Nöelle Bennett
Munia Khan once said, ‘The sky has a huge heart open for all clouds, even on the gloomiest of days.’ For me, that quote is the epitome of inclusivity and kindness. It reminds me that beauty transcends its conventional view and can readily be found in the unlikeliest of places … in the mundane, in chaos and even in tragedy. And that beauty in the unexpected is always there, waiting to be found. We simply need to take our time and open our eyes - to look, but more importantly, to see. And it is that philosophy that is the main influencer of my photography.
I would describe myself as a nature lover who makes photographs. That is what I love to do. And it is the act of making photographs that has helped me to open my eyes and truly see. My camera is both my paint brush and my canvas, granting me the luxury of self-expression and hopefully allowing those who view my images to experience the world in a different way.
Originally from the north west of England, my husband and I emigrated to Dunedin in 2002 and that was our home until I retired in 2018. We then moved to the Marlborough Sounds where we lived on the yacht my husband built for us but have since moved back on land and now live in our tiny home in the foothills of the Southern Alps.
Workshop Title: ‘Do you see what I see?’
Have you ever wondered whether we all see things in the same way? Have you ever been
confused when somebody has been talking about an image - maybe even one of your images - and what they say bears no resemblance to what you were thinking when you were viewing/making the image? If you have - or, if by asking those questions, I’ve now piqued your interest and set you wondering - how about joining me on a photographic journey of discovery... with a twist!
Let’s see if we can find out just how differently we each see our world.
You’ll need your camera - a cellphone will be fine if you prefer to use that - plus an open mind, lots of curiosity and plenty of enthusiasm!