Photography in New Zealand

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,^[1] Brian Brake, Melanie Burford,^[2] Marti Friedlander,^[3] Anne Geddes, and Ans Westra.^[4] Luit Bieringa has curated a number of influential New Zealand photography exhibitions.

The New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography^[5] 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^[6] 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).

Photographic organisations

• Advertising & Illustrative Photographers Association
• PhotoForum
• Alexander Turnbull Library
• The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa's Photographic Collection
• McNamara Gallery Photography

References

1. ^ http://www.dphoto.co.nz/articles/harold-mason-fiordland-a-photographic-project-from-the-heart-tpm-163
2. ^ Melanie Burford: Photojournalism in the Online Age
3. ^ Marti Friedlander Photographic Award
4. ^ Ans Westra to help judge Rotorua photo competition
5. ^ New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography
6. ^ Photographic Society of New Zealand