Potrait-Analogue

I never committed to shooting, large format, analogue, portraits while shooting Te Teko project. (see other projects) They were an 'add on'. Something to keep me in check with my analogue origins. Consistency was not the goal but rather a small gift to myself at the end of a busy day documenting the life around me at the time. It allowed moments of slowness and reflection. Underneath the black cloak of my 5x4 camera, I feel a place of quiet and beautiful strangeness. Every moment matters for myself and for my muse. Over time these portraits have gained more importance for me personally and will be the start of a new cohesive project retuning to my roots as an analogue photographer. Today, here are portraits of my whanau (family) from Te Teko, New Zealand. A place where their history is both wondrous and tragic. For a people whose land is both spiritual and functional, there is a richness and determination that can be deeply felt with connection to their ancestors, their land and with each other. Te Teko is a story of their Turangawaewae. (Physical and spiritual home base being guided by their ancestors)