Snap to it! Capture the essence of Auckland
Forget Christmas, if there’s one day of the year West Auckland photographer Mirjam van Sabben eagerly awaits it’s Nikon Auckland Photo Day.
Today van Sabben will be one of dozens out on Auckland’s streets — and sports fields, parks, beaches, shopping malls and everywhere in between — trying to snap an image that captures the essence of a day- inthe- life in the country’s biggest city.
An integral part of the Auckland Festival of Photography, photo day has been held since 2007 and van Sabben has participated in every one.
Her landscape photos have thrice been placed in the Top 30 pictures; she placed fourth in 2010 and, in 2014, won the people’s choice award. “So I’m nearly there!”
The competition is open to all and, since last year, has included a category for timelapse, video or short films.
Van Sabben said the day was a chance to push yourself as a photographer.
“Because you have just 24 hours, you can’t decide that the conditions aren’t right so you’ll pack up, go home and come back tomorrow to try again. It means you’re more likely to climb that next hill to see what’s over it; if it rains, you find a way to utilise that rain. It makes you move outside of your comfort zone.”
But she faces an additional challenge. The secondary school teacher was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2004 — a condition with debilitating pain and chronic fatigue. Now unable to work full time, van Sabben has dedicated herself to photography but must pace herself.
“Pain levels dictate how often I can go out, how far I can travel both by car and on foot, for how long I can carry equipment.
“This only adds value to the photographs I’ve taken, knowing what it has cost me physically, and knowing that despite these limitations, I can still successfully compete against photographers who are more ablebodied.”
To enter Auckland Photo Day, go to photographyfestival.org.nz