Some of the world’s best photographers will literally be up in lights at this year’s Auckland Festival of Photography.

The 6^th annual festival has attracted an exhibition from the internationally renowned Magnum Photography Agency. ‘Magnum  Light Nights’ will see the work of five nominee Magnum photographers projected onto city buildings in a free public display.  The Magnum exhibition headlines a staggering 64 shows in this year’s month long festival which starts on 29th May 2009.  

Festival organiser Julia Durkin says ‘Magnum Light Nights’ is a real coup.  “It’s a rare opportunity for New Zealand to have a Magnum exhibition and we’re thrilled to present it as a highlight of the 2009 Festival.  We jumped at the opportunity when Magnum approached us” says Julia.

The featured photographers offer a diverse and fascinating glimpse at the world from the war in Afghanistan to life inside a maximum security prison in Cape Town and into the inner world of two adolescent girls in Argentina.

Magnum was founded in 1947 as a photographer’s collective and it has gone on to document humanity at its best and worst always keeping the experience of the individual in sharp focus.  There are only 79 Magnum photographers in the world, with fewer than two photographers being added to the prestigious group each year. The process of becoming a Magnum photographer is highly selective and the featured photographers in this exhibition have all been nominated for membership.

Magnum Light Nights opens the Auckland Festival of Photography on 30^th May from 6pm. Viewers will see the images projected onto the North Shore City Environments building in Huron Street. From the 2^nd through to the 4^th of June the exhibition moves to the heart of the city, and the façade of the New Gallery, Auckland Art Gallery in Wellesley street for the “BIG Little City Light Nights”..

The full schedule of festival exhibitions was announced at a special launch on April 16. The full programme is online at: http://www.photographyfestival.org.nz/programme/index.cfm

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Magnum Light Night Featured photographers:-

Event Details

Magnum Light Nights in association with North Shore City Council

Dates – 30^th- 31^st May

North Shore City Environments, Car Park, Huron Street, Takapuna.

BIG Little City Light Nights in association with Heart of the City

Dates  2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th June

Venue  -  Façade of The New Gallery. Auckland Art Gallery on Wellesley Street