I’m a street photographer and storyteller, and I advocate for living in a way that supports genuine wellbeing and helps create a kinder world. My work is shaped by the intergenerational and institutional trauma that affected my family, and by the long journey it’s taken to heal, reconnect, and speak openly about what so many people carry in silence.
Before photography, my life took a different path. My passion was sport, and in my late twenties I represented New Zealand at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in China. In my thirties I earned university qualifications and became a mother.
Even with those achievements, I remained deeply affected by the trauma that had reverberated through generations. My grandfather’s time in psychiatric institutions, and the mistreatment my brothers lived through in a Salvation Army home, were never spoken about.
Photography arrived at a low point. I began by photographing nature — bees on dandelions, birds, flowers — as a way to try and capture beauty. Eventually I moved into street photography, drawn to everyday life in all its struggle, humour, colour, beauty, and absurdity.
Being out in the world and photographing people helped me to reconnect. This reconnection gave me the courage to tell parts of my own story. Using creative expression to reclaim my voice and make sense of the past has been a vital part of my healing.
My journey to wellbeing has in no way been linear. Like many who’ve lived through trauma, my nervous system was deeply impacted by it. Somatic work helped me learn how to rest, breathe, and feel safe in my own body.
Through my work, I try to honour courage, understanding, and hope.
by Lynne Warring