Australasia's Top Emerging Photographer for 2017 is Papamoa GP Paul Alsop.

Now in its ninth year, Capture magazine's annual contest attracts the attention of thousands of emerging photographers across Australia and New Zealand.

The magazine reported it received more than 800 entries across 10 categories. Judging relied on 'the wisdom, experience and expertise of 38 of the world's finest photographers and professionals, with a total of 90 judging as many helped decide winners across multiple categories.”

The winner of the Portrait category, Paul Alsop, was also named overall winner of Australia's Top Emerging Photographers 2017.

Paul used the wet plate collodion process to build a portfolio of images that stood out against the other photographers' work. A self-taught practitioner, Alsop first picked up a camera around 15 years ago with the intention of being able to show off his coral reef tank with an online community. Frustrated with digital photography, he moved on to film and black-and-white darkroom printing techniques.

'Obviously the technique used in these pictures was a big part of the overall look….. with this submission I felt the photographer's interaction with his subject matter was honest and consistent within the body of work,” says Judge Simon Harsent.

Delighted at taking out the top award, Paul says the thought of the calibre of the judges reviewing his work makes him feel very honoured.

Paul's prize includes $3000 plus a Fujifilm X-Pro2 & XF 35mm f/2 lens valued at $3298 from Capture's major sponsor, Fujifilm.