A lightning storm breaking over Armidale. The snow lying heavy on Guyra streets. The majesty of the Milky Way against a velvet night sky. Sunrise over lakes and valleys. Birds and bush-fires, waterfalls and winter.
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These are some of the beauties of New England revealed in a new book of photographs launched at the New England Regional Art Museum on Friday night.
Editor and photographer Terry Cooke worked for four years to put together New England High Country: Forty Photographers and the accompanying exhibition.
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“Terry Cooke is a remarkable photographer whose work has showcased our region over many years in a number of exhibitions and publications,” NERAM’s director Robert Heather said.
“The book and exhibition provide viewers with a portrait of New England through the eyes and lenses of a number of different people, creating a unique glimpse into the people, place, landscape and culture of the High Country ranging from Walcha to Tenterfield.”
Landscapes, waterscapes, events, towns, flora and fauna, and country people – from shearers, rodeo riders and stockmen to bartenders and musicians – are some of the images on display.
“The book has quite a wide range of subject matter reflecting what it's like up on the New England high country,” Mr Cooke said.
Inspired by the New Zealand Geographic’s annual photography competition, his original idea was to have 100 photographers submit photographs. In the event, 94 artists, most from around New England, had submitted more than 3,000 photos to the Flickr page by 2017.
Narrowing that number down to the two-score artists and 120-odd images that would eventually appear in the book was both a challenge and a pleasure for the four judges.
“We were very privileged,” said Liz Fulloon. “We were afforded an opportunity to look at these incredibly wonderful images, and we were charged with getting them together in a workable format. It allowed us to look at very familiar landscapes in a new and fresh way.”
The sheer number of entries meant that the judges often had to leave out some of their favourites. “If your particular photograph didn't get the cut,” Ms Fulloon said, “we really understand how you feel, so please don't be discouraged!”
Once the photos had been chosen, Mr Cooke turned to crowd-funding to publish the book. Nearly 140 people raised more than $14,000 in two months to print 1,500 copies. Crowd-funders will receive 400 of these; the rest will go to NERAM, which will both sell and distribute the album.
“Anybody who is in the crowd-funding has effectively helped NERAM to the tune of $20 or $30,000 over several years,” Mr Cooke said.
The book is on sale from NERAM and selected retailers in Armidale, while some photographs are also available from NERAM. The exhibition runs until June 3.
