In pictures: Auckland visual journalists' photos of the year

Tuesday, 31 December 2019

Auckland musician Benee photographed not long before her success at the Vodafone NZ Music Awards, eating a Korean feast during a photo shoot.

A portrait of a former rough sleeper, a series of protest shots and a bird's eye view of a dam are among Stuff Auckland photographers' favourite pictures of the year.

Visual team leader Jason Dorday said the photos, from visual journalists Ricky Wilson, Lawrence Smith, Abigail Dougherty and Chris McKeen, were the 'out takes' or the ones that didn't make it into print.

The demands of daily news determined which pictures were published, and many were only ever seen on photographers' Instagrams, he said.

'It can be frustrating for the photographer but that's the nature of being a professional photojournalist – sometimes you have to shoot to order rather than present your personal style.'

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The sun sets over the disputed land at Ihumātao.

An Ihumātao protester, holding a flag, evades police in a cattle paddock.

A protester watches a crane truck drive through a crowd.

Two women carry kai towards the protest point at Ihumātao.

Clarke Gayford, broadcaster, presenter and partner to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

Keith, a former streetie who featured in a Stuff/NZ On Air video project called The K Rd Chronicles.

A man is arrested by police outside a framing store in Greenlane.

The Upper Mangatawhiri Dam in Auckland's Hunua Ranges.

A bird's eye view of a lone palm tree and a shed in Kawakawa Bay.

The Blue Lake in Biei, Hokkaido is one of a number of ponds that were created in order to protect the nearby town from flooding.

Watercare staff walk on a portion of the Upper Mangatawhiri Dam structure in Auckland's Hunua Ranges.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at the scene of the SkyCity Convention Centre fire with Auckland Mayor Phil Goff, NZ First MP Tracey Martin and Fire and Emergency NZ Auckland regional manager Ron Devlin.

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Dougherty's photos were all taken at Ihumātao, a tract of disputed land in south Auckland.

She said it was the little details that spoke to her in each shot – from the colours of a sunset to a woman's head scarf to the size of a cooking pot.

Dorday said his advice to photographers was to have faith in their own vision.

'Sometimes you might have to put that aside, but as a working photographer it will always be your strongest asset.'