NZ, Phl celebrate 50 years with photo exhibit
Th i s ye a r ma rk s half a century of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and t he Ph i l ip pi ne s , wi t h t he ties having become stronger over the years. An estimated 400,000 Filipinos now live in New Zealand — making them one of the largest immigrant groups in the country. New Zealand Ambassador David Strachan has thought of a novel wa y to commemorate this relationship via a photo exhibit titled Open Spaces: New Zealand Thro ugh the Le n s of a Fi l ipino t ha t fe at u r ed image s c apt ur e d by t he le n s of photographer Jose Mari “Mayie” Delgado.
The talented photographer discovered his love for photography during high school when he traveled to Europe with his family and was designated as the “official photographer” to document their trip. Also described as a “documentarist,” Mayie is gifted with the ability to see things in a unique perspective, and his talent for taking photos at the right moment turns his images into visual poetry. He has traveled the world over to capture absorbing landscapes as well as abstract images, in the process also earning for himself a name as a fine art abstract photographer.
Ut i l izing 35- mm. and medium format digit al cameras, Mayie is able to capture the paradise- like qualities of New Zealand’s landscape. The exhibit likewise serves as a nar rative of his visits to the North and South Islands, driving from Auckland to Wellington, exploring the beautiful scenery from Christchurch to Queenstown — giving exhibit viewers a glimpse into the island- nation’s unique charms.