Quakes inspired 37 photographs

A portrait of artist Rudolph Boelee, a Netherlands-born citizen of New Zealand for 40 years, is one of 37 images in an exhibition by Christchurch photographer Doc Ross, part of the Southern Lakes Festival of Colour from April 16 to 21. Photo by Doc Ross.

The collection by Christchurch photographer Doc Ross features portraits of artists, writers and other members of the Garden City's arts community who, like all residents, were profoundly affected by the February 2011 quake and its aftermath.

Called ''37'', the show's inspiration came from the duration in seconds of the quake which shook Christchurch on February 22, 2011, the effects of which still resonate both physically in terms of the city's appearance and emotionally among the people who were affected.

Each of the 37 photographs was exposed for 37 seconds and is accompanied by 37 words written by each subject, describing their personal experiences.

''Each person was asked to sit totally still in a chair and support their head while a 37-second exposure multiple image portrait was made of them,'' Ross said.

''Some people moved a lot, while others were frozen to the spot, which reflects the way people reacted differently to the violent shaking.

''The results are not necessarily how the sitter, or their friends even, see them. Instead they are records of how we looked and felt in the aftermath of the earthquakes.

''It is my hope that these unmasked, intense and revealing portraits, along with those condensed experiences of the moment our city changed forever, will remind us how affecting an event like this is.''

The exhibition will be on display in the Armstrong Room of the Lake Wanaka Centre for the duration of the festival, from April 16 to 21. Entry will be by gold coin donation.