CATHERINE CATTANACH
Catherine Cattanach’s photography invites a dive into the botanical world as a felt experience that goes beyond familiar observation. She has long admired the work of American painter Georgia O’Keeffe, and cites a quote from O’Keeffe as particularly relevant to her own work:
“When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it’s your world for the moment. I want to give that world to someone else. Most people in the city rush around so, they have no time to look at a flower. I want them to see it whether they want to or not.” - Georgia O’Keeffe
The Flux series breaks free from traditional photography by using rippled water to gently transform the flowers. The painterly, dream-like images that result allow space for the viewer to bring their own emotions and contemplations to the photographs.
The images are all as shot in camera, without the use of Photoshop.
Catherine holds the distinction of Grand Master of Photography with the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography.
She was named NZIPP In-Camera Portrait Photographer of the Year in 2021. She was Wellington Photographer of the Year in 2018, NZIPP Creative Photographer of the Year in 2016 and NZIPP Classic Portrait Photographer of the Year in 2014. Catherine has represented New Zealand in the portrait section of the World Photographic Cup, and she was also a portrait finalist in the 2016 international HeadOn Photo Festival in Sydney.