Shaun Higgins and Jessica Morgan from Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum present at NDF25.

Abstract: The exhibition  A Different Light : First Photographs of Aotearoa unites collections and expertise from three major institutions—Auckland Museum, Hocken Collections in Otago, and Alexander Turnbull Library in Wellington. This unique collaboration combines significant photographic archives, allowing each partner to contribute unique insights, resources, and historical artifacts that highlight New Zealand’s early photographic history. The exhibition allows original 19th-century photographs to reach diverse audiences by touring across the three venues.

Aligned with the touring nature of the exhibition, A Different Light includes a versatile digital photo interactive to deepen visitor engagement. This experience invites audiences to step into a 19th-century portrait studio where they hold still to capture and customise their own historical-style photograph. Using a touchscreen, visitors can add colours and select frames, all inspired by exhibition daguerreotypes, ambrotypes and prints. The final image can be emailed as a keepsake, merging traditional portraiture with digital customisation. The interactive has been crafted inhouse at Auckland Museum with adaptability in mind, allowing it to seamlessly integrate into each venue.