Richard Hopkins

Like so many New Zealanders, Hopkins feels a strong connection with our surrounding land and sea scapes. His photography communicates his vision of the natural world. He reflects on not only the permanence of land but also on the impermanence of the life upon it.

Many of Hopkins’ images reflect specific locations - a record of the permanent forms that surround him. Born in Hawera, and growing up under the shadow of Mount Taranaki it is no surprise that Hopkins is drawn to documenting both land and sea - scapes that will be around infinitely longer than he will.

In contrast to these images of intransience, however, Hopkins’ also hopes to capture the fleeting. His sea and nature studies reflect a moment in time, a piece of a journey, a record of progress and life.

Hopkins has always been fascinated with the natural world. Completing a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology at Canterbury University, he went on to become a Dive Instructor. This interest with the underwater world, and underwater photography, led Hopkins to complete a Certificate of Photography at WITT (New Plymouth).

This attraction to not only his environment but also to documenting it, led Hopkins to Film School (Wellington), where he completed a Certificate in Film and Television Production.

Hopkins spent time working for the Department of Conservation in the Egmont National Park before taking his current position with the Ministry of Fisheries. This position has allowed him to further investigate the relationship between us, our land and our sea. Spending up to six weeks at sea at a time, Hopkins has begun to document seabirds. This is in response to the isolation of a boat on the sea. Hopkins feels a connection with their presence “out there.” He identifies seabirds as “..a link to the land, in the ocean” - a link to home when home is far away.