A silhouette photo of a surfer on Mount Main Beach won Mount Maunganui local Cate Duff an international photography competition.

Run by the iPhone Photography School but open to all iPhone photographers around the world, the competition asked for silhouettes.

Cate was one of 15 global winners.

'I'm just thrilled that I can showcase our beautiful beaches to the world,” says Cate.

The Mount Maunganui main beach was recently named the best in NZ by Trip Advisor for the third year in a row.

Cate also runs the Facebook page that tracks the progress of Harry and Sophie, the pair of variable oystercatchers that have nested on the Mount Main beach over summer.

Visiting most days, the birds have become accustomed to her filming and photographing them. Cate's photographs of the chicks, named Motu and Riki after Moturiki Island, suggested by an online competition, have been featured on national television weather updates.

Cate's photographs can be followed on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/catecaptures and Instagram @cate_captures

Cate Duff on the Mount Main beach, iPhone at the ready.