Blog | Ilan Wittenberg Photographer

Sign of the Times

Sign of the Times – Self Portrait

On 26 March, New Zealand entered an unprecedented state of lockdown for over five weeks to combat the spread of the Covid-19 disease. With the population largely confined to home and unable to physically interact, many of our professional photographers stepped up to the challenge of keeping creative. Portrait photographer Ilan Wittenberg had been using his allowed daily exercise time to safely document the way his Auckland neighbourhood had transformed during the lockdown in the series Sign of the Times. While those images are excellent, it is this self-portrait he created during a day he couldn’t face the outside world that truly speaks to the lockdown experience. D-Photo magazine, June 2020

Roza

My name is Roza. I was born in Burundi but grew up in Tanzania. I came to New Zealand with my family in 2010. Throughout my teenage years I’ve always knew that I wanted to be an artist. Life was rough but we managed to get by. I went to university and graduated in Make-up Artistry. I have been practicing makeup ever since and look forward to see what my future has in store for me.

Roko

Seremaia Rokorauwa

My name is Roko. I was born and raised in Fiji, in a remote rural area, far away from the town and the sea. We do subsistence farming for a living and also as a source of income. In 2012 I came to New Zealand on a visitor visa, everything happens for a reason, nothing happens by chance or means of luck. Thinking back home, the struggles, we had been hoping to get a chance of raising my kids here. I met my wife in 2015 and we had our first of three children. I started working various jobs before my current job in landscaping. With God’s help I would like to ensure my kids a better future.

Lai

I grew up in a settlement in Suva called Wakanisila, the capital and largest metropolitan city in Fiji. I was brought up by my grandparents since the age of 4 years old. My parents had separated. The saying ‘It takes a village to raise a child’ is true in my case. I grew up watching volleyball and rugby. I first Played Volleyball for our local club ‘Liberty’, I ultimately had the pleasure of representing Fiji. This then led me to tour New Zealand where I met my now wife. I played volleyball here in NZ but ultimately working to be able to provide for my family is my priority. My goal is to be able to give my son a life that I never had. With God by my side anything is possible.

NZ Academy of Fine Arts

15 June 2020

Mr Ilan Wittenberg

By email to ilan@ilanwittenberg.com

Dear Ilan

Faces of Cairo

Thank you for your proposal and additional information about the exhibition. We’ve discussed the proposed exhibition and are happy to continue planning with you.

Availability and pricing

We have availability of all the galleries from 27 January 2021 but based on our recent phone discussion are suggesting the main gallery and annex as a suitable space to show the exhibition. A floor plan including dimensions is attached to this email.

The hire period includes set up and pack down. We’re suggesting for consideration:-

27 January to 22 February as a hire period with an exhibition season 30 January to 21 February inclusive. Please note this period gives the added advantage of Waitangi weekend.

Cost of hire for this period would be $23920 GST inclusive which will also include four moveable walls and reasonable access to plinths.

Additional costs that could be incurred are:-

Installers and lighting technicians at $345 per day each (GST inclusive). We have a team of installers and, based on your assessment that there are 58 works recommend at least two people over two days.

Graphics support $345 per day (GST inclusive) covering preparation and management of advertising posters, banners etc.

Remediation of the gallery at the end of the exhibition (filling nail holes, touch up repainting) $234 per day (GST inclusive)

Additional uses outside our usual opening hours, e.g. for hosted events $200 (GST inclusive) with one evening event provided free of charge.

For your reference I have included our standard hire contract which also covers the Academy’s commitment to helping promote the exhibition through our freely accessed channels such as our bulk email list and Facebook. We would suggest the embassy works closely with the DominionPost to see if there are any free articles or event listing the exhibition can be added to.

I hope this is sufficient to continue our mutual planning and look forward to your response.

Kind regards

Marc Pettie

Gallery Manager

NZ Academy of Fine Arts

04 894 1722

Tsian

Mollie

Photography Sessions at UXBRIDGE Arts

Photography Sessions

Four photography sessions are offered by UXBRIDGE ARTS & CULTURE

Improve your photography – Photo Critique: Saturday 20 June 10:30AM – 11:30AM
This workshop will explore your own digital images. Please email 2 or 3 of your own images to programmes@uxbridge.org.nz (2-5 MB). As a group we will look anonymously at each photo and Ilan will critique them from different angles, looking at where improvement could be made.

Improve your photography – Technique: Saturday 20 June 12:00PM – 1:00PM
This workshop will focus on light, setting and poses to maximise your portrait photography. Ilan will show some of his portrait collection of New Zealanders who are humble, courageous and vulnerable. Ilan will use these to share techniques on how to emphasize and observe shape and form to create edgy images that tell a story to the viewer.

Faces of Cairo: Wednesday 24 June, 6:30PM – 7:15PM
In this session you will view and enjoy time to question some images from documentary series ‘Faces of Cairo’ – a tour of the land and it’s people; the streets, the markets the African desert and the path of history. Learn the art of telling a story with a clear narrative style using the lens.

Scapes: Wednesday 24 June, 7:30PM – 8:15PM
Scapes is a series of wide-format prints, exploring the timeless nature of unique locations using sepia tone, which emulates analogue lithographic techniques. This distinct and compelling monochromatic style creates strong images which inspire the imagination and provoke conscious consideration. Discussions on the ‘how’ and ‘why’ are encouraged in this session.

Click here to book your free session

Iva

Yawning Camel

Yawning Camel

Tunnel Beach – The Rock

The Rock

The Jetty

We spent the night at the bottom of Ross Creek Reservoir. This is one of the oldest artificial lakes in the country, and the oldest water supply reservoir still in use in the country. It was created in the 1860s to provide water for the city of Dunedin, at that time in the middle of its rapid expansion due to the Otago goldrush. I love the leading lines and the shades of green against the dramatic clouds at sunrise.

Timid: Winner of the 2020 SONY Alpha Awards Editorial category. Semi-Finalist at 2020 hEAD oN Photo Festival

‘Timid’ is part of a collection of captivating portraits of the Maasai people from Tanzania. I found myself deeply inspired upon meeting the Maasai tribe and realised the opportunity to document their unique culture which is being eroded by Western influence and modern technology. On a personal level, this reminds me of the true value of photography: preserving memories in order to relive special stories and pass them on to others. Through this series of carefully composed photographs, the Maasai people can share their rich culture with the world.

The collection is presented in a film-noir monochrome, capturing these portraits in a classically timeless style; lending a unifying appearance that emulates analogue lithographic techniques. I wanted viewers to focus on the humanity aspect of each portrait: expression, body language, shape and form. I eliminated distracting colours to ensure that viewers focus on the people within the photos and make emotional connections with the Maasai.

This is a documentary collection; most of the photos had little or no retouching. I waited for people to look straight into the camera so we can see highlights in their eyes. The strength of the series is in giving viewers an opportunity to connect with the Maasai people in their natural environment. This diverse group of people serves as a timely reminder that despite our many cultural differences, we can unite as a community through the power of photography. I hope that through this portfolio viewers learn more about the Maasai culture. We are all wonderfully unique, yet at the same time, we are deeply the same.

I aim to depict the Maasai culture in an authentic and honest way, using a clear narrative style which shows the significance of their culture, as well as their individual personalities. My goal is to provoke viewers imagination regarding the traditions of the Maasai people and the stories behind their portraits. In sharing this portfolio, I encourage viewers to show tolerance: to accept all people and to recognise the value of cultural diversity. We would all experience an enhanced sense of community if we took the time to appreciate interactions which allow us to discover the world beyond our familiar boundaries.