A Dunedin man has been named New Zealand's top amateur landscape photographer.

Michael Sutton was awarded the title at New Zealand's largest annual amateur photography competition.

Sutton, from Glenleith, scooped the top honour with a dramatic shot of seabirds flying through a squall off the coast of St Clair.

He beat out almost 6000 other entries, and will take home hundreds of dollars worth of camera equipment.

Organisers of the competition say there was a record number of entries this year, and all were of an extremely high calibre.

The competition winners were announced in Auckland.