South Island light and landscape at Wanaka’s Lot 3 cafe

Wanaka’s Lot 3 cafe will soon be adorned with stunning South Island landscape photographs captured by Jeremy Town when his exhibition Southern Light opens on November 10. It will provide a great opportunity for Wanaka locals, or those travelling to the area, to drop in for a cup of coffee, or a bite to eat, and check out the collection of images Town has compiled. We have a few here for you to see, as well as our catch up with Town for you to find out more about the exhibition:

D-Photo: Can you explain more about your event; what it’s called, when it starts, where it is, how long it will be on for, what will be on display?

Jeremy Town: The event is a solo photography exhibition, titled Southern Light, featuring the light and landscape of the South Island. It is at Lot 3 cafe and art space in Wanaka. There will be an opening night on November 10 from 6pm, and the exhibition will run until the start of December.

How many images will be on display? Why did you choose Lot 3 to be the destination of your exhibition?

There will be approximately 10–12 framed and signed originals, a selection of unframed prints, and a limited number of Southern Light calendars. I chose Lot 3 as it is a light, open space with a relaxed atmosphere. They also serve great food and have an excellent local wine and beer selection.

Will images be for sale?

All images will be for sale with something for every budget. A percentage of proceeds will be donated towards local non-profit Kahu Youth. Note from editor: Kahu Youth is an activity-based group for school-aged children. They focus on building self esteem and learning how to operate as a team — all while having fun.

What is it about South Island landscapes that stand out to you and make you want to shoot them?

I grew up in Wanaka but it wasn’t until I travelled overseas that I came to appreciate how beautiful the South Island landscape is. My goal since returning has been to capture that beauty and preserve it in pixel form.

Can you describe your style of photography, and what made you pick up a camera for the first time?

I like to keep my photos as natural and sympathetic to the environment as possible. All images in the exhibition are single-exposure captures.

I wanted to do photography as a subject at school but because I wasn’t enrolled in ‘art’ I wasn’t allowed. I purchased my first Olympus film SLR in 2003 when I began a graphic-design course and from then on I was hooked.

What gear was in your kit that you captured images in this exhibition with?

Canon 6D and 60D SLR, Canon 16–35mm, 24–105mm, and 70–200mm, Benro tripod with tilt and pan head, polarizer, and graduated ND4 filter.

Do you plan on showing these images elsewhere once this exhibition closes?

Not at this stage although I am hoping to release a landscape-photography book in the near future.

Where can people find more information about the event?

They can visit the Facebook page, follow @purepixelnz on Instagram, or head to the Pure Pixel website.

If you’re in the Wanaka region, or will be during the time of the exhibition, make sure you drop in and browse Town’s shots over a cup of coffee. Take a shot of your relaxing experience and show us by using #nzdphoto or tagging @dphoto_magazine in the photo (don’t forget to include @purepixelnz as well).