Budding photographers are being encouraged to get snapping around the Eastern Bay.

Local artist Andrea Cooper and local author/illustrator Nikki Slade Robinson have teamed up with Mann Print and Design to work on gathering material for the publication ‘Eastern Bay of Plenty: The Book'.

People are being invited to submit their photos that show off the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

The book will show photos capturing what is great about the Eastern Bay.

People are being encouraged to send in their iconic snaps of the area with the chance of having their photo, along with their name, published.

'Not only could your work end up in print, you could also win a signed first edition copy of the book or a framed print of your image,” says Nikki.

'If you don't have a photo, you can still post suggestions for what could be included in the book. This is such a fabulous part of New Zealand. We really want to show it off to everyone.

'Much as we love living here, we also don't know every single inch of it, which is why we are asking everyone what they think is most special about living here. We don't want to miss anything out that should be in the book.”

Local businesses have also come on board to support the project.

OPAC, Whakatane New World, John Twaddle and Associates (Eastbay Dental), Whakatane District Council, the Ohope Community Board and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council have all pledged their support.

'It's fantastic to have this local support behind us,” says Andrea.

'Putting a book together is a huge job so these organisations are crucial in enabling the project to become a reality.

'With summer fast approaching, it's the perfect time to get out there with your camera, to show just how awesome the Eastern Bay is.”

People are being urged to get their photos in before January 31, 2015.

Please upload low resolution versions (under 500kb) to the Facebook page ‘Eastern Bay of Plenty, NZ: The Book'. If your photo is selected to appear in the book, Andrea and Nikki will then contact you for a high-quality version of the image.