2020 Laurie Thomas

23rd Laurie Thomas NZ Landscape Salon 2020

By Kathrin Affeld, Salon Organiser

NEW ZEALAND’S PREMIER salon for landscape projected images is run by the Christchurch Photographic Society and will be held again this year. The salon is named in honour of Laurie Thomas who was a devoted pioneer member of the club through the 50s, 60s and 70s and was recognised internationally for his New Zealand landscape photography.

The salon trophy presented to the winner was designed by Lesley Sales FPSNZ. The trophy known as Wind & Water symbolises the essence of the New Zealand landscape: water, wind, trees and light. Lesley says the outline shape suggests a mountain and the forces acting upon it to carve out the landscape. Mountain streams flowing down the mountainsides are depicted by internal cut-out lines.

The action of the wind is suggested by an invisible, implied line that begins as a curl on the outside edge of the mountain and flows across the landscape. Trees clinging to the mountainsides add another dimension, that of vegetation and plant growth. Light defines the shape of the mountain, illuminating the waters, the shapes, the trees, silhouetting the shapes of the landscape.

This unique trophy is awarded to the winner of the salon - to keep. This year our judges will be from the North Island. Find out more in the next issue of Camera Talk. The 2020 Laurie Thomas Salon will open for entries on 1 May. The closing date is 24 May 2020.