judges to determine general Acceptances and Judge's Commendations plus the selection of their top four images for each category. The three judges will then agree the overall Salon winner and three Category winners from the top 12 images. The remaining 8 images will be deemed Runners Up in their respective categories.
The overall Salon winner will receive the Vonnie Cave Gold Medal. Vonnie Cave (FPSNZ, Hon FPSNZ, MNZM) passed away in 2021 having been a life member and past patron of the Whanganui Camera Club with a distinguished career in photography. Vonnie served as both president and patron of the Photographic Society of New Zealand. This medal recognises Vonnie’s considerable contribution to both Whanganui and New Zealand photography and has been supported by donations from Whanganui Camera Club members.
We are delighted to welcome back Judy Stokes APSNZ ( https://judystokesphotography.com/ ) as one of our three judges in 2025, having previously judged for us in 2021. Judy is joined by John Boyd Hon FPSNZ Hon PSNZ APSNZ and Jackie Ranken GMPhotog. II. Hon.F NZIPP, GMPhotogIPB AIPP (https://jackieranken.co.nz/about).
In addition to winning the Vonnie Cave medal the overall Salon winner in 2023 will receive a $1000 redeemable voucher from our primary sponsor PROGEAR Photographic and all three Category winners will receive a matted print of their entry from PRINT ART. Category Winners and Runners Up will receive A3 print vouchers from Photography by Woolf who will also be supporting a mini print exhibition of the Salon.
In addition, all awardees will receive a personalised Certificate made for us by Whanganui Photo and Print.
Entries will open on 1 April 2025 via our Jotform which will be posted here.
If you have any queries or want a reminder when entries are open let us know at [email protected]
The results of the 2019 Whanganui Salon can be found here: Whanganui Salon 2019 , for the 2021 Whanganui Salon here: Whanganui Salon 2021 and for the 2023 Whanganui Salon here: www.whanganuicameraclub.org.nz/whanganui-salon-2023.html
Thank you to our sponsors for their continued support - these are fantastic businesses to deal with and we encourage you to seek them out when you are looking for photography or printing services