Photographic Memory

In the 1960s Bernard Woods, pictured here with his dog Kelly, took over New Plymouth-based commercial photography firm Swainson’s Studios, and ran the business – under the name Bernard Woods Studio – until the 1980s when his daughter took over. His legacy as a photographer is preserved in Puke Ariki’s Swainson/Woods Collection, which comprises approximately 110,000 negatives. From weddings to individual portraits, family photographs to candid events, Bernard saw it all. This photograph captures Bernard out from behind the camera, posing with a beloved pet, just like many of his subjects did.