NISEKO NEWS
By Thomas Shomaker
Photos Niseko Shootout
Niseko’s homegrown photo competition, the Niseko Shootout, opened on 1 December and will be accepting submissions until 3 March 2024.
Photos are judged across three categories, ‘Ski’, ‘Snowboard’ and ‘Open’ and all that is required for entry is that Niseko photos under these areas are uploaded to Instagram with the hashtag #nisekoshootout.
Niseko Shootout was created by Winse Heyward and its first season was 2017/18.
At the time, Heyward was a partner at a boutique local ski school called Hokkaido Core and after meeting some guests from Salt Lake City, he learned about a ski and snowboard-focused photography competition there.
At the time, Hokkaido Core was growing its presence on Instagram, mostly due to powder snow images, and upon researching other international ski resort towns, Heyward discovered that many of them had locally-focused photography competitions.
Heyward, feeling like Niseko should be on the map in this regard, began seeking out sponsors, which included in the first year and still includes Powderlife Magazine.
”If anywhere is going to have a powder photo contest, it should be here right?
Winse HeywardNiseko Shootout Founder
Photo: Toni Rodriguez
800 submissions came in over the 2017/18 season, and while there was a reduction during the Covid era, the contest still happened every year and, last season, the first normal winter of no Covid restrictions, about 1,000 photos were submitted.
Niseko Shootout has also produced offshoots, like the Niseko Shootout short film festival, whose first season was 2018/19.
Even the film festival persisted during the Covid era, with the 2020 film festival and awards ceremony happening as a viewing party online.
PHOTOS: Tree shadows, Andrew Strain | Ski lift, Moto Takagi | Ski closeup, Teddy Laycock | Ski distance, Jara Sijka
The 2021 and 2022 final short film festivals took place at a drive through to maintain social distancing, with the projecting taking place on a giant snow screen, an idea from Acme Wu at Niseko Tourism.
Regarding the Niseko Shootout Photography Competition, Heyward said that it is a good vehicle for everyone who makes up Niseko – locals, visitors and businesses alike – to participate in their community, although it is the regulars who usually walk away with the prizes.
”The seasonaires and the locals are usually the ones submitting the most and best photos.
Winse HeywardNiseko Shootout Founder
Photo: Taiki Nakamura
More information about Niseko Shootout can be found on Niseko Tourism’s dedicated page and Niseko Shootout’s Instagram, including details about other related contests.
Featured image photos clockwise from upper right: Moto Takagi | Taiki Nakamura | Jana Rogers | Toni Rodriguez
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