The Trustpower Photographic Exhibition, currently underway in the Bay, could open doors to the film industry for entrants.

BOP Film general manager and competition judge Anton Steel hopes the exhibition will unearth some talent that can be put to use in the film industry here and across New Zealand.

'When I was asked to be one of the judges I was delighted to do so, both to support this community initiative showcasing the Bay and our emerging and established creative talent, and also because of the opportunities for BOP Film from the entrants in the competition.”

Anton says BOP Film are keenly looking for talent across a number of sectors, including photography.

'I'm excited in particular to see the Land and Sea section, as we will also discover new film locations that we have yet to scout in the region. I'm currently compiling a database of locations and also shooting a show reel for the region to showcase the amazing place we live in to productions looking for a home for their projects.

'Sometimes a well-shot photo that captures a mood or emotion is all a director needs to know they have the right location for a film. There some really amazing photos that have been entered and I look forward to a chance to collaborate with some of the photographers in the future, both on shoots and in scouting locations.”

Joining Anton in the judging panel for the Trustpower Photographic Exhibition are Carolyn Schofield from Trustpower, Jenny Rudd from UNO. Magazine, Claire Rogers from The Weekend Sun, Belinda Francis from Media Works, Karl Chitham from Tauranga Art Gallery, Anton Steel from BOP Film, Kristin Dunne from Tourism BOP, Tara Fowler from Tuskany Agency and Paul Byrne from the Tauranga Photographic Society.

Downtown Tauranga project manager Sally Cooke says the judges have their work cut out for them, based on the calibre of entries received to date.

'The standards seems incredibly high from the photos we have received to date. There are some simply breath-taking entries.”

With over $10,000 in prizes up for grabs organisers are expecting hundreds more entries to be submitted before the competition closes next Friday, January 20.

'The supreme winner will win, among other things, a return trip to London, Paris, New York or Rome, five nights' accommodation and the opportunity to have some of their photos, taken on their trip, featured in an UNO magazine travel feature,” says Sally.

'It's certainly an exciting prize for a budding or established photographer and is helping to attract strong interest in the competition aspect of the exhibition.”

Additionally the competition offers cash prizes for the four categories of $1000 for first and $500 for second place getters and two creative internships for student and young photographers. The winners of the Student's section and the Young Photographers section will also both get a one week creative media internship at UNO Magazine, The Weekend Sun and More FM.

The Trustpower Photographic Exhibition is a community project made possible through the collaboration and support of Downtown Tauranga, Trustpower, More FM, UNO. Magazine, The Weekend Sun, House of Travel Tauranga and Creative Communities.

Once the entries have been judged the Trustpower Photographic Exhibition then opens on The Strand, Downtown Tauranga on Friday January 27, running until April 9. The free exhibition will also include a People's Choice section, asking the public to vote for their favourite photo.