Local photographer Bob Tulloch. Photo/John Borren.
Local photographer Bob Tulloch. Photo/John Borren.
It was Bob Tulloch's heart and history which led him to an all-consuming project photographing the kaumatua and kuia of Tauranga Moana.
The award-winning photographer - best known for his portraits and scenes depicting the beauty of the Bay - was raised in the remote village of Ruatahuna - "the most isolated community in the heart of the Ureweras."
He went to school with 100 Maori children, and three Pakeha, and spoke te reo fairly well.
Now aged 70, the language may have faded from memory but his love and respect for Maori elders remains.
During visits to marae over the years he noticed family snap-shots replacing the beautiful 100-year-old portraits of elders on the walls of the wharenui.
He wanted to do better - both for this generation of elders, and the families who will remember them.
"This is like a generation of people who have grown up in this area, and grown up in pretty hard times. They don't have the luxury of having photographs of themselves done professionally.
It just felt like something I should do. This is something I've been wanting to do for a long time."
With the help of local woman and adult Te Reo teacher Toni Ririnui he gathered groups of between 10 and 30 people from 21 Tauranga marae who wanted to be professionally photographed - among them elders aged over 60.
"I can't pay enough thanks to her because she was well-respected at every marae that we went to," Tulloch said of Ririnui, who he met during the battle of Te Ranga commemorations in 2014.
Ririnui described the project as "a massive journey" which deserved the time it took, given the calibre of the result.
While some subjects were initially apprehensive, Tulloch's reputation and approach helped him gain trust.
"He's just got an awesome manner with the people, just a huge respect," she said.
"He'll take the time to sit down, have a cuppa, talk for a while. He went out of his comfort zone, into theirs."
The project gave elders recognition and respect for all they did on their marae. "It's more than just a photo, it's kind of a treasure," she said.
Together Tulloch and Ririnui selected one kaumatua or kuia from each of the marae whose portraits will feature in a free exhibition at Baycourt during the Tauranga Arts' Festival starting on October 22.
"Just the anticipation of them has already been huge," Ririnui said.
The elders, and the majority of the couples, siblings and children photographed at the marae, will feature in a later exhibition at Tauranga Art Gallery and be published in a corresponding book.
This is like a generation of people who have grown up in this area, and grown up in pretty hard times. They don't have the luxury of having photographs of themselves done professionally.
It was important to Tulloch to take the portraits using only natural light - carrying with him the least amount of intimidating equipment.
This proved a challenge in incorporating meaningful carvings, photographs and weavings in the portraits taken in the wharenui.
Of the 200 people he photographed between December 2014 and August this year, four have already passed away.
Bob Tulloch. Photo/John Borren
Tulloch was also the official photographer for the 150-year Battle of Gate Pa and Te Ranga commemorations - an experience he treasured.
"I'd love to do them all over again. They were just so dramatic, a fantastic opportunity for a photographer."
Tulloch's connection to coastal Bay of Plenty began during childhood.
He has vague memories of travelling to Maketu and Ohope with his parents and three sisters but after his father died when he was nine the family relocated back to his parents' former hometown of Christchurch.
There they lived with his grandfather for a few years, who gave him his first Kodak camera as a 12-year-old, before moving in to a state house.
By age 21 he had upgraded his equipment and developed a love of surf photography.
"That really got me interested in doing good quality pictures that a magazine could use."
Tulloch worked for a friend as a sales representative selling surf boards around New Zealand, a role which brought him to Mount Maunganui in July 1968.
"It was a clear, sunny day, the surf was just perfect."
"I had this very, very big impression of what this place was like. It just seemed to be so progressive here in Tauranga."
In 1970 Tulloch took off to explore the world visiting South Africa and the United Kingdom before settling in Canada, developing his passion for photography.
It was a passion that had its beginnings in childhood. "It's like I was curious about recording things.
When I was a young kid it was just about a memory more than anything else.
As I developed as a photographer, and I learnt the finer points of how to do things, it developed from there. It's an evolving craft. You never, ever stop learning."
In 1972, while living in Canada, the opportunity arose for Tulloch - a self-confessed amateur - to buy a small photography business from a fellow Kiwi. "I had to learn fast how to make a living."
His passion for a craft that gave others so much enjoyment and himself the satisfaction of doing something well, forged a lifetime career.
He returned to Christchurch with advanced skills in photo processing.
He decided to call the Bay home in the mid-1970s and moved here knowing only one person.
I had this very, very big impression of what this place was like. It just seemed to be so progressive here in Tauranga.
The going got tough and he considered returning to Christchurch before his uncle convinced him the Bay was a progressive place and he should get a job behind a bar, get some money behind him, and set up his own photography business.
Tulloch took the advice and started serving drinks at Willow Park hotel - now known as Hotel Armitage.
It was there he met his wife of 40 years, Lena, and the couple were married the following year.
Lena had three children of her own and the couple went on to have two more in 1976 and 78.
By now Tulloch had forged a niche for himself offering modern wedding photography packages.
His images moved away from the rigid black and white shots of the bridal party to a selection of coloured images presented in a beautiful leather album.
The work flooded in and Tulloch had to employ two other photographers to keep up.
He also enjoyed commercial work for Port of Tauranga and Owens Group and has photographed eight mayors over his 43-year photography career.
His passion for Tauranga inspired his first photo book in 1985 which featured shots from around the Bay.
"When you go back 40 years you start realising that you're capturing history."
In the early 90s Tulloch and former New Zealand Herald journalist Grant Cubis approached Trust Bank with an idea for a book celebrating the wider Bay of Plenty for them to sell at a reasonable rate.
Then in the mid-90s Tulloch published his own hardcover coffee table book featuring images of Tauranga.
I like people; I find it quite easy to work with people. Some photographers struggle with people photography but I like it. You know when you've got a good shot and it's satisfying to be able to get that. I have to find out what makes people tick a bit.
A second edition followed in 2002 and he is currently working on a third edition, due for release in time for Christmas.
Tulloch has also taken his passion for the Tauranga community to the council chambers being elected as a city councillor for one three-year term in 2004.
Tulloch said he achieved the improvement of ambiguous signage pointing to Mount Maunganui and a line of Pohutukawa trees to minimise some of the visual pollution in the industrial area leading to the seaside township.
He was a vocal supporter of the boardwalks along Pilot Bay and Marine Parade and maintains the boardwalk on the surf-side should continue to Oceanbeach Rd.
Tulloch believes his passion for a Tauranga museum saw him lose the seat - something he would like to see built next to Baycourt in the central city.
"By comparison places like New Plymouth are streets ahead of us," he said.
Focussing on his true passion Tulloch is arguably most famous for his portrait photography - particularly of families and children.
"I like people; I find it quite easy to work with people. Some photographers struggle with people photography but I like it. You know when you've got a good shot and it's satisfying to be able to get that. I have to find out what makes people tick a bit."
Despite being at the "tail-end of his career" he has no immediate plans to emerge from behind the lens.
"I don't have any ambitions to retire. I've seen too many men get bored stiff. While I'm well enough and interested enough I'll keep on taking photos."
