Photographer Bill Irwin shares his love of photography and advice on how to get a great photo of heritage buildings, as he prepares to judge Heritage New Zealand’s Mid & South Canterbury photo competition – held in partnership with Rokowhiria Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum. Entries for the competition close on 28 February.

Bill always loved photography as a child, but his working life was mostly taken up with running the family farm. A mid-life health crisis left him with some physical impairments that made a physical job difficult. During a year studying at Lincoln University, Bill started to delve back into photography.

“Living in Methven, people knew I did a bit of photography, and I started getting asked to do this and that. It just ended up over a few years turning into a full-time job,” he said.

A lot of his contracts were commercial shoots for rural companies and farms. Bill’s farming connections were invaluable, and he understood how to capture the authentic experience of farming. Over time his work expanded into other niches such as creating transport and trucking company calendars.

Travelling around the South Island and rural Mid & South Canterbury gave Bill a deep knowledge of the region.

“As I travelled, I realised how varied the landscape was; things could change in a short distance, from the hills of South Canterbury to the big open spaces of Mackenzie Country. I also liked to see how old buildings could be given a new life – when they get a completely different function from their original use.”

“We are very lucky to have Bill judging our Mid & South Canterbury Photo Competition," says Canterbury/West Coast Area Manager, Arlene Baird. “Not only is he an exceptional photographer, but he has a genuine love for the area.”

Bill admits that judging photography competitions can be difficult.

“It’s so subjective, and sometimes it’s hard to say why you prefer one photo over another. Really the main function of a photo should be to satisfy the person who took it.”

But Bill does have some advice for photographers: “It’s always good to take care around the composition. You can see when people have thought carefully about the light, framing and clarity of the image. It’s always good to see an original approach. I’ll be looking for something a bit different that makes me stop and think. And of course, luck plays into it too. Sometimes you have shoots where everything just works together.”

The winner of the Documenting Our Heritage photography competition will be announced on 21 March at Rokowhiria Ashburton Art Gallery & Museum, and photographic entries will be displayed there from 22 March – 17 May.

Find out how to enter here. Entries close 28 February 2026.

Prizes include an unforgettable Crater Experience stargazing adventure with Dark Sky Project, located in the heart of the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve. Other amazing prizes for runners-up include a family pass to Te Ana Ngāi Tahu Rock Art Centre courtesy of Tohu Whenua; a family sightseeing lift pass on Mt Hutt Ski Area; and three nights’ accommodation for two people in a Department of Conservation cabin in beautiful Peel Forest Campground.

Below: St John's Church at historic Barrhill village, photographed by Bill Irwin.