Bryce McQuillan will be the first young photographer to enter New Zealand Geographic Trust’s new Young Guns scheme, designed to pair promising youngsters with experts in their chosen field.

Earlier this year McQuillan submitted some macro photography for our feature in issue 91 on fishing spiders. Art director Andrew Caldwell was so impressed with the school-leaver’s work that we published three of his images. “Exposure to the methodologies of a professional can only be beneficial for McQuillan at this formative stage of his career,” said Caldwell, recommending him for the scheme.

He will be mentored by Rob Suisted— an experienced photographer whose work is featured in this issue’s Viewfinder— to mentor McQuillan in the fine art of macro photography. “There are some things that you can only learn through experience,” says Suisted. “Spending time in the field with people who really know their art had a huge influence on me as a photographer, and it’s great to pass this knowledge on to someone who is clearly passionate about his subjects, and keen to produce something of value.”