Photographic journey back in time

Nellie Millard poses for a portrait in her wedding gown.

A new photography exhibition featuring portraits taken by the Millard Studio opens at Tairāwhiti Museum tomorrow taking viewers on a journey back to Gisborne in the early 1900s.

Edward Arthur Millard established and operated a photographic studio in Gisborne from 1915 until his untimely death in 1933. Evidence of his fine camera skills are found among a few surviving prints in the museum’s collection.

Glass plates, negatives and hand-coloured prints — long thought destroyed — were found and donated to the museum. Working through this material, a story unfolded of the life and trials of the talented Millard family.

“The large prints have arrived back from the printers ready to be hung for the exhibition,” says Tairāwhiti Museum photography curator Dudley Meadows.

“Seeing these large prints for the first time reminds me of how strong the portraits are. I am expecting those attending the exhibition will be hit by the same impressive strength.”

It became evident that many wonderful images were made after the death of Edward. His wife Nellie, five daughters and one son, all took up the studio work under the name of the Millard Studio.

“There are over 100 photographs and some paintings packed into this exhibition. I don’t think one visit will satisfy anyone,” Mr Meadows says.

The Millard Studio exhibition displays many fine portraits taken in the early 1900s — costumes of the time, significant locals and groups are reprinted in large format to show their glamour and detail.