Te Whanganui-a-Tara — A Photoseries
Words by Pippi Jean (she/her)
“Through my camera lens, I've been able to capture the stunning cityscapes and breathtaking coastlines of Pōneke. Exploring film photography [is] particularly rewarding. It encourages me to slow down, observe the finer details, truly appreciating the art of capturing moments.”- Tom Lee
Film as a photographic medium is grounded to place and time. It captures a moment in freeze frame, only revealed again after it’s developed. There’s a sense of immediacy, specificity, and space, and a deep consideration for your surroundings. So, for the ‘Te Taiao’ issue, I asked local film photographers to tell me about their favourite locations in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, and how taking pictures helps them explore and honour their connections to these environments.
All tags included are the photographers’ Instas, check them out!
Felix Jackson (he/him) (Nikon F50)—@felixrjack
"I shot [my] street fashion series in central Wellington, particularly around Cuba Street and its sideroads. The Cuba Street area draws interesting characters and stimulates that unique Wellington essence,” Felix says. In a Capital Magazine interview, he said he found Cuba Street’s “playful vibe” was reflected within the fashion. He shoots 35mm film on a Nikon F50. This camera choice, along with the spontaneity of asking randoms if he can photograph their fits, make Felix’s images look raw, timeless, and joyful. He says his photographic process focuses on the “symbiotic relationship” between people’s steez and the “vibe” of the place where he spots them.
“I draw a lot of inspiration from the people and the spaces they inhabit,” he says. “Street fashion is a perfect representation of Wellington's diversity and authenticity."
Roisin Kenny (she/they) (CANON EOS 500N)—@roisinfilm
01 Oriental Bay houses
Roisin took this shot on her way home from a surf lifesaving job last summer. She describes how she believes that Oriental Parade is a key part of Wellington's heart and infrastructure.“The architecture of the buildings all baked into the hillside make for a picturesque border for the bay!” This is one of her favourite photos she’s taken.
02 Kapiti island/Paekākāriki
Having always lived coastally, Roisin is drawn to taking pictures of the Wellington seaside. This shot was supposed to be a “quick snap to finish off the roll”, but it surprisingly developed well. Visiting Paekākāriki always makes her wish she had her camera on her. “[It has] such a gorgeous coastline. […] I always want to memorialise how the ocean makes me feel. FIlm is very nostalgic, I find it gets those kinds of emotions across easier.”
Logan Calder (they/them) (Asahi Pentax Spotmatic F)—@loganizcringe
01 Bluewater Bar and Grill
After buying their first film camera—an Ilford FP4 125—and spending almost a week pulling the camera apart to repair it, Logan went down to Splendid Photo to buy their first roll of film. To figure out how to shoot film, Logan took a walk “around Oriental Bay, just shooting scenes that caught [their] eye.” This picture of Bluewater Bar and Grill is one of the first pictures they took, and remains a favourite. Now, this place, for them, “represents a sense of accomplishment” as a kick-starter of their love for film photography.
02 Cable Car
Logan describes to me the creative process behind taking this photo. “I stood in this spot for ten minutes, waiting for the cable car to pass by.” Well-loved tourist attractions can draw flocks of photographers, but Logan was able to get a moment to themselves to watch the sunset from Everton Terrace. A moment that resulted in this shot. “I absolutely love the warm tones you get from using Porta 400,” they say. “It’s my favourite film for golden hour shots, and for shots that [I want to] feel close to home.”
Tom Lee (he/him) (Pentax ME)—@kekeno_photos
01 Matairangi/Mount Victoria
Tom took these photos on the green belt at Mount Victoria, using a Pentax ME and Ilford XP-2 film. Wellington’s green spaces are an indelible part of our community, character, and culture, and often the first thing my visiting friends from Auckland point out. “I think Mount Vic is a unique space where you’re encapsulated by nature while still being so close to the heart of the city,” Tom says. He goes on to explain that the maunga feels like a place of shelter, and that he feels privileged to have access to these spaces.
02 Lyall Bay
Surfing is a cherished hobby of Tom’s. He recently decided to combine it with his love for photography. This series of photos was taken at the “famous corner” in Lyall Bay, using the waterproof Minolta Weathermatic and Ilford XP-2 film. Taking film photos in the surf, Tom says, presents some difficult challenges. “Contending with the usual issues of composing a good shot,” he says, “you're also embroiled in the crashing waves and the other movements of the ocean.” He says taking the camera out on the water in Wellington has given him a unique perspective on both photography and surfing. The challenge of the Lyall Bay location gives him “immense joy”.
Titan Schofield-Freemantle (he/him) (Sony with a 18-135mm lens)—@titanisediting
01) Harbour
This photo was taken from the Wahine Memorial by Te Papa. Titan has highlighted the red boat in isolation, and desaturated the rest of the blues and greens in the surrounding waterfront. He says, “Even though I’ve been [in Wellington] for a while, I still find unique things to capture each time.” Titan shoots digitally, but often edits his photos to look like film. Experimenting with colour—both while shooting and during post-production editing—are equally part of how he draws artistic attention to the images.
02) Taranaki Street
This photo was captured in the middle of Taranaki Street. For this photo, Titan wanted to replicate the colour grading and exposures unique to film. “The building drew my attention,” he says. “The architectural style, with the artwork, is so different compared to the surrounding area.” Opportunity for comparison and contrast seem to be big factors in deciding Titan’s shooting locations. Luckily, there are lots of those around the city.