I love the power of great photography to tell a story.

For as long as I can remember I’ve been captivated by photographic imagery. As a child I was influenced by my mother who won awards for her black and white photos. One is a landscape of the Hollyford Valley she so loved in remote Fiordland, New Zealand. Another was a portrait of her dog, Monty, which perfectly captured his inquisitive character.  Those timeless images, from more than 60 years ago, still hang proudly in our beach house.

I remember the raw emotion I experienced when first seeing images that captured defining moments of the 20th century like Nick Ut’s “Napalm girl”, the street execution of a Viet Kong officer taken by Eddie Adams and Dorothea Lang’s photo of a migrant mother which become an iconic image of the Depression in the USA. 

Those photojournalistic images tell us stories that are just as powerful today as they were when they were first published. They exposed what was happening to the rest of the world, creating awareness and shaping attitudes. 

I recall the significant impact that James Nachtwey’s Ted Talk “Let my photographs bear witness” had on me. In particular, I recall him saying; “Photos have the ability to give a voice to those who would otherwise not have a voice”. 

I later learnt from humanitarian photographers like Karl Grobl and David duChemin about the positive impact that photography can have on the work of non-governmental organisations. From travelling with Karl I now know the value of photography that tells a story and engages the viewer.

Over the past five years I have been following his example and have had the opportunity to  work alongside two motivated and energetic NGOs in Cambodia. While it is a privilege to be involved, that privilege comes with a significant amount of responsibility. I enjoy the challenge of producing strong images that NGOs can use to promote their work.

I recently read that if you want to be a better photographer then you need to start by being a better person. I believe that working with NGOs and experiencing the challenges they face every day has helped me do that and is reflected in my work.

If you work for an NGO, either New Zealand-based or overseas, and are looking for a photographer for your next project, please get in contact. I’d love to have a chat about working together to tell your story.