VIRGINIA WOOLF
CAPTURING THE BEAUTY OF WHAT WE HAVE NOW, AND THE TRAGEDY OF ITS RAPID DISAPPEARANCE
FROM THE SERIES FINAL MELTDOWN
Our human fingerprints are driving climate change and the loss of our precious glaciers. We’ve lost 216 glaciers in New Zealand (Baumann, 2020) and they’re now melting seven times faster than they were 20 years ago (Allot, 2021).
As a lifestyle and outdoor adventure photographer I am feeling even more compelled to tell this story after seeing the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report - the planet will continue to see intense rainfall and flooding, even more heatwaves, longer warmer seasons, and shorter cold seasons. Glaciers are unique indicators of climate change and respond almost primarily to change to temperature. If we continue on our current rate of warming, by the end of the century NZ will only have around 20% of the ice that’s still here today (Vargo, 2021).
This will have a massive impact on our hydro dams, alpine sports, tourism, and safety due to sea level rise.
This photographic series aims to help communicate the work of scientists at the forefront of glacial research which has long warned that warming temperatures driven by climate change are eating into glaciers and ice sheets around the world, contributing to higher sea levels that threaten our populous coastal cities. The project also aims to raise awareness, encourage, and convince people that we need to take stronger actions to stop climate change and consider our own human activities.
Thanks to Associate Professor Heather Purdie, and the support from my friends at Canon NZ and Canon Australia.
EXPLORING THE RICH HISTORY OF HOW CHINESE HAVE HELPED SHAPE NEW ZEALAND
FROM THE SERIES NZ CHINESE IDENTITY
‘Chinese people don’t run.’
This is what Nancy Jiang, who’s family left China and came to live in New Zealand when she was five was always told. Nancy set out to smash that stereotype and is a NZ representative mountain running champion.
This image is one of many from my most emotional project I have worked on to date. I recently stepped out from behind the camera for a five-part documentary series Xīn xī lán, which explores the rich history of New Zealand Chinese, and what it means to be New Zealand Chinese. My original involvement in the project was as a stills photographer and creative producer, but I soon found myself being a subject and the presenter.
I can honestly say I’m proud to be New Zealand Chinese, and proud of this series which reveals the stories of those who I resonate with, and we all call Aotearoa home.
So much dedication and hard mahi working with the media team at Stuff to pull this together with support by NZ On Air.
ABOUT VIRGINIA
A natural creator since she was a child, Virginia first craved to be a fashion designer, but her doubting parents made her do food science instead. Undaunted, she funnelled her creative energy into creating and marketing new food products, but soon found herself in a boring corporate rut, so broke free to find her creative force again. She threw in everything to pursue her love of photography. She studied photographic design and trained as a press photographer for a national newspaper honing her craft photographing people in all sorts of situations and from all walks of life - much of which still applies to her commercial work on outdoor adventure, lifestyle, and portrait shoots. She also dabbles in architecture from time to time when not travelling the world seeking adventure - her commitment to tell stories through her lens.
Her career has seen her photograph luxury resorts in Fiji, fight the advances of a Papua New Guinean chief who needed a fourth wife, eat pig entrails in Japan (followed by lots of sake), and her favourite experience so far - sleeping under the stars in the Sahara.Adventure energises her.
Virginia is a Canon Master, one of 15 Masters in Australasia which recognise world-class image creators who have perfected their craft and offer inspiration, vision, insight, and experience within the industry. Based out of sunny Nelson NZ, she lives on a green hillside, bathed in natural light with an ever-changing view of the sea, and travels for a taste of excitement and exploration.She travels the world over, photographing people, places, and capturing the stories she finds.