• Mike. “Family is what gets me up in the morning, especially my kids! This is what makes me the happiest. My wife and kids call me an activist, which I guess is true. I like to challenge people, challenge their thinking - especially those who are set in their ways. I’d like to make the world a better place and help others, which is why I’m a part time St John ambulance officer, amongst my two other jobs. The worst thing someone has ever done to me is destroy trust. Trust is so important and when that’s gone, there is nothing left." © Stu Robertson.
    Mike. “Family is what gets me up in the morning, especially my kids! This is what makes me the happiest. My wife and kids call me an activist, which I guess is true. I like to challenge people, challenge their thinking - especially those who are set in their ways. I’d like to make the world a better place and help others, which is why I’m a part time St John ambulance officer, amongst my two other jobs. The worst thing someone has ever done to me is destroy trust. Trust is so important and when that’s gone, there is nothing left." © Stu Robertson.
  • © Stu Robertson.
    © Stu Robertson.
  • © Stu Robertson.
    © Stu Robertson.
  • Jade. Jade “works in parlours” most of the time. Sunshine makes her happy. She likes shopping and gossiping. Sometimes she feels down and out but says that’s all right. She’s mostly happy because she’s surrounded by her friends, even though they fight sometimes and ignore each other. Jade doesn’t care if people think she’s an outcast. The kindest thing anyone ever did for her was to say her lipstick looked nice. She says her dad making her ride a bike to the shop was the worst.
    Jade. Jade “works in parlours” most of the time. Sunshine makes her happy. She likes shopping and gossiping. Sometimes she feels down and out but says that’s all right. She’s mostly happy because she’s surrounded by her friends, even though they fight sometimes and ignore each other. Jade doesn’t care if people think she’s an outcast. The kindest thing anyone ever did for her was to say her lipstick looked nice. She says her dad making her ride a bike to the shop was the worst.
  • © Stu Robertson.
    © Stu Robertson.
  • © Stu Robertson.
    © Stu Robertson.
  • © Stu Robertson.
    © Stu Robertson.
  • Leigh. Leigh is unemployed but recently applied for a job. She says being positive and a “happy go lucky vibe” keeps her going but she’d be proud to earn an income. She loves reading, movies and buying unusual things. Leigh describes herself as an outcast because of her Gothic subculture. She says people are scared of their mortality but she tries to ignore it when they treat her differently. She’s sometimes ignored but doesn’t take it too seriously. People smiling is the kindest thing they do for her. The worst was when friends deserted her after she had a car crash and ended up in a neck brace. © Stu Robertson.
    Leigh. Leigh is unemployed but recently applied for a job. She says being positive and a “happy go lucky vibe” keeps her going but she’d be proud to earn an income. She loves reading, movies and buying unusual things. Leigh describes herself as an outcast because of her Gothic subculture. She says people are scared of their mortality but she tries to ignore it when they treat her differently. She’s sometimes ignored but doesn’t take it too seriously. People smiling is the kindest thing they do for her. The worst was when friends deserted her after she had a car crash and ended up in a neck brace. © Stu Robertson.
  • © Stu Robertson.
    © Stu Robertson.
  • © Stu Robertson.
    © Stu Robertson.
  • © Stu Robertson.
    © Stu Robertson.
  • Alice. Alice was “just cruising around” because she was on holiday. She studies fine arts. She wouldn’t classify herself as an outcast or a fighter but doesn’t necessarily feel like she fits into society. She thought the nicest thing anyone had ever done for her was probably some act of kindness from her mum or dad, but she couldn’t think of anything specific. She couldn’t recall the worst thing anyone had done to her either, but “some people had done some pretty bad things”.
    Alice. Alice was “just cruising around” because she was on holiday. She studies fine arts. She wouldn’t classify herself as an outcast or a fighter but doesn’t necessarily feel like she fits into society. She thought the nicest thing anyone had ever done for her was probably some act of kindness from her mum or dad, but she couldn’t think of anything specific. She couldn’t recall the worst thing anyone had done to her either, but “some people had done some pretty bad things”.
  • © Stu Robertson.
    © Stu Robertson.
  • © Stu Robertson.
    © Stu Robertson.
  • © Stu Robertson.
    © Stu Robertson.
  • Anna. Anna is studying early childhood and has “a couple of side projects making jewellery and stuff”. She’s married to Hideki, a Japanese chef, and they have a son, Noah, who’s running around the beach collecting shells as we chat. Family aside, Anna also loves her two cats. She’s been thinking about happiness a lot lately. She says people search for happiness but it’s really quite simple – you give it to people and get it back. © Stu Robertson.
    Anna. Anna is studying early childhood and has “a couple of side projects making jewellery and stuff”. She’s married to Hideki, a Japanese chef, and they have a son, Noah, who’s running around the beach collecting shells as we chat. Family aside, Anna also loves her two cats. She’s been thinking about happiness a lot lately. She says people search for happiness but it’s really quite simple – you give it to people and get it back. © Stu Robertson.
  • © Stu Robertson.
    © Stu Robertson.
  • © Stu Robertson.
    © Stu Robertson.
  • © Stu Robertson.
    © Stu Robertson.
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100 Portraits by Stu Robertson

29 August 2017

Oftentimes, the greatest obstacle to capturing an intimate, honest, and revealing portrait is right in front of you, acting as a barrier between you and your subject. And this can certainly be the case especially when shooting in close proximity with a DSLR. But for Huawei’s latest campaign, which relied on the talents of renowned New Zealand photographer, Stu Robertson, best known for his global project, Peace in 10,000 Hands, the brief was to photograph 100 people using the new P10+ smartphone, which boasts a Leica lens.

© Stu Robertson.
© Stu Robertson.

The results are impressive and inspiring and reveal what can be done when intimidating gear is not part of the equation. The subjects for the project come from all walks of life: from drug dens in Auckland to Darling Harbour in Sydney, with the portraits telling 100 stories that would otherwise go untold.

Mike. “Family is what gets me up in the morning, especially my kids! This is what makes me the happiest. My wife and kids call me an activist, which I guess is true. I like to challenge people, challenge their thinking - especially those who are set in their ways. I’d like to make the world a better place and help others, which is why I’m a part time St John ambulance officer, amongst my two other jobs. The worst thing someone has ever done to me is destroy trust. Trust is so important and when that’s gone, there is nothing left.
Mike. “Family is what gets me up in the morning, especially my kids! This is what makes me the happiest. My wife and kids call me an activist, which I guess is true. I like to challenge people, challenge their thinking - especially those who are set in their ways. I’d like to make the world a better place and help others, which is why I’m a part time St John ambulance officer, amongst my two other jobs. The worst thing someone has ever done to me is destroy trust. Trust is so important and when that’s gone, there is nothing left." © Stu Robertson.

Robertson was tasked with shooting portraits in Australia and New Zealand, using the P10+ to both capture and edit the images. He met the majority of subjects randomly, wandering the streets at night. His goal: find the most interesting looking people.

 

Jade. Jade “works in parlours” most of the time. Sunshine makes her happy. She likes shopping and gossiping. Sometimes she feels down and out but says that’s all right. She’s mostly happy because she’s surrounded by her friends, even though they fight sometimes and ignore each other. Jade doesn’t care if people think she’s an outcast. The kindest thing anyone ever did for her was to say her lipstick looked nice. She says her dad making her ride a bike to the shop was the worst.
Jade. Jade “works in parlours” most of the time. Sunshine makes her happy. She likes shopping and gossiping. Sometimes she feels down and out but says that’s all right. She’s mostly happy because she’s surrounded by her friends, even though they fight sometimes and ignore each other. Jade doesn’t care if people think she’s an outcast. The kindest thing anyone ever did for her was to say her lipstick looked nice. She says her dad making her ride a bike to the shop was the worst.

Follow this link to see more of the project.

Leigh. Leigh is unemployed but recently applied for a job. She says being positive and a “happy go lucky vibe” keeps her going but she’d be proud to earn an income. She loves reading, movies and buying unusual things. Leigh describes herself as an outcast because of her Gothic subculture. She says people are scared of their mortality but she tries to ignore it when they treat her differently. She’s sometimes ignored but doesn’t take it too seriously. People smiling is the kindest thing they do for her. The worst was when friends deserted her after she had a car crash and ended up in a neck brace. © Stu Robertson.
Leigh. Leigh is unemployed but recently applied for a job. She says being positive and a “happy go lucky vibe” keeps her going but she’d be proud to earn an income. She loves reading, movies and buying unusual things. Leigh describes herself as an outcast because of her Gothic subculture. She says people are scared of their mortality but she tries to ignore it when they treat her differently. She’s sometimes ignored but doesn’t take it too seriously. People smiling is the kindest thing they do for her. The worst was when friends deserted her after she had a car crash and ended up in a neck brace. © Stu Robertson.

About Stuart Robertson

Born 1969, Auckland, New Zealand
Contemporary artist, adventurer and humanitarian, Stuart Robertson melds photography, sculpture, film, symbolism, and social media with cast glass, neon lightboxes and metal fabrication to create stunning large scale art works that speak profoundly to the viewer, causing a confrontation of one’s own preconceptions and an acknowledgement of our similarities in the human condition.

His photographic work has gained momentum internationally photographing the likes of Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu, Demi Moore, Emily Blunt, Danny Devito, Daryl Hannah, Ringo Starr, Brooke Shields, and many others.

© Stu Robertson.
© Stu Robertson.

His current project, Peace in 10,000 Hands, creates a global conversation and ripple effect with more than half a million followers, and growing daily. He draws on the phenomenal power of modern social networks and instant borderless communication that makes mankind more connected than ever before in history.

Robertson has developed and refined his practice over 30 years. His works have become highly collectable and now hang in many established art collections throughout New Zealand, the USA and Europe as his profile continues to gain significant momentum.

The artist’s passion for seeing the world through an alternate view runs deep. His grandfathers were both prolific photographers with their own darkrooms and camera collections. Their love for the medium underpins the artist's own obsession.

© Stu Robertson.
© Stu Robertson.