Jane Ussher

Jane Ussher MNZM (born 1953) is a New Zealand photographer, best known for her portrait photography work. She has been the chief photographer of the New Zealand Listener for over 25 years, and is most notable for her portraiture.

Exhibitions and publications

Ussher gained acclaim for her 1984 exhibition of New Zealand sporting personalities, The Olympians.^[1]

Many of Ussher's portraits were collated and published in the book Jane Ussher Portraits, launched in 2004 to coincide with the Listener's 65th anniversary. The book includes many portraits originally published in the Listener of notable New Zealanders, ranging from sport stars such as Jonah Lomu to actors such as Russell Crowe.^[2]

Ussher was invited to go to Antarctica with the Antarctic New Zealand 2008/09 Media Programme, where she photographed the historical huts in Antarctica which served as expedition bases for Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton's pioneering expeditions.^[3][4] A series of photographs from this trip were published in the book Still Life: Inside the Antarctic Huts of Scott and Shackleton. The book was launched by New Zealand Prime Minister John Key^[5] in October 2010.

Personal life

In 2005, Jane was admitted to Auckland City Hospital with serious injuries after being hit by a motor vehicle while crossing Ponsonby Rd.^[6]

Awards

Ussher won the Best Portrait award at the 2006 Qantas Media Awards.

In 2009 Jane received Insignia of a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to photography.^[7] She has been inducted into the Massey University hall of fame, ^[8] and her book 'Coast a New Zealand Journey' won the illustrated non-fiction prize at the 2014 NZ post book awards. ^[9]

Jane Ussher, NZ Photographer

References