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TRAVEL ANL Bindaree Tasman Sea, Australia The ANL Bindaree, a Liberian-flagged freighter laden with 30,000 tones of freight and 24 crew, follows a little-known tradition of passengers on cargo ships, harking back to the days when cabins were set aside for owners and VIPs. Today they’re taken by people looking for a slow alternative to air travel, who are independent, have time to spare, and who just want to do something a little different. Previous Next

< Back Hadzabe Girl wins Silver 30 Aug 2022 Hadzabe Girl has won Silver at the prestigious 2022 Prix de la Photographie de Paris in France. The Dickenesque portrait of a young child in wonder has now earned accolades across the United States, Australasia and Europe. The image was taken in the Laye Eyasi district of Tanzania as she stood under a rock ledge; her face revealing an inner strength belying her age. Hadzabe Girl will be shown in Paris in November 2022. < Previous Next >

PROJECTS Colour Nature Manurewa, New Zealand During the dark days of the Coronavirus pandemic this series echoed Henri Matisse, "There are always flowers for those who want to see them". The images, each taken at the Auckland Botanic Gardens with only natural light, are a microcosm of hope and the future, of growth and life. The collection is a digitisation of beauty, not beauty itself, highlighting the power of a singular image at its most pared back simplicity. Previous Next

< Back Shades of Otara opens 1 Jun 2015 Guy Needham's latest solo exhibition, Shades of Otara, opened this week at Studio One in Auckland. A black and white documentary series three years in the making, the Opening Night was attended by hundreds as part of the Auckland Festival of Photography. The exhibition is on until June 18. < Previous Next >

< Back 2006 for the Vatwa 8 Jan 2026 2026 has been a big year for the Vatwa of Angola already - appearing in Rome and Boston - and now getting ready for Melbourne in April From 8 April - 6 May 2026 the Vatwa will be on display at Ladder Art Space in Australia. Regarded as the first indigenous inhabitants of the Onconcua region, the Vatwa remain semi-nomadic and grow crops and tend goats within the compounds housing their traditional huts. A select number of curated portraits will be on show in the Kew gallery, highlighting the striking Vatwa women, covered in a red paste of ochre clay, animal fats and lotion that makes their skin shine in the unrelenting sun. < Previous Next >

Recent solo and group exhibitions that Guy Needham's work has featured in around the world. EXHIBITIONS SOLO 2026 The Vatwa of Angola, Ladder Art Space Melbourne, Australia 2025 The Dani of Papua, Associação de Psicanálise Relacional Lisbon, Portugal 2023 The Dani of Papua, FotoNostrum House of Photography Barcelona, Spain 2023 The Dani of Papua, The Grey Place Auckland, New Zealand 2021 The Hadzabe of Tanzania, Ladder Art Space Melbourne, Australia 2020 The Samburu of Kenya, Studio 541 Auckland, New Zealand 2019 Six Tribes, Blank Wall Gallery Athens, Greece 2019 Six Tribes, L’Atelier de Pilar Güell Barcelona, Spain 2019 The Hadzabe of Tanzania,Grey Gallery Auckland, New Zealand 2018 The Mentawai of Indonesia, ArtHouse Sydney, Australia 2017 The Mentawai of Indonesia, Studio 541 Auckland, New Zealand 2016 The Hamar of Ethiopia, ThisThat Gallery Auckland, New Zealand 2015 Shades of Otara, Studio One Auckland, New Zealand 2014 The Huli of Papua New Guinea, Allpress Studio Auckland, New Zealand 2014 Colour Nature, Rendezvous Auckland, New Zealand 2013 People of The Balkans, The Photographers' Gallery Napier, New Zealand GROUP 2026 The Vatwa of Angola, Galleria Arte Roma Design Rome, Italy 2025 Winter Solstice, Griffin Museum of Photography Boston, USA 2025 Travel, Blank Wall Gallery Athens, Greece 2024 Indian Photo Festival, State Gallery of Art Hyderabad, India 2023 Portraits, Blank Wall Gallery Athens, Greece 2023 Budapest Inter national Foto Awards, Budapest, Hungary 2022 Prix de la Photographie de Paris, Espace Beaurepaire Paris, France 2022 Winter Solstice, Griffin Museum of Photography Boston, USA 2022 Vienna International Photo Awards exhibition, Austria 2022 Portraits, Glasgow Gallery of Photography, UK 2022 Still Life, Blank Wall Gallery Athens, Greece 2022 The Portrait, Praxis Gallery Minneapolis, USA 2022 Shoot The Face, State Art Gallery Hyderabad, India 2022 Photographers for Ukraine, Incubator Lisbon, Portugal 2022 International Street Photography, Glasgow Gallery of Photography, UK 2021 6th Biennial of Fine Art & Documentary, FotoNostrum Barcelona, Spain 2021 International Photography Awards, Shatto Gallery Los Angeles, USA 2021 Budapest International Photo Awards, Budapest, Hungary 2021 Tales of the Unwritten, Stelio Crise State Library Trieste, Italy 2021 International Juried Exhibition, Centre for Photographic Art, Carmel California, USA 2021 After Dark, Praxis Gallery Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA 2020 Winter Solstice, Griffin Museum of Photography Boston, USA 2020 GZ-Basel, Virtual exhibition, Basel, Switzerland 2020 First Place, Portraits, Florida Museum of Photographic Arts Tampa, USA 2020 The Portrait, Praxis Gallery Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA 2020 The Golden Hour, Auburn Art Gallery Los Angeles, USA 2019 Portraits, Glasgow Gallery of Photography, Scotland, UK 2019 Monochrome, PH21 Gallery Budapest, Hungary 2019 Members Show, Florida Museum of Photographic Arts Tampa, USA 2019 Postcards, Jarvis Dooney Gallery Berlin, Germany 2019 Jurors' Exhibition, Chania International Photo Festival, Greece 2019 Faces of the World, Ferencvárosi Művelődési Központ Budapest, Hungary 2019 SE Members Show, SE Center of Photography, South Carolina, USA 2018 Wanderlust, Galerie Sehnsucht Rotterdam, The Netherlands 2018 London Photo Festival, The Crypt London, UK 2018 LCAP Annual Exhibition, LA Centre of Photography, USA 2018 Atlas of Humanity, Photokina Fair Cologne, Germany 2018 Portraits, Blank Wall Gallery Athens, Greece 2018 Travel, PhotoPlace Gallery Middlebury Vermont, USA 2017 London Photo Festival, The Crypt London, UK 2017 Show Your World, Gallery MC New York, USA 2016 Portrait Salon, Reminders Photography Stronghold Gallery Tokyo, Japan 2015 MIFA Foto Awards, Na Kashirke Gallery Moscow, Russia 2015 UK Portrait Salon, The Embassy Tea Gallery London, UK 2013 The Story of The Creative, See Exhibition Space New York, USA see exhibitions in situ > see tear sheets > see About >

< Back Samburu Opening Night 19 Oct 2020 Hundreds of people made it along to the inaugural showing of the Samburu of Kenya on the Opening Night and throughout Auckland Artweek. As well as having the opportunity to take away a little piece of Kenya themselves, visitors heard stories of blood drinking, cellphone toting, motorbike riding moran and the joys of the The Moon is Back festivities. < Previous Next >

< Back The Hadzabe go to the US 4 Dec 2018 Hadzabe Smoker, the lead image of The Hadzabe of Tanzania series, will have its US debut next month in the SE Center for Photography. The image, taken in northern Tanzania in the dry season of 2018, will be on show from January 4-27 in the city of Greenville, South Carolina, next to a number of American and International photography works. < Previous Next >

Deep in the equatorial jungle off the coast of Sumatra, live the indigenous Mentawai people. Considered one of the planet's most ancient tribes, among anthropologists the Mentawai are most notable for their body art and tendency to sharpen their teeth. TRIBES The Mentawai Siberut, Mentawai Islands, Indonesia Deep in the equatorial jungle off the coast of Sumatra, live the indigenous Mentawai people. Considered one of the planet's most ancient tribes, among anthropologists the Mentawai are most notable for their body art and tendency to sharpen their teeth. < Previous Next >

< Back The Hadzabe in Portrait Magazine 19 Sept 2020 Portrait Magazine, a digital publication dedicated to portrait photography, has chosen The Hadzabe of Tanzania to be featured in its latest issue amongst six other photographic projects. The brainchild of Mexican photojournalist Alex Coghe, the magazine can be purchased here . < Previous Next >

I first saw it through a 1973 Holden Belmont station wagon’s smoke-stained window. Staring back at 11-year-old me was a blue and yellow sign: ‘Pig Dog Training School / Bookbinder’. Located just outside of Torere, Joshua Kauta’s iconic landmark still stands, symbolising the next 300 kilometres. Known yet mysterious, friendly yet wary, this is the East Coast. < Back Cruising down the Highway 35 New Zealand Herald 5 Mar 2024 I first saw it through a 1973 Holden Belmont station wagon’s smoke-stained window. Staring back at 11-year-old me was a blue and yellow sign: ‘Pig Dog Training School / Bookbinder’. Located just outside of Torere, Joshua Kauta’s iconic landmark still stands, symbolising the next 300 kilometres. Known yet mysterious, friendly yet wary, this is the East Coast. State Highway 35 is its vein, an artery of townships that have risen and fallen with the tide of resources, people and politics. And yet this narrow, storm-beaten road attracts more passion than perhaps any other. ‘35’ logos proudly sit across low-hanging trackies, XXL tees and well-worn bucket hats. 35, the TikTok sensation by the 24-rangatahi choir Ka Hao and Rob Ruha has over 5 million views on YouTube. Driving the road you can see why. Honour guards of rata canopy across the sticky tarmac while almighty ponga stand sentinel over isolated coves. Beehives and bulls fall into the rear vision mirror, as a new Haere Mai approaches. Each township has its own unique ways. Te Kaha is home to the strikingly carved wharenui Tūkākī, next to a memorial dedicated to the Māori Battalion's C Company. Just before it is the Te Kaha Beach Resort complete with swimming pool, sea views, restaurant and event facilities. The Coast, authentic yet polished. As the road curves a bright star appears on the isthmus. Raukokore’s church, its external beams glistening, is as picturesque as it is isolated. The Pacific laps metres away as a stallion nonchalantly looks up. A single ute’s exhaust splutters and then the quiet returns once again. Further on the gears shift down, as does the pace. Fans of Taika Waititi pay homage to Boy’s Michael Jackson moves in front of the Waihau Bay Post Office, as kuia roll their eyes and chuckle. Fisherman patiently wait their turn to use the popular boat ramp as the sea begins to settle. After Hicks Bay the first straight heads towards Te Araroa and a carpet of needles under Te Waha o Rerekohu, the largest Pohutukawa in New Zealand. I played on it as a kid; there’s now a sign politely asking you not to. The most easterly point of State Highway 35 is at Tikitiki. Atop its hill sits the historic St Marys, widely considered to be the most beautiful Māori church in New Zealand. Sunlight strikes the stained glass window depicting two soldiers kneeling at the feet of Christ, below them sit glowing pews. Kowhaiwhai and tukutuku panels bathe in the light, embracing the intricately carved pulpit. The church, which was built as a memorial to Ngati Porou who sacrificed their lives in the Great War, has been lovingly restored over the last two decades. State Highway 35 is its vein, an artery of townships that have risen and fallen with the tide of resources, people and politics. Under the watch of the maunga Hikurangi, the first place to see the Sun, lies Ruatoria. Home of Pa War s - officially the Ngati Porou inter-marae challenge – every year over 20 marae come together for a day of competing fun. As varied as the Coast’s landscape the battles range from sprints to karaoke to euchre. A chorus of ‘chur bro’ sings out as kids collapse over the finish line into the embrace of cheering whanau. Pa Wars is a welcome respite from a tough 18 months on the Coast. Floods, road closures, and of course, COVID-19 restrictions have all affected it. Erosion is no stranger to State Highway 35 either; the roads can be as uneven as the weather. Following another vehicle on the Coast forges an anonymous bond, a shared sense of navigating dips and swerving rocks, until they break away for their own journey as the road winds on. The gastronomical pull of Tokomaru Bay is too strong to drive by. Served fresh and creamy, Café 35’s famous Paua Pies fuel locals and tourists alike. Heads turn as trays breeze past, the waft of hot flaky pastry delivered with a knowing smile, making the wait worth it. The pies travel well, making their half-eaten way to nearby ‘secret’ Anaura Bay. This stunning bay embodies ‘getting away from it all’, its long sandy beach bookended by DOC and commercial camping grounds. The biggest township on the East Coast happens to have the longest wharf in New Zealand. Buttressed by easterly swells the Tolaga Bay wharf can be a stirring sight; a reminder of the respect Tangaroa commands. Light-coloured driftwood touched by fingers of ocean tentatively rests as the tide comes in one more time. A determined father with stroller heads towards the end of the pier, hair askew and hands clasped tightly. Waiting for him when he gets back are Broad Bills’ cheesy wheezies curly fries, a just reward for such a long walk. Beyond Tolaga Bay the road straightens as it makes its way to Gisborne. Behind it is a unique unspoiled land, threaded with a living, breathing highway. The Coast, like State Highway 35 itself, is still a little rough around the edges, but nothing a 1973 Holden Belmont station wagon can’t handle. Details Getting there: Self-drive from Opotiki to Gisborne or vice-versa. 4WD is best. Accommodation: Te Kaha Beach Resort, Hicks Bay Motor Lodge, Freedom camping Stop at: Te Kaha, Waihau Bay, Te Araroa, Tikitiki, Tokomaru Bay, Anaura Bay, Tolaga Bay Web: tairawhitigisborne.co.nz/see-and-do/statehighway35/ Original publication: New Zealand Herald < Previous Next >

“Why Albania?” “Why not?” “What have they done to us?” “What have they done for us?” “Nothing….” “See, they keep to themselves. Shifty. Untrustable.” < Back Why Albania Let's Travel 4 Jun 2015 “Why Albania?” “Why not?” “What have they done to us?” “What have they done for us?” “Nothing….” “See, they keep to themselves. Shifty. Untrustable.” No, not a weird conversation about where to holiday but a scene from Wag The Dog, where Robert De Niro and Dustin Hoffman are deciding who America should go to war with. Thankfully it never happened, but if it had you can bet Albania would have been ready. Dotted along its coastline are thousands of concrete bunkers to protect it from invasion - the paranoid legacy of communist dictator Enver Hoxha. It had been 20 years since communism had died and I was in Albania to see how much the country had changed. To the outside world Albania is still a mystery; a former Socialist People’s Republic “somewhere near Greece where everyone is poor and backward and ride donkeys and the women have moustaches” (they don’t). Sure, it’s not the most advanced country in the world but that’s what makes it so unique. Where else would you see grass being cut on the main square with a scythe? Or a foreign street named after George W Bush? My quest to discover today’s Albania began in its capital, Tirana. In the 1990s the former mayor - himself an artist - came up with the idea of painting the ubiquitous apartment blocks different colours, to brighten up residents’ lives. As a result the city’s a lot more attractive these days, but it’s never going to win a beauty pageant. No matter, what Tirana lacks in looks it makes up for in character. From the never-ending cacophony of horns as three-wheeled trucks fight with motorbikes navigating Skanderbeg Square, to elderly men warily drinking tea to pass the time of day, the capital of Albania is truly a mish-mash of east meets west with a victor yet to be decided. As the capital, all roads lead to Tirana and you certainly know when you’re on them. “Pot-holed” is an understatement but bouncing up and down in the back of a furgon taxi adds to the sense of adventure. In typical Balkan fashion these shared taxis have no set schedule (nor departure point for that matter); as soon as they’re full, they’re off. I managed to catch an early morning one and only had to wait 15 minutes before the chugging Mercedes starting making its way to my next destination, Berat. After two hours of Albanian viba-train I was relieved to finally arrive. “Somewhere near Greece where everyone is poor and backward and ride donkeys and the women have moustaches” Berat is a charming 2400 year old Ottoman town with houses built one on top of another, earning itself the moniker ‘Town of a Thousand Windows’. I was excitedly met by my host and taken to his ‘welcome room’ for a shot of rakija (a fermented alcoholic drink that’s probably illegal elsewhere). The room itself was magic: traditional curved brick walls, pigeons cooing on the sill, strings of onions hanging from rafters, and the waft of slowly cooking lamb. Another rakija was poured. “Are you going to the Xhiro tonight?” he asked. “It’s Monday so it should be good.” He pointed down to the town. The Xhiro (pronounced ‘giro’), as it turns out, is one of the most curious rituals I have come across. At a time when we might be watching primetime TV the inhabitants of Berat are walking back and forth down a closed off boulevard, dressed to the nines like its 1987. Furtive glances are exchanged as Europop seeps from the cafes. This is dating, Albania-style. In a country where pre-marriage relations are frowned upon and the Western version of ‘going out’ is non-existent, the nightly Xhiro is the one opportunity to size up potential partners. Like someone? Your relatives can talk to their relatives. We joined in – the walking, not the dating – and amongst the fried sweetcorn hawkers and popped collars you could sense the locals enjoying themselves. Berat was also where I saw another sign that times have changed. Mount Shpirag, behind the entrance to the township, once had the name “Enver” (after the former dictator) spelt out in huge letters on the mountainside. Today they’ve been rearranged to spell “N.E.V.E.R” – a very large, defiant statement not to repeat the past. Of course not all of the past was bad. My guide, a Tirana native who had spent much of his life in construction openly opined, “Under communism, we always had a job. No matter how small. Now look around you.” He waved his arm across the square. Men of working age were sitting around doing not much. It was 2:30pm on a weekday. He did admit though that since ‘freedom’ he now had enough money to send his daughter to Germany to study which he would never have been able to do “in the old days”. The final stop on my journey was Shkodra, a town bordering Montenegro. With a castle above and lake below it prides itself as being a little more Balkan-esque than the rest of Albania. Certainly, it has its fair share of al fresco restaurants, tourist-oriented ‘lodges’ and fresh food stalls; Shkodra was a cosmopolitan surprise. One of my favourite moments happened just as I was leaving town and looking to spend the last of my LEK on some meaningful souvenirs. An old woman at the bus stop dangled some woollen socks in my face in the hope that this foreigner would buy them - despite me sweltering in the 35 degree heat. I followed her back to her knitting, and after much hand gesticulation I gave her cash, she gave me some socks, and topped it off with an Albanian ‘smile’. As the bus pulled out I gave her a wee nod, and thought about all the changes she’d seen. After 20 years, capitalism had replaced communism and pester-power had replaced paranoia. The Albania of old was no longer there and yet, as the country was finding itself – with infrastructure and systems still to come – I felt lucky to have seen the Albania of today, knowing that it’s special quality would change again 20 years from now. < Previous Next >