MEDIA RELEASE 4 October 2006
Lights, Camera, Action at Diwali
The Auckland Festival of Photography proudly presents LIGHT, a new addition to TAKING PART in the festival series of
open access participation events. LIGHT invites all Aucklanders to capture the vibrant culture of the Indian communities
during Diwali Festival of Light in Auckland.
LIGHT is an opportunity for all photographers; established, emerging, youth and novice to be part of a photography
exhibition and online blog of the many elements that come together to create this great celebration of light and
flavours at Diwali in Auckland from 12 – 15 October. The Asia:NZ and Auckland City sponsored Diwali Festival of Light is
a significant Indian community event that attracts thousands of people over the Festival days, whose diversity and
spirit make great subjects for photographic images. The LIGHT project builds on the synergies of photography - which
cannot happen without light - and the Diwali Festival, which is called the Festival of Light.
The Diwali Festival lights up Auckland City, with a warm welcome of traditional food, entertainment and Bollywood
dancing from hundreds of celebrants, highlighting their traditional rituals with a dash of Kiwi fusion. The selected
exhibition of photos LIGHT will be the people's view of the Diwali Festival at Britomart, whilst welcomed from across
the Auckland region are any images of behind the scenes preparations from within the Indian community, as they get ready
for their most important celebration of the year in a public-spirited celebration of Indian culture.
Nearly launched is the Festivals new tool for digital photography – Auckland Photo Blog – a feature online photographic
diary of Auckland that will be launched towards the end of September on the Festival website. This new section of the
Festival website is a salute to the democratic nature of photography and allows for a unique and ongoing series of
Auckland images making it the ONLY such creative project in the region. Details will be posted on the website in the
next few weeks. Auckland Photo Blog is supported by SKYCITY Community Trust and NZ Internet Services.
Festival chairperson, Kirsty MacDonald, says “we are hoping to have many photographers take part in these new open
access events, LIGHT and the new online Auckland Photo Blog , in particular we hope the blog becomes a digital way for
Aucklanders to share their city with each other. Many cities in the world have photo blogs, now Auckland will join
them”.
The selected LIGHT gallery exhibition will show during the Photography Festival in June 2007.
LIGHT is supported by the ASIA:NZ Foundation and Auckland City Event Promotions.
Entry details will be posted on the Festival website. Submissions for LIGHT close on October 26 and can be sent to
"LIGHT" 2006, Auckland Festival of Photography, PO Box 147-095, Ponsonby, Auckland
or sent via the website: www.photographyfestival.org.nz under Diwali or Auckland Photo Blog.
Creative Exposure Festival 2007 is supported by ASIA:NZ Foundation, Auckland City, North Shore City Council, Waitakere
City Council, SKYCITY Community Trust , NZ Internet Services and significant support from The ASB Community Trust.
ENDS