At a prize-giving function at the Otago Museum last night, Mr East (33), a University of Otago master of science communication student, first won the Otago Wildlife Photography Competition's animal section for photographers aged 15 and over.
And while more than 130 people looked on, most of them fellow contestants, he then also won the overall 2012 Otago Wildlife Photographer of the Year award, and its $1500 prize.
And he was asked to cut the ribbon for the Otago wildlife photography exhibition, which is expected to run at a first-floor gallery at the museum until mid-July.
Contest judges said the photographic image he captured, of red starfish on coastal rocks brimming with blue water, was "particularly striking" with its use of colour and "level of detail".
This was a "great shot" and showed a "very high skill level", the judges said.
Australian-born Mr East, who has lived in Dunedin in recent years, is also making a 25-minute documentary as part of his two-year Otago masters degree in science and natural history filmmaking.
Successful wildlife photography involved "a huge amount of luck" and "being at the right place at the right time".
• The winning entries will be featured in Saturday's Otago Daily Times.
