Innovation, initiative and challenging the status quo. These are principles to live by at any point, but particularly right now. The Auckland Festival of Photography 2023 has launched with a theme of resistance/ātete, and included are dazzling and arresting exhibitions that speak to the fragility and beauty of nature.
![Infra Moana - Aquamarine from Cathy Carter's exhibition "Planet Ocean" at Time Out and Novel Bookstores and Spaces, 17th Floor Commercial Bay.](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/ZRXQNC5NZZDJBJFHDFTWJLK7WA.jpg?auth=1b38e3ec31991312200918f29db0545617e44f5f57d444ec7e2ac88ea3265f26&width=16&height=16&quality=70&smart=true)
![Deep Reflection - Irene Middleton from the exhibition "NZ Wildlife Photographers" at Skar Image Lab, 1 New Bond St, Kingsland.](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/2XPPVETU65HRRO26OSXO7HYI6M.jpg?auth=4bfbd97f7f42df676c2431ce7f9cd7f71cd03daff647a618b475b68fcd5fd6b8&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)
![Is this my good side? - ngirungiru by Kelly Chapman from the exhibition "NZ Wildlife Photographers" at Skar Image Lab, 1 New Bond St, Kingsland.](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/62KTA3P5GZEUDCCIMFTB562EYM.jpg?auth=5fac61276ad675622dd465c9336aa6eebe07d03d0205a92b301347e8c4878d1f&width=16&height=22&quality=70&smart=true)
![The Process of Fruit Growth - Masumi Shiohara - in the outdoor lightboxes on Freyberg Place, Auckland CBD.](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/7OEK5EZWG5BJZMN7VG27WNUIHY.jpg?auth=d5c361ec82e5ad07ebfec04d18b2e1ff02336faaac3b2b15cf65e3c6f2308192&width=16&height=37&quality=70&smart=true)