Laurence Aberhart was born in Nelson in 1949, and since 1983 has lived and worked in Russell, Bay of Islands. He has been at the forefront of New Zealand photography since the late 1970s, and is recognised as a major international figure. His photographs have been exhibited widely in New Zealand, Australia and elsewhere, and significant holdings of his work are to be found in public galleries on both sides of the Tasman. Major solo exhibitions include the Stedelijik Museum Amsterdam in 2002, the Centre for Contemporary Photography, Melbourne, Australia, in 2005, City Gallery Wellington and touring, 2007-2009. His landmark publication Aberhart (VUP 2007) features full-page reproductions of 240 of his major photographs.