North Shore Salon of Photography |

Salon 2026 Judges We are proud to announce our esteemed panel of judges who will be presiding over the selection process. The distinguished panel includes Mike Langford, Gail Stent, Chris Traill, Rachael Smith and Gerard Emery. These accomplished individuals will be presented with the incredible task of evaluating and choosing the most outstanding images from the vast pool of entries for inclusion in the salon. The Judge Convenors are Russell Hamlet and Shar Devine.
Mike Langford AIPP.L.GM. HF. NZIPP GM, HF. LM.	Chris Traill MNZIPP

Mike has been a professional photographer for thirty-eight years and an international awards judge & lecturer for twenty-five years. He held the position of Honours Chair of the NZIPP for ten years as well as President for a further three years. His passion is travel photography and photographic book publishing, having produced over twenty-eight books under his own name and many more as an associate contributor. His latest book of Black and White photographs titled 'Vanishing Manscapes', is the subject of his lecture at Photo West in September this year. He worked for Australian Geographic as a photographer over a period of fourteen years, during which time he was awarded Australian Geographic photographer of the year and nominated for the award on several other occasions. He has won many prestigious Professional Photographic awards both in New Zealand as well as Australia, resulting in being awarded Grand Master of both the Australian and New Zealand institutes. He is also an Honorary Fellow of both Institutes. Mike is a Canon Master, an EIZO Ambassador and is co-director of the Creative Photography Workshops with his wife Jackie Ranken. Web site: https://mikelangford.co.nz Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mikeqccp Creative Photography Workshops: https://www.qccp.co.nz	Chris Traill has been working in the photography industry since leaving school. So near on 50 years. He lives and breathes photography. He began as a studio assistant at a thriving Auckland commercial studio of the time, Barry McKay Photography. From 1980, the next 10 years he worked in photo finishing as a printer in various photo labs here and abroad taking on small photography jobs and exhibiting along the way, and at the age of 30 began working full time as a photographer running his business from a home studio in Papatoetoe, which he still operates out of today. His career has included extensive work within all genres of photography. Events, fashion, weddings and portraiture being the main focus. Chris is best known for his concert and music photography and extensive work within Maori and Pacific Island communities covering events like Polyfest, Te Matatini and Pasifika Festivals. He's an accredited life member of New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography (NZIPP) and has achieved a Master with Distinction within that organisation for awards accumulated within the Iris Awards programme. Chris was on the NZIPP Auckland regional committee for 15 years and was chairperson for 5 of those years. He was honoured to be awarded the prestigious NZIPP Gold Award in 2017 for services to the institute. He is also a member of AIPA. He has judged NZIPP Iris Awards and at various PSNZ camera clubs including club night competitions, salons and the creative focus annual competition.
Rachael Smith NZIPP APP, MFA	Gerard Emery NZIPP APP

Rachael Smith is a fine art printer and photographic artist based in Torbay on the North Shore. An NZIPP Accredited Professional Photographer with a MFA in contemporary art she is a multi-award-winning photographer. Deeply passionate about photography, Rachael is committed to inspiring others to embrace the art of printing their photographic work. As an educator, Ilford Master and current President of the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography, she plays a significant role within the photographic community. A seasoned photographic judge, Rachael has contributed her expertise to regional, national, and international competitions for over eight years, championing excellence and creativity in the photographic arts.	Gerard Emery is a well-known figure in the New Zealand photographic industry with a career spanning over three decades, first as a successful commercial wedding and portrait photographer, transitioning into the photographic wholesale sector in his current role of Managing Director of CR Kennedy NZ.
Gail Stent FPSNZ	Shar Devine NZIPP Accredited Professional Photographer MNZIPP (Dist) Master of Photography with Distinction ASSOCIATE The Portrait Masters USA

Gail has developed a passion for Fine Art and Creative photography over the years. She fully appreciates the realistic approach to photography, but for her, photography is a way of seeing, thinking and feeling. She is interested in chasing the emotive image rather than a more factual statement. Being behind the camera and connecting deeply with nature is a form of meditation for Gail. Since Covid, she has become more and more interested in bird photography, finding that connection with wildlife and the environment. Gail’s favourite genres are macro, underwater portraits, in-camera creativity and composites. She also explores and embraces other genres of photography such as sport, wildlife and landscapes. With many years of digital editing and creating composites, she has a vast knowledge of Lightroom and Photoshop to bring images to life. Her love of photography extends to sharing her knowledge in the form of teaching Photography, Lightroom and Photoshop. Gail received her Fellowship distinction from the Photographic Society of New Zealand (PSNZ) in 2019 and is now a member of the PSNZ Honours Board. She is also a PSNZ accredited judge in Photography as well as Audiovisuals. She has won awards for my images Nationally and Internationally and her work has been exhibited in Auckland, France and Adelaide. www.gailstentphotography.com IG: gailstent_photography and gailsten	Previously a sought after wedding photographer, Shar is primarily a portrait photographer of dogs and the people who love them. She also runs bespoke lighting and posing workshops in her central city studio while working on her own personal projects and creating contemporary fine art images. Shar Devine is a NZIPP Master with Distinction and multiple Iris Awards show a consistent commitment to quality, education and peer recognition. Her recent successes in creative, creative portrait and animal categories and the NZIPP Photography Awards, shows her versatility as a photographer as she competes in these more artistic and stylized categories. Internationally, Shar also holds the distinction of Associate with Portrait Masters (USA). Shar has been a judge across multiple categories for the NZIPP Iris Awards for the last three years, a consultant and judge for the North Shore Photography Salon and judge for the International Pet Photography Awards, all further testament to the trust and respect she holds within the New Zealand and International Photographic community.
Russell Hamlet MNZIPP

	Russell Hamlet has carved out one of the most successful family portraiture businesses in the country, capturing the lives of people and the love they have for each other. He is a true veteran of photography & king of the art of selling. Russell is one of the longest-serving Iris Awards judges and has agreed to be Judge Convenor for the North Shore Salon 2025.
We thank these amazing photographers for agreeing to give their time to judge this year's Salon.