Ambulance life shown through the camera lens
Capital chatter
Armed only with a camera, a Wellington photographer went behind the scenes with an ambulance crew.
Over a period of 18 months, Adrian Heke took to the road with the crew from the Wellington Free Ambulance (WFA). He rode along with them, capturing snapshots of them treating patients and rushing to emergencies, sirens blaring.
But it wasn’t seeing the injuries of patients that stuck out to him.
‘‘Injuries heal, you know they will get better. But it’s when you look into people’s eyes and only see sadness or defeat. That’s what sticks to you,’’ he said.
His photographs have been turned into a book, One One One – A Photographic Journey With Wellington Free Ambulance, with all proceeds from its sales going back to WFA.
At first Heke didn’t know what he was trying to photograph. ‘‘I wanted the photos to be organic and real. I couldn’t interfere like I do at a photo-shoot, I had to just let things happen naturally.’’
Over time, he came to know the paramedics he was travelling with and he started paying attention to small details – the paramedic’s expressions, hand movements and mannerisms.
‘‘Amongst patients, paramedics are positive and smiley so they can build a rapport. As paramedics, they must give patients hope,’’ he said.
‘‘Their job is emotionally exhausting but every paramedic has their own way of working through it and getting back on the road.’’
Heke said his time in the ambulance left him with a new appreciation for life.
Wellington Free Ambulance chief executive Mike Grant said when Heke first approached WFA about the project in 2016, there were many questions around patient privacy and also about the logistics of carrying camera gear in the back of an Days cycling in Wellington before being told off by a car driver for existing (in a bike lane, no less): 3.
People getting sunburnt. In Wellington. The Gillette Cup was used to distribute the lollies on the flight back to Wellington. Nice touch @FlyAirNZ #community
I have absolutely hacked the skirt game in Wellington. Bike pants underneath. Every time I do it, I feel so smug.
Rain. Coming straight down. In Wellington. ‘‘It’s not natural Dad.’’ ambulance to sort out. ‘‘Of course, when you head out on the road with one of our crew you never know what you are going to get,’’ Grant said.
‘‘Adrian will tell you there were days and nights with long stretches of ordinary followed by shifts where he rushed from one dramatic scene to the next.’’
One One One – A Photographic Journey With Wellington Free Ambulance is available for $40 at Vic Books by the Wellington Railway Station or through the WFA Head Office at 19 Davis St, Thorndon.
LIVE LAUGHS CHRISTMAS COMEDY
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Beethoven’s String Quartet No 13 in B-flat major Op 130 will be performed by Aroha String Quartet, with donations from this concert going to the Organ Restoration Fund. Today, 12.15pm at St Andrew’s on the Terrace.
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