Women facing their fears through the lens

Press Release

18 June 2010

Women facing their fears through the lens

Last night TVNZ’s 20/20 focussed on the appalling track record of violence perpetrated against women and children in this country.

The women featured took inordinately brave steps to talk about the damage done to their lives and their children’s lives. And they’re going further.

Underway is an extraordinary work of art. Bev Short, a feisty and award-winning photographer, is assembling a collection of images of Kiwi women. They are women who are notable for their life choices, their profession, their unusual foibles, what they aspire to be and where they have already made their mark.

The women in the 20/20 episode bravely elected to bare their souls before Bev’s lens in the hope that doing so will encourage more women to summon up the courage to ask for help, to get out, to finally accept that it is not OK to live with violence.

Eventually the image of will be part of a collection of evocative and provocative images which will form a book currently titled All Woman and an exhibition – both will chronicle their dreams and hopes in images and their own words.

Since Bev conceived her idea of a book she’s been working hard to secure funding to complete her project. Importantly the New Zealand National Portrait Gallery has stated they would like to exhibit Bev's finished project - initially in Wellington and then to tour the country. This is a prestigious honour and now the pressure is on to complete the project.

Bev has had some backing from the highest quarters – for example, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs who have given her their unequivocal support. Such an endorsement at the highest levels has been a great boost to Bev and also to the women she is featuring.

To complete the project Bev needs a helping hand in the way of funding or in-kind support (travel is her greatest expense). There are many and varied opportunities for companies and individuals to be part of an amazing project. It’s a story of how Kiwi women live, what they dream of and how far they are prepared to go to stamp their mark on the world.

For further information regarding the All Woman project please do not hesitate to contact either Bev on 0212345625or Sue Hamilton on sue@hamiltonconcepts.co.nz.

Sue Hamilton

For Bev Short

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‘A room full of broken hearts’ – image as featured on 20/20

Bev Short

Bev Short is an award winning portrait photographer who really likes to get under the skin of her subjects. Before the lens even emerges from its case, Bev quizzes and examines every facet of the person before she captures them on film.

Bev has long been fascinated by all the things that make someone tick and how on earth she can represent that multifaceted persona in one single portrait. She’s come to the conclusion that it’s not possible to ‘get it

in one take’. Rather, she helps people explore their other dimensions in a variety of situations and in a number of stories.

Bev has loved photography since she held her first Kodak as a child in Scotland. Family albums are jammed with smudged prints and fading Polaroids. But a lifelong passion fortunately became her career. Like

everyone in professional photography, she’s done her fair share of weddings and corporate pack shots both in the UK and now in New Zealand (her home of eight years). All Woman announces her

determination to get her teeth into a truly inspired project. It’s her idea, her passion, and uses her wealth of experience and creativity.

She’s a busy working woman, in the ‘out of the home’ working sense. She’s a mother, a wife, a business owner and a taxi service.

"I have met with Bev several times and like and trust her a lot, and her work is beautiful. I will be photographed by her in several weeks; probably in running shoes and an evening gown, showing my dual personality!“ Kathrine Switzer - quote from an email sent to Lisa Tamati about Bev’s project
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