Getty Images has announced the winners of this year’s Grab NZ 2011 national photography competition (the judges included Special Group CD Tony Bradbourne).

The contest challenged photographers across the country to submit their best images which conveyed a snapshot of everyday life in New Zealand.

Nearly 1600 entries were received by the judging panel, consisting of leading photographers and creatives.

Jamie Wright from Avondale, Auckland, took home the top prize for his image that depicts a part of everyday life for local boating enthusiasts who, without a tractor, could not otherwise launch their boats on the soft sand. He won a Canon EOS 7D 18-135IS (rrp $2999.95).

Mazdak Radjainia from Auckland is the runner up for capturing the powerful, raw beauty of New Zealand’s underwater world in his image taken outside the Hokianga entrance on the North Island. His prize is a Canon 600D 18-55IS & 55-250IS (rrp $1649).

The People’s Choice Award, which invited the public to vote for their favourite image, was awarded to Andy Lukey, who captured the essence of summer with his powerful image of surf at Sumner beach. He was awarded the Canon PowerShot G12 (rrp $849).

The judges also made two highly commended awards: Célia Mendes’ landscape taken on the Diamond Lake Track in Wanaka, and Nicolas Holzheu’s black and white image of skaters at Wellington’s 2009 Bowl-A-Rama.

The judges were:

• Tony Bradbourne, Creative Director, Special Group
• Norrie Montgomery, Chief Photographer, The A List
• Hannah Johnston, Photographer, Getty Images
• Rochelle Mora, Brand Manager – Imaging, Canon New Zealand

The finalists’ submissions will be reviewed by Getty Images, and participants will have the opportunity to be invited to become Getty Images’ contributors as part of the Flickr Collection.