WW II Veterans Portrait Project

On Anzac Day, 25 April 2014, I will be visiting Blenhaim to take part in a major national project by the The New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography [NZIPP] to create portraits of New Zealand’s World War Two veterans. The photographic portraits will be gifted by the NZIPP to the Royal New Zealand RSA as part of 2015 centenary ceremonies. The portraits will also be publicly displayed at locations around New Zealand as part of a commemorative touring exhibition.

Photographing our WWII veterans is vitally important. Not only will the resulting body of work make an immense contribution to New Zealand’s national archives during the centenary commemorations of WWI, but the act of taking the photographs will show our veterans that they are remembered and that the sacrifices they made for the freedom of us all is still honoured.

On Anzac Day this year, NZIPP members will combine efforts nationally to make portraits of New Zealand’s last surviving World War II veterans. On April 25th, over 3,000 World War II veterans will attend ANZAC day services at  more than 140 venues around New Zealand. Our hope is to make a portrait of every one of those veterans.

The Chief Executive of the Royal New Zealand RSA, David Moger, believes that the project will result in a collection of national significance.

“Not only will the body of work make an immense contribution to New Zealand’s national archives during the centenary commemorations of WWI, but the act of taking the photographs will show our veterans that they are remembered and that the sacrifices they made for the freedom of us all is still honoured,” David says.

Here is an article clip from the Blenhaim Sun April 16 edition: