Outdoor photos promote locals

Rebecca Simpson, of Wanaka, at the lakefront photography exhibition "We Are Locals", did not know many of these businesses existed. PHOTOS: KERRIE WATERWORTH

A wedding dress designer, a kombucha brewer and two children’s book writers and editors are just some of the forty-one local businesses featured in a pop-up roadside photographic exhibition in Wanaka this week.

Jodie James

Wanaka photographer Jodie James said she came up with the idea of the exhibition during the Covid-19 lockdown, as a way to showcase "the amazing and diverse talent" in the town.

There were two tourism companies featured in the exhibition, "but Lake Wanaka Tourism does a huge job of promoting tourism, so I thought I would try to help some of the other guys who don’t usually get the marketing and promotion".

Ms James said she researched the companies during Alert Level 4 "to find a really good mix" and took the photos over two-weeks during Level 2 restrictions.

Ivory and Stone Bridal Boutique owner Annette Richan has showcased her designs at the London Bridal Fashion Week and is one of the 41 businesses featured in the exhibition.

All businesses contributed to the costs of the exhibition.

Ms James said all the photography was done for free, a local builder made the steel framing free and a local Wanaka company made the signs very cheaply.

The Queenstown Lakes District council funded funded the hire of the grounds.

Wanaka local Alice Spears with her son, William (11 weeks), would like more outdoor creative exhibitions in Queenstown and Wanaka.

The 41 photos have been on the lakeside grass verge opposite Pembroke Park since Wednesday and will remain on site until tomorrow when it will move to the grounds of the Cardrona Hotel in the Cardrona Valley.

Ms James said she has received "great feedback" on the exhibition with people telling her "they had no idea many of those businesses even existed".

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