Hawke’s Bay Today summer photo competition: Waimārama shot takes top prize

“But that one was definitely special. It was really a standout … I literally had tears in my eyes.”

Goodman‘s photo captured a blazing gold sky and a double rainbow arching over the Waimārama Beach.

“That just really made me click, like, wow, I live in a really beautiful place and I’m so blessed,” she said.

“To the naked eye, it was genuinely as beautiful as that or even more beautiful. You know how you try and take a photo and it just doesn’t quite capture it?”

Eva Goodman’s photo of a blazing gold sky and double rainbow over Waimarama Beach earned her first place in Hawke’s Bay Today’s Summer Photo Competition. Photo / Eva Goodman

Goodman hadn’t taken the shot for the competition. She put it on social media, her mum spotted it and encouraged her to enter Hawke’s Bay Today’s competition.

The shot, taken on her phone, has won her a brand-new Canon EOS R50 mirrorless camera with two lenses, a SanDisk Extreme 128GB SD card, a thermal bag, a framed Harvey Norman print of her winning image, and a VIP photo-printing package.

Harvey Norman staff present the first-place prize in Hawke’s Bay Today’s Summer Photo Competition. From left: Harvey Norman Hastings proprietor Chandpreet Thind, operations manager Nick Perreaux, winner Eva Goodman, and Harvey Norman Hastings staff member Gena Hokianga. Photo / Rafaella Melo

For Goodman, who often photographs while travelling but has never owned a proper camera, the win feels like a sign.

“I took photos all through Europe just on my phone and I was actually talking to a friend, just before the call saying I’d won, and she was telling me I should pursue photography,” Goodman said.

“I said I would, but the one thing that stopped me from pursuing it is the fact that I don’t have any gear, other than my phone.

“Now I’m like, wow, maybe I am actually good at this … I’ll definitely start taking photos. I’d love to see where that would take me.”

Winning Hawke’s Bay Today’s Summer Photo Competition inspired 22-year-old Eva Goodman to pursue photography. Photo / Rafaella Melo

Second place went to Liam Appleby for his shot taken at the Bell Rock.

“I’ve been up there probably three times now, and that was the nicest time I’ve been up,” he said.

A moment captured on the Bell Rock track earned Liam Appleby second place in Hawke’s Bay Today Summer photo competition. Photo / Liam Appleby

Third place was awarded to Helen Marchal for her photo of dogs Jackson and Fergus enjoying a morning break in Haumoana.

Helen Marchal’s photo of two dogs relaxing in the sun at Haumoana took out third place. Photo / Helen Marchal

Harvey Norman Hastings operations manager Nick Perreaux said the store has been backing the competition for more than 10 years.

“Hawke’s Bay is a beautiful place to live and to photograph. There’s lots of nice scenery. You’ve got beaches, forests and the architecture. It’s unique,” he said.

“Thank you very much to Canon for coming to the party again and helping us support the prizes for the competition. And thank you to Hawke’s Bay Today for continuing to run it.”