Erin is a passionate photographer based in Palmerston North. Her journey began in childhood, experimenting with her father’s SLR, but it wasn’t until 2008 that her interest really took off. With her first DSLR in hand and endless curiosity, she began capturing everything from tūī in her mother’s garden to planes, landscapes, and family portraits.
Spending countless hours in her local library flicking through photography magazines, Erin developed her skills through trial, error and inspiration. In this interview, she reflects on how her photography has grown, the value of community, and the joy she finds in seeing the world through her lens.
When I was young, I’d experiment with my father’s SLR, though I really got into photography in 2008 when I purchased my first DSLR APS-C camera with a standard twin lens kit and a macro lens. I photographed everything I could: from flowers and birds at the local park, to landscapes, planes, and family portraits.
I don’t recall my first photo, but the first bird photo I considered a success was of a tūī in my mother’s garden, which she got professionally framed. I spent a great deal of time flicking through photography magazines at my local library, trying out all sorts of tips, tricks and mini projects they had to offer. My favourite magazine and book at the time was Popular Photography and Tom Ang’s Digital Photography Masterclass.
In 2013 I took my gear on a trip throughout Europe. Unfortunately, the heavy weight of carrying it all caused me to lose interest in photography. I sold my gear and purchased one of Sony’s RX100 series cameras. In 2021 I bought a Sony mirrorless camera after being inspired by taking some candids at my sister’s wedding. The weight-saving benefits of a mirrorless system allowed me to be much more creative and brought the joy back into my photography.
