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All aboard please, photographs by Grant Maiden, Wellington, New Zealand.

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Amazing to think it was over 20 years since the ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’ premiere in 2003, when over a 100,000 fans packed the streets. Wellington City was buzzing again on Saturday with the same energy for the Australasian premiere of Avatar: Fire and Ash. I was lucky enough to photograph the red carpet back then and got to do the same again this time for 20th Century Studios and The Walt Disney Company, capturing director James Cameron and all the talented cast and crew- this time with a flaming pyrotechnic backdrop. Great to see Wellington back in celebration mode!

Avatar: Fire and Ash,Wellington,Premiere,Australasian Premiere,James Cameron, Jack Champion,Cliff Curtis, Sam Worthington
Avatar: Fire and Ash,Wellington,Premiere,Australasian Premiere,James Cameron, Suzy Amis Cameron
Avatar: Fire and Ash,Wellington,Premiere,Australasian Premiere,Sam Worthington
Avatar: Fire and Ash,Wellington,Premiere,Australasian Premiere,Cliff Curtis
Avatar: Fire and Ash,Wellington,Premiere,Australasian Premiere,Jack Champion
Avatar: Fire and Ash,Wellington,Premiere,Australasian Premiere,
Avatar: Fire and Ash,Wellington,Premiere,Australasian Premiere,Jamie Landau,
Avatar: Fire and Ash,Wellington,Premiere,Australasian Premiere, Weta FX, Joe Letteri
Avatar: Fire and Ash,Wellington,Premiere,Australasian Premiere
Avatar: Fire and Ash,Wellington,Premiere,Australasian Premiere, Brigitte York
Avatar: Fire and Ash,Wellington,Premiere,Australasian Premiere, Jamie Landau
Avatar: Fire and Ash,Wellington,Premiere,Australasian Premiere
Avatar: Fire and Ash,Wellington,Premiere,Australasian Premiere,James Cameron,Brigitte York,Jamie Landau, Rae Sanchini
Avatar: Fire and Ash,Wellington,Premiere,Australasian Premiere

Here’s a series of documentary photos I shot in China exploring the cultural phenomenon known as Hanfu photography. Also known as “Guachao” or “National Trend” photography, the picturesque Hunan town of Fenghuang is one of China’s epicenters, and its streets and riverside are awash with participating domestic tourists.

This hugely popular activity is kind of part fashion spectacle, part cosplay adventure and part love letter to 5,000 years of culture. Every day, thousands rent elaborate traditional outfits and after professional hair and makeup, spend hours striking dramatic poses in the ancient cobblestone alleys and stone bridges chasing the perfect shot for Tik Tok and Xiaohongshu (China’s Instagram).

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