A groundbreaking new photography collection featuring works by 40 contemporary artists from Australia and New Zealand reveals compelling narratives about identity, heritage, and landscape on both sides of the Tasman Sea. The collection, titled "Exposure: Contemporary photographers in Australia and New Zealand," edited by Amber Cresswell Bell and published by Thames & Hudson, showcases revelatory moments captured through diverse photographic perspectives.

The exhibition prominently features the work of Michael Cook, an Australian photographic artist of Bidjara heritage from southwestern Queensland, whose "Acceptance" series challenges conventional historical narratives. Cook's powerful imagery interrogates alternative histories by imagining scenarios where Indigenous people constitute the majority of Australia's population while non-Indigenous Australians represent the minority. His piece "Individuation" from 2024-2025 exemplifies this provocative approach to reimagining Australian social dynamics.

Several artists in the collection explore themes of displacement and cultural identity through deeply personal lenses. Atong Atem, born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and now based in Melbourne, creates self-portraits that examine familial histories as allegories for larger global narratives. Her 2021 work "Pink Face" demonstrates her commitment to addressing representation issues while exploring the intersection of history and mythology. Similarly, Derek Henderson, originally from Napier, New Zealand, and currently living in Sydney, presents "The Terrible Boredom of Paradise" series from 2005, which contemplates fundamental questions about human existence through landscapes marked by distance and nostalgia.

Indigenous voices feature prominently throughout the collection, offering authentic perspectives on contemporary First Nations experiences. Brenda L Croft, from the Gurindji/Malngin/Mudburra peoples of the Northern Territory's Victoria River region, presents "Tristan (Dharawal/Yuin)" from her "Naabami: Barangaroo" series. As an artist, curator, lecturer, and writer born in Perth, Croft draws inspiration from her ancestors and relatives, stating her mission to "be a strong advocate and role model for younger women and girls coming through our communities."

Naomi Hobson, a southern Kaantju/Umpila woman from Coen in Cape York Peninsula, contributes "River Mermaid" from 2019, using photography to tell untold stories about Indigenous youth. Hobson emphasizes her desire for people to see Indigenous young people as "fun, playful, smart, savvy, proud, adventurous and witty," explaining that "these are our narratives, stories that only First Nations people can tell about themselves, told through the lens of a First Nations person."

The collection also showcases innovative approaches to self-representation and performance art through photography. Dr. Christian Thompson AO, known for his large-scale photographs featuring himself adorned with native flora, stones, and objects, presents "The Shortest Day (Flower Wall)" from 2024. His Bidjara/Chinese-Australian heritage serves as his artistic muse, with his background in sculpture and textiles informing his strong relationship to body, materials, and performance. Sydney-based artist Gerwyn Davies offers "Saguaro" from 2024, examining portraiture through what he describes as "queer photographic self-representation," involving elaborate costume construction that transforms his body into distorted sculptural forms.

Women's experiences and motherhood receive thoughtful treatment through several artists' work. Lisa Sorgini, born in Adelaide and now residing in northern New South Wales, contributes "Mother 41," drawing from her own experiences to convey complex narratives about women and mothers in intimate settings. Her work aims to reveal "everyday details that we miss because we are too busy longing for something better," while highlighting society's insufficient attention to women's care work and motherhood. Petrina Hicks, a Sydney-based artist working in analog photography, presents "Hercules" from 2021, creating large-scale photographs that draw from mythology, fairytales, and historical art imagery to reframe contemporary female experiences.

The collection demonstrates the rich diversity of contemporary photography emerging from the region, with artists employing various techniques and conceptual approaches. Trent Parke, whose work appears through Magnum Photos, contributes "Motel Pacific Highway, NSW" from 2006, representing his lifelong exploration of light's transformative power. Parke believes that "light changes everything" and "turns the ordinary into the magical," working exclusively within traditional darkroom techniques without digital manipulation. His approach creates what he describes as a "dreamworld, where things are not really what they seem to be, and fiction is constructed out of reality."

Multicultural perspectives enrich the collection's scope, with artists like Lisa Reihana and Wani Toaishara bringing their unique cultural backgrounds to their photographic practice. Reihana, born and working in Auckland, draws heavily on her Māori and English heritage in "Purple Reign" from 2024, blending fantasy and reality with cinematic finesse. She gravitates toward images that "infer a deeper story that is not immediately obvious" while admiring those who "speak truth to power." Toaishara, a Congolese artist working in Melbourne, presents "Zahra Haji Ali" from 2023, exploring the relationships and dialogues between sitter, image maker, and environment, focusing on "the stories that happen in that middle space" rather than the final image's reception.

This comprehensive collection represents a significant documentation of contemporary photographic art from Australia and New Zealand, offering viewers insight into the diverse voices, perspectives, and technical approaches that define the region's current artistic landscape. Through their varied explorations of identity, heritage, landscape, and human experience, these 40 photographers collectively create what the collection's title suggests: deeper stories that reveal the complexity and richness of life across both nations.