North Island Regional Convention Programme

Friday, 20th September 2024

Start TimeEnd TimeEvent
12:00 nn7:00 pmRegistrations Open
6:00 pm 7:00 pmMix and Mingle Drinks | Cash Bar
7:00 pm7:10 pmMihi Whakatau. Welcome housekeeping
7:10 pm7:25 pmWelcome by Deputy Mayor Josh Wharehinga
7:25 pm7:30 pmWelcome by PSNZ President
7:30 pm9:00 pmKeynote Speaker: Michael Bradley
Michael will speak about his Puaki project: the why and the how, the challenges and the rewards that led to this culturally significant and very powerful project.

Puaki – Coming forth, to reveal and to give testimony.
 How a simple photo of my three boys lead to a 4 year photo project that was by far the hardest I have even done but also most rewarding photo project of my career. The challenges of taking what was to be a 6 month project and ending up taking around 4 years to complete. Trusting yourself that the work will be done when it’s ready and not to rush the process. How to try and navigate shooting a subject that is of upmost importance to Maori and the pressure of making sure I do this in the right manner and for the right reasons.To be open to always listen first and let the people speak for themselves and not put your own beliefs into the narrative. To always be patient and to stand by your decisions but also be willing to take on advise. To always remind yourself of the “Why” when being challenged from a number of people. Why you? Why now? Why are you even doing this? Just a couple of the Why’s that were thrown my way and Why I had total belief in my Why – or for at least some of the time I did.
9:00 pm9:05 pmClosing and messages

Saturday, 21st September 2024

Start TimeEnd TimeEvent
6:00 am 8:00 am Early bird shoot. Meet at Lawson-Field Centre
7:30 am8:45 amPresidents Breakfast
8:00 am9:00 amRegistration – late arrivals
8:45 am9:00 amWelcome, notices
9:00 am10:00 amKeynote Speaker: Meghan Maloney
Meghan will focus her speech on long exposure capture, and in particular her use of long exposure enabling filters. She will explain how she judges the length of exposure required, her choice to use a particular filter or not, all in relation to her pursuit of artistic, sometimes surreal, imagery.
10:00 am10:30 amMorning Tea
10:30 am11:30 amKeynote Speaker: John Cowpland
How a broken leg led to a 30-year photography career covering the All Blacks, Olympic Games and other commercial work.
11:30 am12:30 pmLunch
12:30 pm4:30 pmField Trips
Field Trip 1: Kaiteratahi Ruins (Waipaoa Freezing Works)
The ruins are a space to explore shapes. Think monochrome, long exposure, and architecture.
To be led by Meghan Maloney who will assist in using filters to enhance your photography. Meghan will have some Kase filters for you to use.
Field Trip 2: Bushmere Arms Gardens
An historic house with a magnificent formal garden. A quiet space that is made up of formal paths, fountains and hedged beds or roses and mixed perennials.
Field Trip 3: East Coast Museum of Technology
A true nostalgic diamond in disguise, ECMoT is a perfectly imperfect museum. It brings stories from past to present life for you, friends, and whānau to share and enjoy from near and afar. There is a twist: you need to find and photograph items from the obvious to the obscure.
Field Trip 4: Eastwoodhill Arboretum
Visit the world-renowned Eastwoodhill Arboretum with Chris Helliwell for macro photography. There will be colours, shapes, insects, birds, and of course, trees.
Field Trip 5: Gisborne Discovery Walk
A self-guided walk through Gisborne, but with a twist: you will need to find and photograph as many different shapes as possible.
6:00 pm7:00 pmPre-dinner drinks, BYO
7:00 pmDinner at Midway Surf Living Centre
Keynote Speaker: John Drummond
John will speak about his passion for Astrophotography
Digital slide show and prize giving to salon winners

Sunday, 22nd September 2024

Start TimeEnd TimeEvent
6:00 am 8:00 am Early bird shoot. Meet at Lawson-Field Centre
8:45 am9:00 amWelcome, notices
9:00 am11:00 amWorkshops
Workshop 1: John Cowpland and Michael Bradley – Sports Photography and Sportraiture
During their workshop you will spend time at the Patu Tahi Boxing Club, just across the road from the Lawson Fields Theatre. You will have the chance to photograph members of the boxing Club sparing in the ring and modelling for sports portraits. John and Micheal will use their combined
knowledge and experience to guide you in the art of photographing action in low light conditions, How to capture the atmosphere of the event and the character of the athletes as well as creating portrait images using off camera flash.
Workshop 2: Paul Byrne – The Road to Honours
A PSNZ Honours distinction is an internationally recognised award, confirming a level of photographic competence demonstrated through a portfolio presentation of a member’s work.

If you’re thinking about applying for a distinction via the PSNZ Honours Board in 2025, the Road to Honours Workshop, at the Gisborne Regional Convention, will provide you with valuable information about the process. The workshop will be lead by a Paul Byrne FPSNZ ARPS AFIAP. Paul has been an accredited PSNZ Judge since 2012 and a member of the Honours Board for the past four years.

The workshop aims to provide relevant information and advice about each of the Honours offered by PSNZ.  In addition to elaborating on the PSNZ guidelines for Honours, Paul will provide advice for applicants to consider when formulating their portfolio submissions. He will explain the assessment process with a view to dispelling any misconceptions or confusion which candidates might have. 

[NB. The next Honours submissions open 16th January 2025 and close on 28th February 2025 at 5.30pm. Application arriving after the closing time will NOT be accepted.]
Workshop 3: Meghan Maloney – Escape into the Surreal
During this workshop Meghan will introduce you to the world of ND filters in landscape photography. She will talk you through ways to enhance the existing colour inherent in images, as well as create a sense of the surreal – allowing viewers a chance for escapism as landscapes become more dream-like and fantastical.
Workshop 4: Chris Helliwell – The Finer Points of Printing and Matting your Images
Owner and operator of Edges art and Framing, Chris will take you through the finer points of printing and matting your images. He will show you examples of how paper choice amongst other things can make or break an image.
10:30 am11:00 amMorning Tea
11:00 am12:00 nnKeynote Speaker: Michael Bradley
For the closing keynote, Michael will discuss his current why. He will focus on shooting for yourself first and foremost, and what he shoots to provide himself the creative freedom within the demands of being a professional photographer

What’s My Why Now?
Burn out and finding the love in photography again and not be constrained by clients needs and their budgets. How Covid played into burn out and the balance between earning and a creative outlet. I’m not a morning person so I know let’s shoot primarily at sunrise. The beauty I find in shooting first and foremost for yourself, not for a client, not for socials and not for clicks or likes. .
12:00 nn12:15 pmClosing video: 2025 National Convention in Nelson
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