Christchurch City Libraries will be hosting a display of Ilford Shield Secondary Schools Photography Competition finalists at the Central Library from September 7 to 18. The show is on the First Floor and is an opportunity to see some of the most promising young photographers in New Zealand.
This is the 40th year of the competition and attracted 800 entries. It is organised by the Nature Photography Society of NZ on behalf of the Photographic Society of New Zealand and sponsored by C.R. Kennedy and UCOL, Universal College of Learning.
In 1967, PSNZ member Dick Poole started a series of photography classes for secondary students in Christchurch. Dick was so impressed with the work produced, that he suggested to Len Casbolt, who was then working for HE Perry Ltd wholesalers of Ilford products, that there should be a photographic competition exclusively for secondary students.
The idea of an inter-secondary school competition to encourage photographers came to fruition in 1969 with a the donation of a handsome shield and reimbursement of competition running costs by H E Perry Ltd.The PSNZ organised the Ilford Shield event, modelling it on a similar one run by Ilford Ltd in Australia.
At first it was restricted to monochrome prints, but later included colour prints and slides. The three original sections were ‘people, places and animals’, but by 2000 were changed ‘open, creative and digital’. The Digital imaging section was added in 2001. Then as digital has become widely used, the classes were reduced to two, Open and Digital Creative Effects.
The school gaining the highest aggregate receives the Ilford Shield. Various prizes of photographic equipment are given to the place-getters and the winning school.
The first winners, in 1969 were Christ’s College, Christchurch.
The Len Casbolt Trophy is for the overall Champion Print from both classes.
- Photography resources at Christchurch City Libraries
- Photography courses and classes listed on CINCH (Community Information Christchurch)
