Social documentary photographer Anthony McKee explains the irresistible and at times quirky appeal of New Zealand's South Island.
My favourite location is New Zealand’s lower South Island. I grew up in Christchurch and by the time I was a teenager, I began to realise the beauty of the city and the nearby countryside. One of my first favourite locations was Birdling's Flat, just to the south of Christchurch; the barren grassland combined with hard, late afternoon light made for some stark portraits, or just the occasional moody landscape. In my late teens I started to explore more of the lower South Island, often from the saddle of a ten-speed bike. Over the summer holidays my friends and I would pedal through Otago, or down the West Coast and even into Milford Sound. The slow pace of biking gave us time to breathe in the beauty of the landscape, even though I never had the camera skills back then to capture what I was seeing.
In more recent years my interest in photography has turned more towards social documentary photography, and how people fit into their landscape. New Zealand is a paradise for this sort of photography. Most people are approachable and if you ask nicely they will often let you make a portrait. Some of the more interesting people can actually be found in the smaller communities, including Oamaru, where the old harbour district of the town has recently seen a huge revival. Old limestone buildings have been restored to their original 19th century glory, and many of the store owners dress in traditional clothing to match the mood.
Cows watch on with interest as a farmer prepares his Maule M5 aircraft for take off from a paddock near the Kaikoura Track.
For me though, the beauty of the South Island is not just in the landscape and people but the quirkiness and the "kiwiana". Farm fences covered in shoes, hedges shaped into wild animals and street art ranging from clever paintings to large scale 'steam punk' are all to be found in the most unexpected places.
This summer I visited the South Island, in part to show my South Australian-born wife more of the country I call home. Our journey started in Christchurch, which has become an even more fascinating place for photographers since the earthquakes. Although many of the city’s historic buildings are in the process of being rebuilt or in some cases demolished, there are interesting sights and juxtapositions to be seen. Some city buildings are still lying half broken, while in some suburbs entire streets have been abandoned. The city is worth a visit, even if you do treat it as a stopover on your way to other corners of the South Island.
Cloud clears to reveal Mitre Peak while below, a group of kayakers enjoy the calm waters of Milford Sound.
On this trip we also drove into Milford Sound, in the Fiordland National Park. This is one of the South Island’s most magical destinations, with high cliffs rising almost a mile above the waterline. We managed to pick a sunny day for a kayak around the sound, but if you happen to go when it is raining you will be treated to the sight of hundreds of waterfalls.
While I did take my Nikon on this trip, most of the 'fun' photos were made with my iPhone. In truth, it really doesn’t matter what camera you use to make photos in New Zealand; the subject matter is so good the photos almost take themselves.
Anthony McKee is a Melbourne-based photographer and writer with a strong passion for capturing photos that are both uncontrived and un-manipulated. Last year McKee was awarded the NZIPP’s highest award, an Honorary Fellowship.
Kayakers in training for the annual Coast to Coast race, paddle beneath the Waimakariri River Gorge Bridge.
There is potentially a surprise another around every corner in New Zealand. This face is part of a much larger sculpture trimmed into a hedge in the small hamlet of Mount Somers, near Methven.
