Finding The Best Golden Hour Photos In Aotearoa

The Golden Hour Photo Challenge 2022!

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After 2 years and over 3,700 Wellingtonians engaging in the Golden Hour Challenge the Aro Digital team decided to take it national!

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The first round of the competition this year saw over 1,000 submissions from across New Zealand! It took our team a whole week to make the very tough decision of narrowing that down to 40 finalists across 4 categories. Want to see them? We've got those gorgeous full resolution photos of the finalists below.

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But before we dive into that, we'd like to take the opportunity to talk about why Aro Digital holds the Golden Hour Photo Challenge.

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Yes, we do love looking at the beautiful submissions from very talented people, but it is a little more than that. You'll notice a trend among a lot of the photos below - most, if not all, are taken of nature.

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Filling our taha whenua and taha wairua cups is really important for our mental and spiritual wellbeing. Especially during some of the darkest days of the year when winter blues can get people down, walking down the beach or through the bush can go a long way to reconnecting us with nature (and improve our mental wellbeing).

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We hope that these photos from the very talented people around Aotearoa will help inspire people to reconnect with nature, whether it's to take their own snap or just to enjoy New Zealand.

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The bonus to this - we get to make the internet a little brighter 🌞
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Below we have collated the final 40 images in all their high-res glory! The categories that follow are Sunrise, Sunset, Wildlife (yes there are dogs & sunsets), and Wildcard finalists.

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The 10 Finalists for the Sunrise Category

Looking for the best sunrises in New Zealand? Check out these gorgeous shots that showcase the beauty of Otago, Manawatu and everywhere in between!

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The 10 Finalists for the Sunset Category

Where are the best sunsets in New Zealand? These sunset shots have us swooning and booking the next ticket to Taranaki, the Bay of Plenty, Marlborough... actually, maybe it's time for a roadtrip?

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The 10 Finalists for the Wildlife Category

Iconic locations for a golden hour pet photoshoot? Whether you love birds, dogs, or are a fan of livestock these sunrise and sunset photos will make you fall in love.

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The 10 Finalists for the Wildcard Category

The Wildcard category is all about celebrating the unique eye of photographers and the black sheep shots. Expect beautiful lighting, original compositions, and more! 

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