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Congratulations are in order for New Zealand-based photographer Emily Hlaváč Green on her recent professional grand prize win in PDN Taste’s 2016 food photography awards. Photo District News provides a panel of award-winning and well established directors of art, photography and film to judge the applicants in the well-renowned competition. Emily filled us in on how she took home the prestigious award for “Valley of the Vines,” a story of the delicate winemaking process of Valli Vineyards in Gibbston Valley, New-Zealand.
The key component of documenting this intricate process was timing. The seasons move very fast, and it can be a matter of just a few days for the difference between vines laden with grapes and vines that are completely barren. The harvest itself only lasts 2-3 days, and is weather-permitting. The series as a whole was shot over multiple dates to achieve the full story detailing the harvest, fermentation, and landscape. Some key shots that were crucial to the story were planned in advance, and the rest were taken as Emily witnessed the different eye-catching momets taking place.
I was on call around Easter time, the flights were booked a couple of days before, and I was at the vineyard an hour after my flight touched down. I think being flexible as a photographer when it comes to shoots that capture real events or moments is invaluable.
Emily thoroughly enjoyed her time working on the series, gaining a unique and intimate understanding of the meticulous thought, effort and calculation that goes into the winemaking process. On top of that, she says that shooting on location at a vineyard has a special set of perks.
Sampling the sweet, not-quite-ready wine out in the Gibbston Valley among the mountains on a crystal clear day wasn’t too bad either!
As for the competition, Emily had heard of PDN Taste about a year before, and when she saw the list of judges, she couldn’t pass up the opportunity to put her work in front of such admirable people. The fact that they had a professional Travel & Destination category just gave more incentive, since she is creating more work in the direction of food culture these days.
Though optimistic, Emily was still surprised when she got the news she had won the grand prize. She explained that though “it may be commercial work, it feels personal to me.” She is happy that the creativity and passion she put into the series was so well received by the judges. Congratulations again, Emily!
To see more of Emily’s photography, visit emilyhlavacgreen.com.