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Liz LightOn my ninth birthday my grandmother gave me a book; Peoples of the World. I remember lying on the lounge floor and studying each page, its location map and the pictures of people, in their ethnic costumes, from that area. I knew, then, that I was a global person and that would explore the world and live in different countries. In my gypsy years, from my late teens to my late twenties, I spent six months sailing on a tall ship, travelled Australia’s east coast on a motorbike, worked in a sapphire mine in Australia and in a cheese factory in southern England. I sailed through the Caribbean, worked as a deckhand on yachts in France and Spain and backpacked through Central America. I mixed the world with time in New Zealand and serious study and have an MA in history and English. I also followed my passion for photography and completed numerous courses on the topic. Finally, when I was well into my thirties, I had the skills to make a living as a photojournalist. There are two countries that obsess me. The first is New Zealand, my homeland, a place that I love with all my heart. I have had hundreds of New Zealand stories published, over the years, and am particularly interested in conservation, hiking and the outdoors. I delight in the detail of what is close to home, north of Auckland; the bush, birds, beaches and shiny sea. And also love road trips and exploring the thousands of nooks and crannies of this physically stunning country. India is the other country that I keep returning to. India has what New Zealand has not; an ancient history, extraordinary heritage architecture, a long tradition of craft and textiles, millions of people and an extraordinary diversity of language, customs and culture. I have visited India many times and have more journeys planned, unfolding layers in this exotic, diverse and deeply fascinating place. I never imagined that Kolkata and dirty old Delhi would become favorite cities but they have. My dedication to my job has been rewarded by winning numerous awards for both writing and photography over the years.
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