Our Place. Our Climate. Our World:
Through the Eye of the Lens – Wānaka
Sixteen young Wānaka students from Mt Aspiring College explored climate change through the lens of a camera. They workshopped climate issues with leading climate scientist Dr Tim Naish then spent a week with award winning photographers: Auckland-based Raymond Sagapolutele and Wanaka-local Camilla Rutherford.
THROUGH THE EYE OF THE LENS – WĀNAKA
12-18 April 2021
IN COLLABORATION WITH:
Exhibition
Be inspired by the photographs taken and curated by the young artists and photographers, expressing their views about climate change.
Exploring climate science
The young artists and their families took part in an interactive workshop called, ‘Ice, Balloons and Zero Carbon: Climate Science Talk’ led by expert Earth Systems and Climate Scientist, Dr Tim Naish.
Afterwards they met artists Raymond Sagapolutele and Camilla Rutherford and learned about photography and were encouraged to think about how the changing climate is affecting the world they live in.
Climate Science Facts
Photographic Workshop
Good storytelling can change minds. The power of a photograph lies not in the way that it represents reality, but in the way it engages our imagination and involves us in the story that unfolds in the image. Award winning photographers, Auckland-based Raymond Sagapolutele and Wanaka-local Camilla Rutherford, shared their creative expertise and taught the young Wānaka students how to use their cameras to become their own storytellers.
Raymond Sagapolutele
Award winning Aotearoa-born Sāmoan artist, Raymond Sagapolutele says the camera has become a vital part of his ability to reconnect with cultural ties to Pacific history, the land and ocean. Speaking through images gives his visual language a voice – the method that forms his oratory and connects to the Samoan tradition of Fagogo (storytelling).
Camilla Rutherford
Scottish-born photographer Camilla Rutherford has traveled the world shooting adventure sports, lifestyle and commercial photography, gaining a reputation as a world-class snow photographer. Camilla is incredibly passionate about New Zealand’s unique and diverse landscapes.
Outdoor Exhibition
Photos taken and selected by the young students and photographers were displayed in an outdoor
photographic exhibition launched at the official Opening Ceremony of Festival of Colour 2021.
Mounted on plinths around the Festival hub and in close proximity to Wānaka lake front, the
exhibition ran throughout the Festival from 12-18 April visited by over 12,000 festival-goers and the
general public.
The students photos were exhibited inside a popular eatery in Wānaka after the Festival finished
where they continued to create a community buzz.
