Your probably unaware, but I come from a family of photographers.
My father was a skilled scenic photographer in the 50's and 70's. He loved New Zealand so much, and decided to photograph it after enjoying many mountain climbs with his best friend Ron Keam, Scientist and University Professor.
Professor Ron Keam was Associate Professor of Physics at The University of Auckland, as well as author of the magnificent Tarawera: The Volcanic Eruption of 10 June 1886. An enthusiastic historian, Keam had a life-long fascination with the mystery of geothermal activity and the history associated with Mt Tarawera, its eruption and the active geothermal districts that surround it. Over the course of his professional career Keam accumulated a large and significant collection of photographs, books, postcards, pamphlets, manuscripts and ephemera focusing on Tarawera, the 1886 eruption and the surrounding geothermal area.
Gordon, my father started his photographic career by photographing Auckland homes, mostly around the Mt Albert, Mt Eden area. And then started creating greeting cards, calendars and postcards.
He started a souvenir wholesaling business surrounding scenic photography.
This is one of his scenic booklets.
Ngauruhoe in eruption was one of his career high coverages.
My father employed artists to hand colour his photographs, and then he sold them as artpieces for homes.
Night view of Mount Ngauruhoe erupting, taken by G B Scott, about 500 yards from the summit, on the 22nd of September, 1954.
These postcards are on show now at Te Papa Museum in Wellington
And check out these so 70's cool scenic playing cards.
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