A world winning
SHOT
Nelson-born Aimee Jan has made it into the ranks of the world’s top ocean photographers with her chance shot of a Ningaloo Reef turtle, which appears to have popped out of its cave to pose especially for her. Tracy Neal spoke with Aimee from her home in Exmouth, Western Australia, about how it all happened.
T
he moment Aimee Jan fell in love with the ocean is not entirely clear. It’s possible it has simply coursed through her since the day she was born. Or perhaps it was the childhood influence of growing up on the Nelson waterfront, the swimming clubs she was part of, or her summer holidays in Golden Bay with best friend Amy Jamieson. “I think I was maybe six or seven years-old when I began to be fascinated by the ocean and whales. Mum is still not really sure where that came from but possibly the documentaries we watched growing up.” The 36-year-old is still reeling from just having won a globally prestigious ocean photography competition, judged by a panel of the world’s leading ocean photographers. “When I got the news I had won the award I couldn’t actually believe it. I was gobsmacked, really, and very, very honoured.” The competition is staged by London-based Oceanographic Magazine and judged by International Photography Hall of Fame inductee Paul Nicklen, founder of the International League of Conservation Photographers, Cristina Mittermeier, and Emmy Award-winning cinematographer Shawn Heinrichs. The awards showcase images by photographers from around the world and reflect themes of conservation, exploration and adventure. Aimee’s striking photo of an endangered turtle among glass fish not only won this year’s Ocean Photographer of the Year Award, but it also got her nominated as a finalist in the competition’s new category, the Female Fifty Fathoms Award which celebrates inspirational women in ocean photography. “I’ve looked up to photographers like Paul and Christina for the longest time, so having them see my photograph and having it stand out to them, is just…huge, huge, huge for me. “It’s a massive kick up the butt for me to do more.”
