The Vic Theatre, Devonport

Location

Devonport

In collaboration with

The Vic Theatre

Back in 2019, I began a self-commissioned project photographing some of the historic architecture around the village of Devonport in Auckland. At the time, it was simply a personal exercise - a way to explore and document the character of these buildings before they changed, and to sharpen my approach to architectural photography. Looking back now, it was also one of the early seeds that would eventually grow into my Viewfinder series.

One of the standout subjects was The Vic Theatre & Cinema, sitting at the northern end of the main street. The Vic has been a fixture in the Devonport community for decades, and for me personally, it was my local cinema as a kid. Photographing it felt like revisiting a piece of my own history.

The team at The Vic were kind enough to let me document the space inside and out. Shooting the exterior was a chance to play with the building’s art deco façade against the lively streetscape, while the interiors presented a different challenge entirely — dark spaces, intricate detailing, and very specific lighting. Careful exposure work was essential to capture the theatre’s vibrant colour palette and layered architectural details without losing the atmosphere.

This shoot became more than just an architectural record; it was an opportunity to connect past and present - to appreciate how design, community, and personal history can intersect in a single building. In many ways, this early project shaped the way I approach my work today.