BAVI graduate and Marlborough Express photographer Ben Curran has been named junior newspaper photographer of the year.

His portfolio of six pictures taken during 2010 was judged the best entered in the Canon – formerly the Qantas - print media awards, announced in Auckland on Friday night.

Ben, aged 24, was also a finalist in the open section for best photo essay.

BAVI graduate and Marlborough Express photographer Ben Curran has been named junior newspaper photographer of the year.

His portfolio of six pictures taken during 2010 was judged the best entered in the Canon – formerly the Qantas - print media awards, announced in Auckland on Friday night.

Ben, aged 24, was also a finalist in the open section for best photo essay.

He told the Marlborough Express he was excited and happy with his success.

Ben studied photography during the three-year Bachelor of Applied Visual Imaging degree at UCOL in Palmerston North and joined the paper in Blenheim in December 2009. He says he was drawn to photography because of the opportunity to be creative and produce instant results.

"I like the realism of news photography, and not being stuck in a studio. It's the only job I would want to be doing."

He is keen to do more documentary photography, recording an event in a series of images rather than just one or two shots.

On top of the skills learnt during his study he says his photography department colleagues Scott Hammond and Derek Flynn had been good mentors and helped improve his skills.

As well as photography, the BAVI degree covers graphic design, web/interactive design, animation, video and illustration.