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 Jan Maree Vodanovich
Major Waata Kukutai...
  
Major Waata Kukutai
For Portraits click here.
First Place
Franklin Arts Festival Ceramic Section 2008     
Spirit Horse Koru
For Fine Art click here |
Blog November 2011 ...CAPTAINS OF INDUSTRY NOMINATE NEW ZEALAND PHOTOGRAPHER JAN MAREE VODANOVICH AT 5TH ANNUAL PHOTOGRAPHY MASTERS CUP LONDON Nov 2011 - Professional photographer Jan Maree Vodanovich of Tuakau, New Zealand was presented with the 5th Annual Photography Masters Cup Nominee title in the category of Wildlife Photography at a prestigious Nomination & Winners PhotoShow. The live online ceremony webcast Sunday, October 29, 2011 was attended by photography fans in 83 countries who logged on to see the climax of the industry's most important event for colour photography. The awards international Jury included captains of the industry ranging from Hasted Hunt Kraeutler in New York, Brancolini Grimaldi, David & Goliath, Simon Studer Art Associates, Stills Gallery to Christie's in London who honoured Colour Masters with 272 coveted title awards and 1099 nominees in 18 categories. "It is an incredible achievement to be selected among the best from the 13,321 entries we received this year," said Basil O'Brien, the awards Creative Director. "Jan Maree's "Kaimanawa Stallions," an exceptional image entered in the Wildlife category, represents contemporary colour photography at its finest, and we're pleased to present her with the title of Nominee." This image of Kaimanawa Stallions greeting each other was taken during the 2010 DoC Muster in Waiouru. See the 5th Annual Winners & Nominees at http://www.thecolorawards.com/gallery INTERNATIONAL COLOR AWARDS PHOTOGRAPHY MASTERS CUP is the leading international award honouring excellence in colour photography. This celebrated event shines a spotlight on the best professional and amateur photographers worldwide and honours the finest images with the highest achievements in colour photography.  The story behind my award winning photo ...
“ I Am Me “
I had been thinking about this concept based on child abuse for a while. It started off with the words and the idea that we do not own our children. I saw the words written all over Shannon’s body. A friend’s photo of Hodderville provided me with the where. It had an eerie feeling that just resonated inside me. It was the place. It was creepy, had a desperate feel and the right story for what I was trying to say. Orphanages have a general, not necessarily true, history of housing poorly treated, homeless, lonely and abandoned children. It wasn’t until I researched the place for this written account that I realised how truly right for the photos Hodderville really was... Orphanages like the Salvation Army boys home in Hodderville, were the only option for many 19th-century orphans and abandoned children.... “The Salvation Army is investigating eight formal complaints of historical abuse in its New Zealand children's homes following an apology in Australia after claims there of physical and sexual abuse. One New Zealand man, Tom Murray, says he had a childhood of terror in a Waikato orphanage. "I had rolling pins over my back, I was kicked and punched on the ground over something simple like I couldn't eat vegetables...it was just a life of fear," Murray says. Murray is 62 now and his brother Allan died last year. Murray says both spent eight and a half years in the Putaruru Salvation Army Hodderville Boys' Home. Murray described how boys were punished in the home. "The hidings were just terrible...just terrible," he says. The boys called the home "Horrible Hodderville". Salvation Army territorial commander Shaw Clifton says it was an "appalling thought" that anyone should have been abused in the homes. The Salvation Army says it has not been told of Murray's case, but it is investigating eight formal complaints of abuse. Four of those claims are physical misconduct and four are sexual. Many of the alleged perpetrators, it says, have died, but it is promising to do what it can to find any still alive. It does not rule out compensation for any cases that can be proven.” One News, August, 2003 When I was photographing at Hodderville I could feel the oppression and almost haunted atmosphere of the place. It was a warren full of tiny rooms and I could imagine hundreds of children living there. Funnily enough that feeling eased as we worked through the photoshoot. Almost as if the telling helped. There are many types of child abuse and in some ways the ‘soft’ forms are the worse because they don’t seem so sinister. We see physical abuse all the time but what about mental abuse, what about those children who are alone, who, for whatever reason, can’t turn to the adults who are supposed to be nurturing and protecting them. Some children have parents, homes, clothes and meals, and yet are unsafe, unprotected and alone. This child is in an unpromising place, physically and emotionally. It is shabby, cold and dirty, with discarded beer bottles on the floor. Is this where she lives? Are her parents or family ‘sleeping it off’? Does she have any family? Does she go to school? What sort of people is she being exposed to? She looks broken and small and vulnerable in this ugly raw environment. Resigned, as though there is nothing more that can be done to her. Look closer and her gaze is direct. She has to, and can, rely on herself. Her inner self is strong, eyes piercing, tattooed on her body, the words “I am me. I am my own person. I belong to me. My life is now. I am in your care. Don’t let me fall. Don’t let me go. Don’t lose me. I Am Me...” She has a peace and innocence about her that will not succumb to the sordidness that is in her life. Our children are their own persons. They belong to themselves. They are our future. We have a duty to care for them. We must lead them in the right direction, but they have their own ideas and ideals. They are themselves. September 2011 ... Clarkes Beach Photoshoot with Ashleigh's Canon G12  We went to Clarkes Beach and had a play with the light and Ashleigh's compact camera. It was fun. The light was strong and distorted the photos in a cool way. It's a great beach with lots of overhanging trees although the roots are a bit too busy. It's the second time this week I have been able to take our dog and go to the beach after a shoot or dropping off photos. I am so lucky. I have the best job in the world.  I won both Champion Print and Runner Up in the Open Photography Section at the Franklin Arts Festival 2011 - a fantastic achievement, Franklin being my home town. And yet the highlight of the evening for me was the fact that my 11 year old daughter Ashleigh Loo, won the Youth Photography Award with this autumn photograph of a swan "Vibrant Silence". She took it at a park in Pukekohe (she had been assisting me on a shoot, and then took off to do her own thing). It's completely in camera and all she did was enhance the colour a bit. I can't wait for the day when she challenges me for Champion Print!  July 2011... Children and Portrait PhotographyHad some fun with a new light, an old saddle and my friend's daughter, Jorja. I love photographing children, especially when they dress themselves, bring their favourite things, and tell me where, with whom and how they want to be photographed. They have really great ideas, and it tells me a lot about their personalities. It also helps them relax into the photo shoot. It makes it so much easier to do the family group photos if they feel they are involved, listened to, and a part of the planning. Sometimes we can even bring out the pony, chickens, mice, cat, dog, rabbit or guinea pigs. They love that. Jorja wanted to ride the wild pony so we set her up with an old oilskin and hat, sitting on the saddle and holding the reins. She looks fantastic.  July 2011 ... Engagement Portrait Photos Shot on LocationEngagement photographs are a fun, rewarding and beautiful experience that will last alongside your actual wedding photographs for decades to come. They are also useful to personalize your invitations. I can create for you a high quality Queensberry Pressbook of your engagement photos with spare pages for your wedding guests to sign something personal or have a framed photo with a matt for the guests to sign while they watch a slideshow of the engagement photos. Anything that shows the relationship aspect of a marriage is a great thing – engagement photos do just that. You will look back in many years’ time and cherish these photographs. Where should I have them taken? I like to capture the place where you fell in love with one another, where you spent the early days of your relationship, places that are special to you. Backgrounds of cafe, town, school, workplace or university where you first met makes for perfect engagement shoots. I can make any location can look attractive or interesting.  Artistic potentialThink of places and things that are important to you or your partner. Long walks with the dog, or a new puppy, a special place like bridges, train tracks or the local skate park. We can incorporate these into your engagement photos too. Rural places, bush and beach are really popular. These are areas that nature makes beautiful. Get creative and look for places such as waterfalls, interesting rock-formations, man-made creations such as disused railway lines or carriages, and make sure you keep it romantic! I think I want one ... Great, Give me a call and we can talk about what you want and where you want it. If you’re not sure I can help you with that too. And if I’m already photographing your wedding I can sort out a discount or add it to your wedding package. E-mail me now or phone (09) 236 8553 June 2011 ... I had the most incredible experience when I went to Lake Waikaremoana in the Urewera National Park to photograph... it was a personal journey and two of the photographs Te Ao Marama and Korowai are for sale at the ACG Strathallan College Arts Festival in Papakura, to be held on the 18th and 19th June. 
Te Ao Marama
Moment of Enlightenment Creating the Light in a World of Darkness Lake Waikaremoana in the Urewera Mountains, at dawn as the sun’s first rays touch the cold and peaceful lake, a spiritual and ethereal experience... Tane Mahuta separates his parents Ranginui the Sky Father and Papatuanuku, the Earth Mother, creating light so that their children would not live in perpetual darkness. Everything is about balance and duality, Rangi and Papa, male and female, father and mother, night and day, heart and mind, conscious and subconscious, rational and intuitive, Yin and Yang, black and white, good and bad... Day One 2011 OMG It's 2011 and where has the time flown? I am starting the year with sorting my website and tidying up the clutter. 2011 is the Year of Photography...and I am loving it already. This is early morning at the Wintergarden in Auckland Domain  July 2010 ... North Shore Salon of Photography 2010 Awards The Chair Highly Commended Pipes Acceptance Tatoo Acceptance   November 2009 ..... Our own Kaimanawa Wild Horse  I first met Marilyn and Elder several years ago when I was commissioned to do some art works of Misty, and subsequently the Trust logo. On a recent visit I talked to Marilyn about adopting a Kaimanawa foal (as I was looking for a pony), and eighty-two days later, nine month old Baylian arrived home. Bella, my five year old mare set up their relationship on her terms and encouraged him to jump the water trough separating the two paddocks … twice. We had a jumper! A week later they were inseparable and we took them for a walk through the pony club. When it came time to cross the water jump, I took Bayli’s lead off, threw Bellas rope over her neck and asked her to cross hoping he would follow. We crossed using boards to meet them on the other side. Baylian couldn’t get in the water quick enough, drinking lots, nibbling all the grasses and getting splashed by Bella. The pair of them stood in there for at least 10 minutes, enjoying themselves, and soaking their feet. Once they were ready to continue, I led Bella and left Bayli loose. He charged around after the dog, cantering in beautiful circles with his neck arched and tail flying, then followed ‘his’ mare between jumps, down the hill through the pine trees and over the creek at the bottom. Every time we stopped he calmly approached for a rub. He followed us all the way home, allowing Ashleigh to catch, brush and lead him back to his paddock. He continues to amaze me with his trusting nature, agility and intelligence, and we are so lucky to have him in our family. 2008 Tuakau Wearable Arts - "Winter's Gift"  This is the second year we have entered the Wearable Arts. I am hoping Shannon and Ashleigh will want to do the big one in Wellington when they are older. Shannon looked beautiful as "Winter's Gift" to spring, cool and aloof, with the first buds of spring on her arm. See more photos of my Wearable Arts entries "Baby Franklin Falls" fell out of his tree at Franklin Zoo and is being hand reared ... you need to start at the bottom with Day One ...  Day Forty and my beloved Franklin has drowned in the fish pond! He had been living outside for weeks now but every morning came to my office window for a cuddle and something to eat. He would wait for us to leave the house and come flying in to land on a head or shoulder and demand food noisily. He always accompanied me on the feeding round. He would fly to the chickens and ponies and wait for me on the fence, then come in with me to feed them. Walk (or hop bounce) across the paddock to the stable and wait outside while I fed the cats and then sit on my shoulder back to feed the dog. He always sat on the guinea pig house - he had spent his first few days outside with them and considered them his extended family.Once we were done he would fly off towards the willows. On school days he would often be on the gate down the driveway and come home with the girls. He was a constant friend and I still miss his chatter and companionship three months on. Day ThirteenFranklin came on holiday with us to Opoutere where he was the life of the party. He went on bushwalks and particularly enjoyed the waterfeatures and trees in the surrounding areas. He tended to stay close and started to practice flapping his wings and flying from our shoulders to the ground, although he is not interested in finding his own food. When it was our turn to help with preparing meals in snuggled in Matthew's pocket and commented periodically on everything happening around him.  Day TenFranklin Falls had his first day out, sitting in trees and feeling the 'wind in his feathers'. Had no problem balancing and was quite happy running around on the ground. He also had his first feed of chopped up worms. The girls had fun collecting those. He'll be ready to be released soon.  Day NineFranklin has a bird house in the lounge for daytime use but still sleeps in his airing cupboard nest. He has a daytime house now in the lounge so he can see what's going on and he is walking and sitting quite well now. He gets out of his daytime "nest" and has a hop around sometimes.  Day 8Made the unfortunate realization that Franklin Falls is a mynah bird and not the dove that we were assuming he was having fallen from a tree inhabited by almost a hundred doves and pigeons.  Day Seven
He has survived with us for one week and going strong. Very good on his legs and getting a lot more feathers on his body. His wings have a second set on quills with tufts of feather coming out the ends. Franklin is gaining a personality. I bought him some jellimeat which he spits out. He has been spoiled. 
Day Six Sharing a cuddle with Shannon, Franklin Falls is getting very inquisitive and cheeky. Soon he will need a daytime cage so that he can entertain himself by watching what's going on around him.  Day Five
You can see his wings starting to feather up and the grey fluffy down although he doesn't have much of that...not like cute little chicks or ducklings.  Day FourFranklin Falls is getting strong on his legs and voices his desire for food as soon as we wake him up. He is feeding regularly and will soon need a daytime house that he can see from. He still gets cold and 'shivers' so I guess Mom would still be sitting on him regularly  Day 3
"Baby Franklin Falls" enjoying a cuddle from one of his admirers, Shannon. There's no rest for baby anythings here. He is feeding every hour-ish and is very noisy in his demands for sustenance. He is also starting to move around a lot, balancing with his little wings, and scrabbling with his legs. His feet are quite strong when they grip my finger, but he can't control his body at all. He has a bit more down and lots of little black tips where his feathers are forming, especially on his wings. We are anticipating finding out what colour he is.
 Day Two ...and still alive !!! "Baby Franklin Falls" eyes are two slits now and gradually opening. He (or she) cheeps as soon as we open the airing cupboard door and has his mouth open begging for a feed when the lid is opened. Hopefully he will survive to go to school as news before we release him into the garden. Although we will wait until he has a few more feathers and is a wee bit cuter.  Day OneMeet "Baby Franklin Falls", a little chick who fell out of his tree on Oct 14th, 2008, and is subsequently living in a wheat bag nest in our airing cupboard and eating 'baby bird' food. Hopefully he will survive to join the other birds in the garden.
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