Mike Scott Wins Sony Photographer of the Year 2026 for Waka Ama and News Journalism Portfolio
Mike Scott has won the Sony Photographer of the Year title for 2026, capturing top honors among nearly 6,000 entrants with a documentary portfolio that spans competitive waka ama, news events, and human portraiture. The award recognizes a body of work described by Frankham as demonstrating that Scott is a “newsman to the bones” who possesses human rapport.
From Helicopter Burn Zones to Hospice Portraits
Scott’s winning portfolio reflects a career spanning stills, video, and documentary work across outlets like the Waikato Times and New Zealand Herald. When fires swept through the Central Plateau last December, Scott raced from Hamilton to capture the destruction from a helicopter the very same day, documenting an untouched island of forest amidst thousands of hectares of scorched land in Tongariro National Park. Balancing high-stakes breaking news with intimate human moments, his portfolio also features a portrait of 27-year-old cancer patient Paige Suisted, captured at Hospice Waikato alongside her mother Rachel and grandmother Sheryl shortly before her death.
Documenting the Muscle and Mayhem of Waka Ama
For the PhotoStory category, which he also won, Scott spent six months documenting waka ama as a growing sport leading up to the sprint nationals at Lake Karāpiro. Frankham noted that Scott’s documentation captured the complete scope of the sport, from muscle and mayhem during races to the celebratory hugs shared among paddlers and families afterward.
Complete List of 2026 Category Winners
The 2026 Photographer of the Year awards named 33 winners and finalists across specialized categories, highlighting diverse perspectives of Aotearoa’s environment and people. The major category winners recognized in the competition include:
- Sony Photographer of the Year: Mike Scott
- Ockham Residential People’s Choice: Leanne Buchan
- Creative NZ Te Ao Māori Award: Sara Tautuku Orme
- Senior Photographer: Sara Tautuku Orme
- Young Photographer: Louis Macalister
- Auckland Zoo Wildlife: Alex Stammers
- Resene Landscape: David Matthew
- One NZ Adventure: Joshua McCormack
- MOTAT Aerial: Braden Fastier
- Stardome Astrophotography: Antonio Radich
- PhotoStory: Mike Scott
- Portrait: Jessie Casson
- Society: Stephanie Soh
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2026 Awards
How many total entries competed in the 2026 Photographer of the Year awards?
The competition drew nearly 6,000 entries from photographers across the country, narrowing down to 69 finalists before selecting the ultimate category and award winners.
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