Loaned from National Library of New Zealand, this exhibition showcased a selection of 60 portraits by prominent Whanganui photographer William James Harding, from the collection held by the Alexander Turnbull Library.

William Harding’s subjects come to us with such startling immediacy that we find ourselves looking, it seems, at someone we might know.

How did Harding achieve this? Partly it was the result of using glass plates, which enabled quicker exposure times and produced sharp, very detailed negatives. Harding, a consummate craftsman, was able to extract the best results from this new technology. 

Harding also established a true rapport with his sitters. Most would never have been photographed before, and having their portrait taken was an act of faith. They hoped to be shown in their best light, for they knew the image would be permanent. Harding diligently applied his art to reveal the person behind the formality of appearances. In the setting of his studio, his subjects are luminous.