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Braden Fastier/Stuff
Braden Fastier waited for half an hour to get this shot at the A&P show in Richmond.
Armed with a camera, Braden Fastier loves to capture the quirkiness he sees in everyday life.
The Nelson Mail and Stuff visual journalist is a finalist in the New Zealand Geographic Photographer of the Year awards, with entries in three categories.
Eight other Stuff visual journalists also made the cut, with judges assembling 68 photos out of 8000 entries that tell a story of Aotearoa.
Fastier, who won the award in 2021, waited around half an hour at the Richmond A&P Show to get his shot of a ferris wheel in motion for the “photo story” category.
“I love A&P shows: a large crowd gathers, people from different walks of life: people just being themselves.
“I look for unique characters, then find the composition, the right background and wait for something to happen.”
Braden Fastier/Stuff
Nelson’s Samoan community began celebrating before the Rugby League World Cup final even started, allowing Fastier to take this shot full of colour and action.
Sometimes, he’ll wait for a long time for all the visual elements to fall in line, he said.
“I’m standing there waiting – but trying not to look like I’m standing there waiting.”
The ferris wheel caught his eye because “there were people really enjoying it, people doing selfies, others trying to see how much they can rock the chair.”
Fastier got his shot of Nelson’s Samoan community, a finalist in the “society” category, celebrating the Rugby League World Cup final as cars drove through an avenue of waving Samoan flags.
“The atmosphere was electric: people were tooting their horns, yelling, singing, dancing. They hadn’t even won, it was before the game, they were just celebrating being together.”
To capture someone’s image, Fastier likes to know what makes them unique.
“You could just take a photo of them as they are, but I’m trying to find something other than what’s in front of me. Using the light or the background, or their expression.”
Braden Fastier/Stuff
Kayla White has limited lung capacity, but is one of the most active teens you’ll meet. Fastier followed her for several days as she went to cheerleading and marching practice.
When he met 13-year-old Kayla White, who has a range of respiratory conditions which make breathing difficult, he wanted to know what it was like to walk in her shoes.
Despite her conditions, Kayla competes in cheerleading and marching, and goes to Girl Guides and swimming events.
“When I found out she did marching, I thought, that’s amazing because they have the big hats and lots of colour.”
He followed Kayla over a few days, photographing her as she did various pursuits. The picture he took of her in her marching uniform has made it into the award’s “portrait” category.
“I wanted to try and understand what she’s going through, how it was for her to do these things [with her condition].”
This insight into people is what motivates him, Fastier said.
“When I meet someone for a job, I love to hear their stories. You’re thinking, what makes that person different, unique? How can I try to tell their story?”
The New Zealand Geographic Photographer of the Year awards are Thursday, October 26.
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