C H AT T E R S E C T I O N H E A D E R
CPotY Snapshots
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Title: Threads of Heritage Photographer: Mele Tau’alupe Category: Society semi finalist
Run around As if he were not already busy enough as brand manager at Coffee Supreme, Doug Johns has challenged himself to run every street in Pōneke. Inspired by runner Rickey Gates and his Every Single Street project, Doug has started For the Run of It, and is inviting anyone to join him to “share a few kms.” While one of Doug’s main aims for the project is to explore more of the city, he also hopes to fundraise for Trees That Count. With roughly 700km of paved roads to cover, his goal is to plant a tree for every kilometre run.
Behind the camera: Mele Tau’alupe is a 28-year-old Tongan photographer. Born and raised in Newtown, she runs her own photography business, working mainly on weddings and lifestyle shoots. As someone who cherishes family and community, she finds photographing weddings comes very naturally. Why photography? In her early twenties Mele felt lost. She had dropped out of criminology studies at Victoria University and was left without direction. Deciding to fill the void with travel, she set off to spend several months in Nepal – taking her father’s camera with her, and picking up a new passion in the process. The snap: The subject of Threads of Heritage is Hana, the bride, dressed in a traditional Pakistani wedding gown. “The detailing caught my eye as soon as I saw her,” says Mele. She likes to make “headless” portraits in order to “capture the individual’s material character”. The day of wedding was also that of the Hunga volcano’s eruption in Tonga. The photo, which will preserve a wonderful memory for the couple, also reminds Mele that it will be some time before she can return to her home country.
Two Hospo heroes Egmont Street Eatery, Kisa, Hawthorn Lounge and Boneface in Upper Hutt are among the nominees announced in this year’s Felix Awards. Pour and Twist’s Zuyi Woon (See p.90) is in the running for Outstanding Barista, and Havana Bar’s Eom Jae Hoon (Cap #84) for Outstanding Chef. The awards acknowledge the restaurants, chefs, baristas, and bar and front of house staff, that keep the food industry buzzing. Winners will be announced on 11 September.
The Capital Photographer of the Year 2022 competition was held earlier this year, with the winners announced in June. We’ll be highlighting some of the entries each issue and online at capitalmag.co.nz/cpoty
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