Pacific Focus - Documentary Photography

Wayne is Head of Photography at Massey University, Wellington, NZ. The Nauru Portfolio has been published as part of "Shifting Nature" a collection of Wayne's photo-essays exploring human interaction with the environment. This work has taken him from the frozen geothermal landscape of Iceland to the military testing grounds Utah, USA.

Wellington based photographer Victoria Birkinshaw has been been engaged in several self-funded projects in recent years documenting NZ Speedway enthusiasts, the Weber Bros. circus company as well as stories in Niue, Tokelau and Samoa.

Jocelyn Carlin is based in Auckland, New Zealand.

New Zealand based photographer Bruce Connew has been producing documentary projects since 1976. Linked by a concern for the complexities involved in the inequality over resources and power he has photographed in the Pacific region, Asia, South Africa and Europe. http://www.bruceconnew.com

NZ born painter Mark Cross moved to Niue in 1978. He is considered one of the South Pacific's leading contemporary realist painters. His photographs of Cyclone Heta's aftermath have been exhibited in several New Zealand galleries.

New Zealand based, Giora is fascinated by people and the human experience. His most recent exhibition, 'Warp and Weft' explored the spiritual and cultural diversity in his home base, Christchurch, a city established as an Anglican utopia in the 1840s. Giora enjoys the diversity that documentary photography offers. From the fascinating chaos of Tuvalu to the clipped edges of Haifa's Baha'i centre.

John is a Wellington, NZ, based photographer currently undertaking a photographic project on Fijian society. In his spare time he also runs Pacific Focus.

Tony currently lectures at Massey University's Wellington campus. His involvement with Kiribati island culture stems from an 8 year stint teaching there from 1976-84. Tony has made successive trips back to Kiribati documenting traditional canoes, ritual ear piercing and dance. The work featured here is taken from the award winning book 'Akekeia! Traditional Dance in Kiribati'.