The Art of Photography

WORDS David Trim

PHOTOS Charlotte and Finn Anderson

Photography is often described as the art of seeing, of noticing light, texture and emotion in a single fleeting moment. For Charlotte Anderson, our very own photography director at LIVING Hawke’s Bay, art lies in capturing the soul of the subject, be it people, portraits or landscapes, and seeing the quiet, beautiful details that others might walk past. David delves into Charlotte’s professional photographic world.

Before the coming of the camera, we relied on artists to preserve our memories, their brushes and palettes capturing life’s moments and transforming them into portraits and landscapes that predated photographs. Some produced sketches to capture family occasions or members, while some commissioned large painted portraits, framed to be hung on the walls. In those days, rarely did you see a portrait with a smile on their faces, they appeared more solemn as if it were a task to endure, more than a time for happy recollection. Oh, how that has changed!

As cameras became more portable and film more accessible, photographers emerged not just as technicians but as artists and storytellers, shaping public memory and culture through their images. It was in this era that photography truly came of age – when capturing light became a profession and the world learned to see through new eyes.

At LIVING Hawke’s Bay we are very fortunate to have globally experienced, award-winning photographers on our team. One of these is Charlotte Anderson, who is also our photography director.

Charlotte is very clear about her photography style, what she likes and dislikes in her professional photography. As she flicks through her vast library of saved photos to show me her favourites, it is clear that flowers, nature, artists, food and people are her strong suits. Charlotte admits to me, for clarity, that landscapes and vast open spaces are not really her cup of tea. “I seem to be drawn to flowers, they are always around in some form, even when they start to fade they can be so beautiful, like tulips for example,” she says.

An image from Charlotte's project with DARSA in India

Texture, patterns and a curiosity of art are her driving forces. She thinks these have always been her drive, even before she became a photographer. Her journey began through Hawke’s Bay schools then on to Wellington Polytech to obtain a Diploma in Fashion Design and Technology. At the time her dream was to move into costume design work for theatre productions. However, with the diploma in hand and not a thought about photography at that stage, Charlotte sought brighter lights on the other side of the world, and at the age of 21 she ventured to London.

Treading the same path as many Kiwis before and after her, Charlotte began working in the hospitality industry, while retraining as a photographer at the City of Westminster College. She thinks something happened along the travelling journey that made her think photography was worth a look, and she found a desire to learn something other than fashion design. While based in London for over 20 years, her photography became her full-time profession.

Charlotte setting up her home studio

Opportunity arose for a photography project in India with a Mumbai-based NGO called DASRA. The focus of the Indian non-profit organisation was to support underprivileged children in India through education and other aid. They provide educational support, run programmes to combat child labour and work on initiatives such as their Feed the Need food bank. Charlotte said she loved the project, as it was way out of her comfort zone. For DASRA she worked with a range of communities in the fields of education, health and livelihood, and with them having a large focus on adolescent girls, it made the project very fulfilling. This became one of several trips to India with the organisation.

International exhibitions and international photography competitions are all part of Charlotte’s career so far. Milan, Paris, Barcelona, London, Arles (France) and Auckland have all had the pleasure of exhibiting Charlotte’s work. Often Charlotte doesn’t even get to see the exhibitions herself, relying on photos and video being sent back to her of the displays.

Awards are many for Charlotte, with nearly 40 international award placings. The most recent being a gold winner at the 2025 Budapest International Foto Awards in the Professional, People, Portrait category.

Charlotte loves to put together series of works, related by a theme of her choice. These are bodies of works that never really have an ending, as further photos that are deemed worthy are added to the collection as time and photo shoots go by. Flowers and artists are her favourite subjects for themes, and again those same driving forces appeared through texture and patterns with an eye for detail.

Charlotte says that when she started down the photography road a lot of people said she was wasting her time, as they didn’t think the profession had a secure enough future. However, she thinks photography will be around for a long time as a fine art and because there is a difference between a professional creative photographer and an amateur photographer. She believes that while many phones can take excellent pictures, the ability to creatively and consistently take exceptional and meaningful photos is a different story.

“When I started, I was using nothing but film. You had to know the shot was good, because you need to wait for the film to be developed. By that time the subject matter is well and truly gone!” Charlotte said.

“Some people thought the digital camera was going to end professional photography, too. However, we are still here and stronger than ever as a profession.”

Charlotte also says film is making a comeback and some of her competition entries are for film only. “When things are too perfect that can become boring.”

Other magazines have also sought out Charlotte’s work, including National Geographic, North and South, Life and Leisure, AA Directions and she recently photographed food spreads for an international cookbook. With LIVING Hawke’s Bay magazine, Charlotte says one of her stand-out photo shoots was the collection of irons at the Esk-Ironz museum. “I found this photoshoot to be particularly memorable because it was just so quirky and so surprisingly interesting. My favourite photoshoots overall would be the projects with artists – I like seeing how they apply their creativity and how they engage with their creative spaces or studios.”

Charlotte and her son Finnian

Charlotte says the secret to her photography is to keep looking for the perfect angle alongside care for detail. “I try to find something that is interesting or that other people would find interesting, then use that to drive my focus. You have to get fully immersed in what you are photographing, no matter how you feel.”

So, what truly separates a photographer from someone who can simply take a good photo?

It’s more than just timing or technique; it’s vision, patience and the ability to tell a story without words. Through Charlotte’s lens, everyday scenes become timeless reflections of place and connection. We at LIVING Hawke’s Bay magazine love her work.

Art feature portraits Charlotte has taken for previous artist