Petra Leary is an award winning New Zealand born aerial photographer. Her ability to capture her subjects from unique perspectives is striking and groundbreaking. 

She has an innate design sensibility, reflected in her unique process all the way from conception to post-production. An intrepid world traveller she hunts out unusual landscapes, captures them from unforeseen angles such as her signature bird’s eye angle from above, and manipulates and accentuates colours in post-production to create her final work. 

Her work is simple yet bold in arrangement and composition. Belying this effortlessness are deeply honed technical skills, and a knowing iconoclastic eye for pop culture. 

Clients: 

Isthmus, Nike, Britomart, Airtime Hoops, The Spin off, Jasmax, Callaghan Innovation, The Viaduct Harbour, T - Mobile, Ford AU, Ford NZ, Osborne Shiwan, Love Taupo, SuperDry, Jose Gutierrez Ltd, Cheapskates Khyber, Terrace Kitchens, Avantdale Bowling Club, Resene Colour / Places and Graces, TuTu Films, Gisborne District Council, Toyota, Ngati Whatua Orakei, DJI Skypixel, DJI, Auckland Airport / Public Journal, Denizen, Bauer Media, Metro Magazine, Virgin Australia, Australian Photography Magazine, The GoodLife Italia, Conde Naste Traveler China, Richard’s Partners, Hallensteins, Vic NZ, Earls Collection, Paterson League, Blunt Umbrellas, Smiley.

Publications: 

Everyday Aotearoa, Sunday Startime, Our AKL, Courts Mag, North and South Magazine, Accidentally Wes Anderson, When Basketball Inspires, Type 7 vol. 2, How Women See the World, Turn on Magazine, Metro, Denizen, Lufthansa Air, The Guardian, D-Photo Magazine, Virgin Australia, D'Marge, Australian Photography Magazine, The GoodLife Italia, Conde Naste Traveler China, Paperboy AKL, Manual Magazine, No Cure Magazine, New Zealand Geographic, NZPhotographer, OurAKL Magazine, Arquitectura Y Diseno.

Ambassador:

Peak Design New Zealand

Polar Pro Filters

DJI Ferntech

DJI Global

ADHD New Zealand

Women Who Drone

Awards:

Minimalist Photography Awards 2022 - Honourable Mention

https://minimalistphotographyawards.com/2022/07/14/primary-blues/

Minimalist Photography Awards 2022 - Honourable Mention

https://minimalistphotographyawards.com/2022/07/14/albano-buoys/

ND Awards 2020 - Professional - Drone Photography - Honourable Mention

https://ndawards.net/winners-gallery/nd-awards-2020/professional/aerial/hm/12807/

ND Awards 2020 - Professional - Drone Photography - Honourable Mention

https://ndawards.net/winners-gallery/nd-awards-2020/professional/drone-photography/hm/13200/

One Eye Land 2020 - Aerial - Worlds Top Landscape Photo Contest - Gold

https://oneeyeland.com/top-10/photo-contest/landscape/award_images.php?award_id=5405&slug=petra-leary

One Eye Land 2020 - Aerial - Worlds Top Landscape Photo Contest - Gold

https://oneeyeland.com/top-10/photo-contest/landscape/award_images.php?award_id=5404&slug=petra-leary

One Eye Land 2020 - Aerial - Worlds Top Landscape Photo Contest - Bronze

https://oneeyeland.com/top-10/photo-contest/landscape/award_images.php?award_id=5117&slug=petra-leary

One Eye Land 2020 - Aerial - Worlds Top Landscape Photo Contest - Silver

https://oneeyeland.com/top-10/photo-contest/landscape/award_images.php?award_id=5448&slug=petra-leary

Drone Awards 2020 - Commended

https://droneawards.photo/gallery/photo/55800

Webstar Magazine Media Awards 2019 - Best Photographer

https://www.mpa.org.nz/awards/2019-webstar-magazine-media-awards/finalists-2019-webstar-magazine-media-awards

IPA International Photo Awards 2019 - Honourable Mention

http://www.photoawards.com/winner/zoom.php?eid=8-178984-19

Sony / Zeiss World Photo Organisation Award 2019, Top 7 Shortlist

https://www.worldphoto.org/sony-world-photography-awards/winners-galleries/2019/zeiss/daily-geometry-petra-leary

New Zealand Photographer of the Year 2019 - 2nd Place, Aerial Category

https://www.nzgeo.com/photography/photographer-of-the-year-2019-winners/

Auckland Camera Center 2019 Photo Competition - 2nd Place Landscape Category

http://www.aucklandcamera.co.nz/afawcs0154454/CATID=717/2019-Photo-Competition.html

SkyPixel  DJI 2018 Competition - Nominated Entry 

https://www.skypixel.com/contests/2018

New Zealand Photographer of the Year 2018 - Highly Commended, Peak Design Aerial Category

https://www.nzgeo.com/photography/photographer-of-the-year-2018-winners/

Auckland Camera Center 2018 Photo Competition - 2nd Place Abstract / Contemporary Category

http://www.aucklandcamera.co.nz/afawcs0154454/CATID=656/2018-Photo-Competition.html

SkyPixel  DJI 2017 Competition - Professional Portrait Category Winner

https://www.skypixel.com/events/photocontest2017/winners

Judge:

2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 Australian Photographer of the Year presented by Panasonic

2019 Whanganui Photography Competition

http://www.whanganuicameraclub.org.nz

2018 Photographer of the Year presented by Panasonic

https://www.australianphotography.com/news/2018-photographer-of-the-year-the-judges

Exhibitions:

2022 - Hastings Fotofest. Group Exhibition

2022 - Kings College Art Sale. Kings College. Group Exhibition

2021 - Kings College Art Sale. Kings College. Group Exhibition

2020 - Point of View. Stephen Tilley and Petra Leary Exibition

2020 - Kings College Art Sale. Kings College. Group Exhibition

2019 - Moonlight Exhibition. Group Exhibition

2019 - Zero Gravity, The Flight Series by Petra Leary. Flying Fish Studio, Ponsonby rd, Auckland NZ. Solo Exhibition

2019 - Meet you at Mercs. The Carwash Group Photo show. Allpress Gallery, Auckland, NZ. Group Exhibition

2019 - Kings College Art Sale. Kings College. Group Exhibition

2019 - Mags Art Show. Mags College - Group Exhibition

2019 - Sony World Photo Awards Exhibition 2019. Somerset House. London, UK. Group Exhibition

2018 - Post Graffiti Pacific, 3rd Edition. Wallace Arts Centre. Auckland, NZ. Group Exhibition

2018 - 149, Sydney Non Objective, Sydney Australia. Group Exhibiton

2018 - Mags Art Show. Mags College. Group Exhibition

2018 - Kings College Art Sale. Kings College. Group Exhibiton

2017 - To The Sky. Studio 40. Auckland, NZ. Solo Exhibition

2013 - Darklight 2 Western Park, Ponsonby. Auckland, NZ. Public Art Show

2012 - Darklight Western Park, Ponsonby. Auckland, NZ. Public Art Show

2010 - Dirty, Filthy, Paradise. The Gallery With No Name. Auckland, NZ. Solo Exhibition