To Save a Forest

Ian Macdonald, born Auckland, New Zealand 1949. First gained prominence in 1975 with his photographs of a whale stranding on Auckland’s Muriwai Beach. Worked as an Exhibitions Officer at the Auckland City Art Gallery, then founded Real Pictures photographic laboratory and gallery (1978 -1989). Initiated documentary show and book, By Batons and Barbed Wire, on the protest against South Africa’s Springbok Rugby Tour of NZ 1981. Photographs featured in seminal 1984 book, To Save a Forest: Whirinaki, helped convince NZ government to cease all logging of native forests in public ownership. Contracted to British Broadcasting Corporation as stills photographer in 1998 for ‘Walking with Dinosaurs’ and ‘Walking with Beasts’ television series, for which he travelled extensively, especially in the Americas. Founded Matakana Pictures gallery (2005-7). Worked as computer programmer specialising in marketing analysis software for much of his professional life and is a leading practitioner of the latest digital printing techniques in NZ. He was featured in the exhibition `To Save a Forest….Photographs by leading New Zealand conservationists: Martin Hill, Ian Macdonald and Craig Potton,’ curated by John B Turner for the 2014 Pingyao International Photography Festival.

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