Photography in New Zealand
Encyclopedia
New Zealand photography began in the mid-19th century when photographers first documented the country's natural beauty and people. Alfred Burton
, of the Dunedin
Burton Brothers
, also travelled through many of the Pacific islands near New Zealand with the P&O Shipping line, in the early days of tourism through the region. The photographic collections at Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
, the national museum, hold many of the surviving images from this era, including images by Thomas Andrew
, Leslie Adkin
, James Bragge
, and Spencer Digby in addition to archives of the Burton Brothers
, Alfred John Tattersall
and John McGarrigle's American Photographic Company.
George D. Valentine
was a Scottish photographer, who relocated to New Zealand due to his health, and documented much of the country at a time of great transition - his images of the Pink and White Terraces
, taken in 1885, show scenes of incredible beauty that were destroyed less than a year later by the eruption of Mount Tarawera. An exhibition of his work was mounted by the Christchurch
Art Gallery in 2004, and continues to tour.
The Alexander Turnbull Library at the National Archives in Wellington
also hosts a catalogue of historic images, many of which can be viewed online and browsed by location, name, and more.
Contemporary New Zealand photographers include Laurence Aberhart
, Mark Adams
, Andris Apse, Brian Brake
, Melanie Burford, Marti Friedlander
, Anne Geddes
, and Ans Westra
. Luit Bieringa
has curated a number of influential New Zealand photography exhibitions.
The New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography has a membership of 250 professional photographers, and the Advertising & Illustrative Photographers Association comprises another hundred or more.
Many amateur and professional New Zealand photographers are members of PhotoForum NZ, a non-profit society that publishes PhotoForum magazine, organises exhibitions, workshops and lectures, and maintains a website and blog.
The Photographic Society of New Zealand is also a popular group for amateurs, representing the camera clubs from Cape Reinga to Bluff.
New Zealand has two locally produced publications for the photographic community: The Photographer's Mail
(focuses on professional and industry) and D-Photo
(focuses on consumer and enthusiast).
Alfred Henry Burton
Alfred Henry Burton is considered one of New Zealand's most important nineteenth century photographers.Burton was born in Leicester, England...
, of the Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
Burton Brothers
Burton Brothers
Burton Brothers was one of New Zealand's most important nineteenth century photographic studios and was based in Dunedin, New Zealand...
, also travelled through many of the Pacific islands near New Zealand with the P&O Shipping line, in the early days of tourism through the region. The photographic collections at Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa is the national museum and art gallery of New Zealand, located in Wellington. It is branded and commonly known as Te Papa and Our Place; "Te Papa Tongarewa" is broadly translatable as "the place of treasures of this land".The museum's principles...
, the national museum, hold many of the surviving images from this era, including images by Thomas Andrew
Thomas Andrew (photographer)
Thomas Andrew was a New Zealand photographer who lived in Samoa from 1891 until his death in 1939.Andrew took photographs that are of significant historical and cultural value including the recording on camera of key events in Samoa's colonial era such as the Mau movement, the volcanic eruption of...
, Leslie Adkin
George Leslie Adkin
George Leslie Adkin was a New Zealand farmer, geologist, archaeologist, ethnologist, photographer, tramper and environmentalist...
, James Bragge
James Bragge
James Bragge was a well known and respected photographer in New Zealand during the mid-to-late 19th century.-Biography:According to his death certificate, he was born in 1833, in South Shields, County Durham, England. His father was also called James, and he worked as an architect. His mother’s...
, and Spencer Digby in addition to archives of the Burton Brothers
Burton Brothers
Burton Brothers was one of New Zealand's most important nineteenth century photographic studios and was based in Dunedin, New Zealand...
, Alfred John Tattersall
Alfred John Tattersall
Alfred John Tattersall was a New Zealand photographerwho lived in Samoa for most of his life and contributed a significant collection of images of the Pacific Island country and its peoples during the colonial era...
and John McGarrigle's American Photographic Company.
George D. Valentine
George Valentine
George D. Valentine was a Scottish New Zealand photographer.The son of James Valentine , George had become one of Scotland's leading photographers. Serious ill-health and the need for a warmer climate saw George leave the family business in Scotland and emigrate to New Zealand with his family in...
was a Scottish photographer, who relocated to New Zealand due to his health, and documented much of the country at a time of great transition - his images of the Pink and White Terraces
Pink and White Terraces
The Pink and White Terraces, also called Otukapuarangi or Te Tarata in Māori, were a natural wonder of New Zealand...
, taken in 1885, show scenes of incredible beauty that were destroyed less than a year later by the eruption of Mount Tarawera. An exhibition of his work was mounted by the Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
Art Gallery in 2004, and continues to tour.
The Alexander Turnbull Library at the National Archives in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
also hosts a catalogue of historic images, many of which can be viewed online and browsed by location, name, and more.
Contemporary New Zealand photographers include Laurence Aberhart
Laurence Aberhart
Laurence Aberhart is a New Zealand photographer. He was born in Nelson in 1949, along with four siblings, but moved to Lyttelton in the late 1960s, before finally moving to Russell where he still lives and works today. Aberhart travels often and has produced many collections of photographs taken...
, Mark Adams
Mark Adams (New Zealand photographer)
Mark Adams is one of New Zealand's most distinguished photographers.He was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, and attended the Canterbury University School of Fine Arts from 1967–1970, majoring in graphic design to get access to photography....
, Andris Apse, Brian Brake
Brian Brake
Brian Brake was one of New Zealand's most internationally successful photographers.Born in Wellington, New Zealand, John Brian Brake was the adopted son of John Samuel Brake and his wife Jennie Brake...
, Melanie Burford, Marti Friedlander
Marti Friedlander
Marti Friedlander is a New Zealand photographer.Born in England to Russian Jewish immigrants, from the age of three she was raised in orphanages. She married a New Zealander and emigrated to New Zealand in 1958...
, Anne Geddes
Anne Geddes
Anne Geddes, MNZM, is an Australian-born photographer, clothing designer and businesswoman who now lives and works in New Zealand. She is known for her stylized depictions of babies and motherhood. Typical images show babies or young children dressed as fairies and fairytale creatures, flowers, or...
, and Ans Westra
Ans Westra
Ans Westra, CNZM is a self-taught New Zealand photographer, with an interest in Māori, whose prominence as an artist and author was most amplified by her 1964 piece Washday at the pa....
. Luit Bieringa
Luit Bieringa
Luit Bieringa is a New Zealand art historian and museum consultant.Bieringa held the position of Director at the Manawatu Art gallery from 1971 until 1979, when he was appointed as Director of the National Art Gallery of New Zealand. He held this position until 1989...
has curated a number of influential New Zealand photography exhibitions.
The New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography has a membership of 250 professional photographers, and the Advertising & Illustrative Photographers Association comprises another hundred or more.
Many amateur and professional New Zealand photographers are members of PhotoForum NZ, a non-profit society that publishes PhotoForum magazine, organises exhibitions, workshops and lectures, and maintains a website and blog.
The Photographic Society of New Zealand is also a popular group for amateurs, representing the camera clubs from Cape Reinga to Bluff.
New Zealand has two locally produced publications for the photographic community: The Photographer's Mail
The Photographer's Mail
The Photographer's Mail was a the only commercial photography industry publication in New Zealand. It was a monthly broadsheet newspaper published eleven times a year, that was distributed free to the professional photography community....
(focuses on professional and industry) and D-Photo
D-Photo
-Overview:D-Photo is a bi-monthly full colour, perfect bound photography magazine that focuses on the popularity of digital photography and the huge demand for information on cameras and photography related products in New Zealand....
(focuses on consumer and enthusiast).