The stillness in this shot can be deceiving – jumping spiders are hailed for their hunting ability, leaping long distances to pounce on their prey. This shot, captured by Subject Librarian Dr Karri Hartley won top spot in the 2026 Bulletin Photo Competition.
Known for its sharp eyesight and hunting abilities, the jumping spider can now add winning a photo competition to its impressive resume.
Captured by Subject Librarian Dr Karri Hartley, this small but mighty creature has jumped into the top spot at the 2026 Bulletin Photo Competition.
This annual competition showcases photography by Otago’s talented tauira and kaimahi. This year’s theme – “Small things: overlooked details and ordinary moments” – invited photographers to explore how larger meanings can emerge and reverberate from minor details.
Coming across the tiny golden-brown jumping spider in their home, Karri couldn’t resist capturing a shot, they say.
“The spider sat in wait on a glass surface, its striking eyes reflected beneath.
“Jumping spiders are visual hunters that rely on their exceptional eyesight to ambush prey. A macro lens reveals their stunning eyes and intricate texture.”
Titled “Through different eyes”, the photo has a deeper meaning, Karri says.
“Beyond our instinctive fear are creatures of extraordinary complexity and beauty.”
Competition judge Sharron Bennett says the pin-sharp eyes of the spider establish an unexpected connection with the viewer that instantly draws you in.
“The photographer has mastered depth of field to isolate the most critical element of the portrait.
“An added layer of interest comes from the reflection of the spider combined with its out-of-focus body, giving the entire piece a kaleidoscopic feel.”
Competition judge Frank Pawluk called the photo “a great macro shot”.
“The image does imply small is big, and it is well focused considering the [Olympus 60mm f/2.8 Macro] lens used. Great lighting also emphasises the characteristics of the spider.”
Coming in second is Master of Business in Tourism tauira Gautam Pahwa.
Gautam, who hails from India, found inspiration in Dunedin’s Botanic Garden.
“When I first came to Dunedin, I found myself returning to the Botanic Garden often.
“It became one of those places where I could slow down and become familiar with the city.”
Capturing an ordinary moment of two people on their walk brought him a sense of connectedness, he says.
“I noticed two people walking along the path, their long shadows stretching behind them. They were only a small part of the scene but somehow changed the way I saw it.
“It reminded me that sometimes it is the smallest, most ordinary moments that make a place begin to feel like home.”
On the left, Master of Business in Tourism tauira Gautam Pahwa came in second with his photo of two people on a walk in Dunedin’s Botanic Garden. On the right, Botany PhD tauira Quan Tay scored this second-runner-up shot from a unique vantage point in Singapore’s famous Gardens by the Bay.
Frank says Gautam’s photo is “simple but effective in all facets”.
“It is a great, exposed monochromatic image. The composition overall is very significant in its adherence to the theme.”
Sharron says the photo is a beautifully observed moment captured by a photographer who has provided a narrative to experience rather than just view.
“I love how you are drawn into this image following the long human shadows up the path to the light.
“The combination of light and shadows, composition and the human interaction invite the viewer not just to look but to feel.”
In third place, Botany PhD tauira Quan Tay also found inspiration in a garden, but in a different country.
Travelling to Singapore for a family reunion, Quan had the opportunity to explore the city’s famous Gardens by the Bay, he says.
A unique vantage point in the Flower Dome at the Gardens presented the opportunity to click this winning shot.
“I noticed this vantage point overlooking the flower beds, where I could observe people enjoying the gardens and going about their day.
“A faux tilt-shift effect, combined with the play of colour, shadow, and movement, turns the scene into a vivid miniature, inviting the viewer to find and consider the extraordinary within the ordinary.”
Little moments should not be overlooked, Quan says.
“This photo captures the little moments – working hard in the sun, shared times with loved ones, and youthful play.
“Though often feeling insignificant at the time and quickly forgotten, these moments contribute greatly to our shared happiness.”
Sharron says rich layers of colour, movement and shadow in the photo build an intriguing image that demands a closer look.
“I love the questions it poses to the viewer – capturing a moment where the ordinary becomes interesting and inviting us to uncover the story waiting behind the layers.”
Frank was impressed by the photo’s composition.
“The tilt-shift effect has worked well. It seems that there was purpose for the white balance choice. The interesting focal point also helps emphasise the theme’s impression.”
The final win of the competition goes to another Library kaimahi, with the People’s Choice award won by Library Engagement Assistant (Māori) Ryan Taylor (Ngāti Whātua).
Ryan’s photo of a cluster of fairy ink cap mushrooms captured Otago’s social media followers’ interest, receiving the highest number of emoji votes.
Otago’s social media followers voted for Library Engagement Assistant (Māori) Ryan Taylor’s photo of fairy ink cap mushrooms, winning him People’s Choice award.
His photo is dedicated to Carol, who was like a grandmother to him and whom he lost recently. She was a huge supporter of his newfound interest in fungi, he says.
“I visited Woodhaugh hoping to find something for Carol and stumbled upon one of the largest clusters of fairy ink caps I had ever seen, tucked between two fallen trees.”
Ryan’s photography skills brought the image to life.
“I used a large reflector to bring light into the dark ngāhere.
“This image was then created by focus-bracketing – shooting multiple frames, each focusing on a different slice of the subject – and stacking 33 images to make something tiny and ordinary feel grand and enveloping.”
Frank lauded Ryan’s technical skills behind the lens.
“Great technical approach utilised to gain a very good image, with a well-composed, focused and lit frame of the subject matter.
“Small toadstools, big presence – this simplicity shows that size doesn’t determine significance.”
Sharron says Ryan’s skilled and well-executed image shows the viewer a world they would normally overlook.
“The textures, patterns, and intricate details of the natural world create an ethereal feeling that invites the viewer to look closer and want to know more.”
The quality of entries this year made refining the shortlist a challenging task, Sharron says.
“The final four winning images certainly make you want to stop and look, each offering a different interpretation of the theme.
“The highest-scoring photographs successfully combined the theme of 'Small Things', technical quality, and emotional engagement to beautifully tell their story.”
Frank says it was interesting to see the interpretation of the theme in all the entries, from “intimate details and fleeting moments to ordinary subjects presented in unexpected ways”.
“There was a strong sense of observation across the entries, with many photographers demonstrating an ability to look beyond the obvious and find something meaningful in the everyday.
“The strongest images were those that didn’t simply depict something small, but used photography to make the viewer pause and consider why that small detail mattered.”
In the end, the winners were those that combined a clear connection to the theme with a reasonably strong composition, technical execution and, importantly, a sense of story and visual impact, he says.
“It was a pleasure to see such a thoughtful and diverse response to the theme, and the quality and creativity of the entries made this year’s competition particularly rewarding to judge.”
Check out all the shortlisted images on Otago's Facebook page.
~ Kōrero by Sandra French, Adviser, Internal Communications