Photo manipulation in the age of fake news is among hot topics on the agenda at the social documentary photography
festival Photival, co-hosted at Massey’s College of Creative Arts in Wellington from April 26-29.
Massey University’s Wellington campus and staff from Whiti o Rehua School of Art will be front and centre at the
festival, which showcases thought-provoking and inspiring photographic work.The programme also includes talks, panel
discussions and workshops with some of New Zealand’s leading photographic design practitioners from the School of Art as
well as external commentators on the use of imagery in wider social contexts.
School of Art senior lecturer Associate Professor Ann Shelton, a former photo journalist whose award-winning artistic
photographic work engages conceptual and documentary approaches, is part of a panel that includes investigative
journalist Nicky Hager. The panel will discuss how to approach visual media and be more wary of fake news in the age of
Instagram, photoshopped billboards and image manipulation.
“An ability to read and understand images is critical in today’s society, including an ability to understand the complex
contexts in which they circulate, Ms Shelton says.” The use of photography as a vehicle for fake news, is an extension
of the power photography has always had to assert and influence. Understanding these mechanisms and how fake news images
operate is a valuable skill."
Ms Shelton’s colleague, lecturer Caroline McQuarrie who works with photography, video and craft practices, will be
running portfolio reviews for photographers wanting their work assessed by a knowledgeable team of specialists in
documentary photography. She will be joined for the portfolio review workshop by alumni of the University, environmental
photographer James Gilberd and Virginia Woods-Jack.
One of the opening events of the three-day festival is a panel discussion featuring Associate Professor Sean Phelan from
the School of Communication, Journalism and Marketing. He will be debating issues around exiting photographic coverage
in New Zealand and asking the question what issues aren’t getting enough attention that could be helped through visual
story telling?
The keynote address is being delivered by Australian-based photographer Michael Hall whose eye-catching images speak
strongly about the human impact on the world’s environment. Currently undertaking an extensive project to document the
causes and effects of climate change and to improve ecological awareness, Hall was the first creative fellow of the
Climate Institute in Australia and is an alumnus of the Wellington Polytechnic, a forerunner institution to Massey’s
College of Creative Arts.
Other panel sessions include discussions about photography’s role in activist movements happening around the world. The
festival also features on location workshops at Te Papa’s research facility in Tory St, a workshop at Zealandia in
Karori, as well as a separate session at Flux, part of Wellington Museum.