A Bay of Plenty student is being named as one of the country's top emerging photographers after a first place win in a national photography competition.

Stills, a nationwide photography competition in partnership with Canon, released a list of the winners over the weekend.

The programme has encouraged student photographers to get creative in their local communities and submit their images for the chance to win from a Canon prize pool worth over $10k, says a spokesperson for the competition.

Still had over 1250 entries nationwide by student photographers in years 1-13.

"Stills is run by RQP - the team behind the hugely successful performing arts platforms Smokefreerockquest, Smokefree Tangata Beats, Showquest, Rockshop Bandquest, OnScreen and Toi.

"Stills was judged by top NZ photographers and visual artists Edith Amituanai, Conor Clarke, Chontalle Musson, Christian Tjandrawinata and Canon representative Geoff Ball."

From the Bay of Plenty - Lucas Thomsen, a year seven from Papamoa College, has taken out first place in the junior Crazy Creative section with their underwater photo of a rockpool. Lucas has won a EOS 1500D camera from Canon.

About Lucas' image, judge Christian Tjandrawinata says: 'Brilliant capture. The way the light falls is just beautiful. Great colour harmony and a perfect balance of chaos and serenity.”

Here is the full list of awards:

National 1st Place overall - Flynn McIntyre, Orewa College

Alternative Medium 1st Place - Soichiro Saito, St Andrew's College, Year 13
Alternative Medium 2nd Place - Myer Urban, Hobsonville Point Secondary, Year 13

Crazy Creative Category (Junior Section) -
1st Place: Lucas Thomsen, Papamoa College
2nd Place: Ellie-May Young, St Hilda's Collegiate
3rd Place: Jed Stace, Hutt Intermediate School

National Finalists (in no particular order):
Max Probert-Southam, Northcross Intermediate
Axel Mackie, Northcross Intermediate
Paige Powell, Tuakau College
Hugo Palairet, Tauranga Intermediate
Chloe Kavanagh, Northcross Intermediate
Ayla Byers, Morrinsville Intermediate School
Emily Shanks, Waimea Intermediate


Day In The Life Category (Junior Section) -
1st Place: Lacey Cleland, Homeschooled
2nd Place: Hannah Lacey, Homeschooled
3rd Place: Amy Malcolm, Northcross Intermediate

National Finalists (in no particular order)
Aimee Hull, Morrinsville Intermediate school
Charlie Ellis, Orewa College
Claire Kim, The Cathedral Grammar School
Donnie Becroft, Bucklands Beach Intermediate School
Georgia Saunders, The Cathedral Grammar School
Tom Capener, Clevedon School
Leo Hyink, Hutt Intermediate

Junior Section Special Awards -
Flashest Style - Aimee Hull, Morrinsville Intermediate School
Exceptional Eye - Zara Latimer, Northcross Intermediate
Superstar Storyteller - Georgia Saunders, Tauranga Intermediate
Excellent Editor - Charlotte Hesson, St Hilda's Collegiate
Developing Talent - Hugo Palairet, Tauranga Intermediate

Altered Category (Senior Section) -
1st Place: Ella Villarmea, William Colenso College
2nd Place: Moana Tongotongo, Aorere College
3rd Place Zoe Whaley, Mount Albert Grammar School

National Finalists (in no particular order)
Jasmine Jury, Paraparaumu College
Elrainne Parkin, Nayland College
Jojo Halcox, Freyberg High School
Lily Ueno, Hobsonville Point Secondary School
Livia Naylor, Burnside High School
Malachi Freeman, Dilworth Senior Campus
Seren Stevens, Morrinsville College

Life In Motion Category (Senior Section) -
1st Place: Isabella Fenton, Albany Senior High School
2nd Place: Zoe Whaley, Mount Albert Grammar School
3rd Place: QiQi Deng, Mount Albert Grammar School

National Finalists (in no particular order)
Anthony Cudmore, Rosmini College
Jaimee Whittaker, Woodford House
Max Groer, Cashmere High School
Ryo Nishikawa, Long Bay College
Sophie Hansen, Waikato Diocesan School for Girls
Stella Drinkwater, Long Bay College
Taylor Ward, Mount Maunganui College

Place Category (Senior Section) -
1st Place: Cooper Duff, King's College
2nd Place: Cheyenne Erdmann, Kerikeri High School
3rd Place: Spencer Ford, Papanui High

National Finalists (in no particular order)
Aya Qawas, Nelson College for Girls
Belinda Chapman, Hutt Valley High School
Cadence Orr, Selwyn College
Finn Parkes, Hamilton Boys High School
Olive Entwisle, Cashmere High school
Olivia Stevenson, St Hilda's Collegiate School
Quinn Dye, Western Springs College

Special Objects Category (Senior Section) -
1st Place: Samuel Shaw, Te Kura
2nd Place: Miro Kennett, Wellington Girls College
3rd Place: Lily Knox, St Hilda's Collegiate

National Finalists (in no particular order)
James Sevenster, Home Schooled
Isaac Pawley, Golden Bay High School
Lyla Hemmingsen, St Hilda's Collegiate School
Miuwai Lee, Northcote College
Nancy Wu, Macleans College
Nat Fitt, Orewa College
Sam Fowles, Hamilton Boys High School

Connection Category (Senior Section)-
1st Place: Carina Toscano, Paraparaumu College
2nd Place: Cooper Duff, King's College
3rd Place: Ryo Nishikawa, Long Bay College

National Finalists (in no particular order)
Elizabeth Iremonger, Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu
Kade Young, Liston College
Moana Tongotongo, Aorere College
Olly Dow, Tauranga Boys College
Sky Lai, Liston College
Sophie Hansen, Waikato Diocesan School for Girls
Teneale Hardy, Whangarei Girls High School

Prize list (sponsored by Canon):
1st place overall: Canon EOS 200D Mark II + DLSR Twin Camera bags
1st place in category: Canon EOS 1500D+ DLSR Twin Camera bags
2nd place in category: Canon SELPHY Square Printer