With 60 years of experience behind the photography lens, Colin Berry is one of the 2016 inductees to the Addington Harness Hall of Fame.
Christchurch born and bred, Colin lives with his wife Margaret in the Christchurch suburb of Hornby, close to Riccarton Park racecourse and the former Wigram Air Force base, once venue of the Plumpton Park racecourse in earlier days. There is a family link to racing in that his grandfather raced a few good gallopers.
Colin’s photography CV would include :
- beginning his career during a three month period of compulsory military training at the Ohakea Air Force base (near Palmerston North) as photography class entrant
- commenced his photographic career at Addington in 1956 as assistant to Gerry Matthews the photo finish operator and in 1958 progressed to the photo finishes
- worked in a colour lab printing photos for other Christchurch photographers
- for three years, provided race strip finishes for Wilson and Horton publications, Best Bets and Sporting Life
- 1964 sent to Melbourne by non racing Auckland publication The Weekly News to photograph Polo Prince’s successful Melbourne Cup victory
- 1965 Colin attended the Photokina Expo in Germany accompanying 40 other photographers to an exhibition of photographic equipment
- in mid 1960’s, established Colin Berry Photography concentrating on racehorse photography assisted by his late father Laurie who took home turn photos that were popular in earlier racing publications and made frames for Colin’s photos
- 1970’s, Colin’s business consisted almost entirely of racehorse photography and other equine subjects
- son Ajay commenced his photographic career with Colin during the 1991/1992 season
- joint partners in Race Images Christchurch Limited with son Ajay, established as photographers of choice at all South Island standard bred/thoroughbred meetings north of Dunedin (including the West Coast), images regularly provided for HARNESSED/HRNZ website, photographing stallions/yearlings (promotional and sales entrants) and studs, HRNZ Awards etc
- visited Sydney’s Harold Park on the evening of Christian Cullen’s 1998 Miracle Mile win
- worksite/office moved as a result of the 2010/2011 Christchurch Earthquakes from ground floor of the now demolished Public Stand complex at Addington Raceway, to a building to the right of the Green Shed in the old stabling area. Race night location is in the foyer of the Metropolitan Stand
Colin Berry, camera in hand
Among many changes seen in the business by Colin over the years would be :
- technology changes since the box brownie including from the days of developing films in a dark room through to the modern digital age - digital revolution of early 2000’s - digital cameras, desk top computers and laptops of the 21st century
- local Christchurch meetings (Addington/Riccarton), uploading the latest race finishes to the website gallery between races
- immediate e-mailing of images to newspapers and publications with print versions available following day
- digital technology makes meeting deadlines much easier, the quality of the product has been enhanced (sharper and cleaner images) together with improvements in efficiency and productivity
- digital technology comes at considerable capital cost - camera, lenses, printers
- development and progressive increase in the number of syndicates owning and racing horses has had a profound effect on the Berry‘s photography business. Smaller syndicates (4 - 6 members), all members want a photo, larger syndicates not always the case
- built up an extensive gallery of photos going back over 30 years.
Among Colin’s harness racing favourites are :
- tracks : Addington, his home track/base for the people and closeness to the action etc with a special fondness for the annual one day meeting at Kaikoura
- best harness horses seen : Christian Cullen rates very highly with Colin being a fan of the champion racehorse and stallion’s impressive physique, his “posing” aspect and overall presence. Fortunate to have seen several champion pacers during his career such as Cardigan Bay, Young Quinn, Christian Cullen and trotters the likes of No Response and Scotch Tar
Christian Cullen 1998 NZ Cup
- memorable days : 1961 NZFFA at Addington on Show Day when Cardigan Bay led all the way whilst the Public Stand at the Raceway was engulfed in flames; the 1965 Interdominion Pacing Final at Forbury Park that produced the only ever dead heat between Jay Ar and Robin Dundee - the two horses were wide apart on the track and Colin is proud of his resulting finish photo. Any NZ Cup Day despite the heavy workloads involved
1961 Addington Fire; 1961 NZFFA Addington Raceway
1965 ID Pacing Final deadheat - Robin Dundee and Jay Ar, Disband third
- memorable days : 1961 NZFFA at Addington on Show Day when Cardigan Bay led all the way whilst the Public Stand at the Raceway was engulfed in flames; the 1965 Interdominion Pacing Final at Forbury Park that produced the only ever dead heat between Jay Ar and Robin Dundee - the two horses were wide apart on the track and Colin is proud of his resulting finish photo. Any NZ Cup Day despite the heavy workloads involved
photo : “pocket rocket“, Courage Under Fire taken at Nevele R Stud where the young stallion is running directly at him in his stallion paddock
Courage Under Fire
Colin’s interests include involvement in harness racing syndicates, reading science fiction and regular overseas trips with his wife.
As will be attested to by all of Colin’s many clients over a considerable number of years, he is always a pleasant and obliging gentleman to deal with. Do retirement plans beckon for Colin?? After sixty years in the photography business, one suspects not just yet although an easing back in duties seems likely.
It seems logical that the name of Berry will remain at the forefront of racehorse photography for many years to come particularly at Addington Raceway and many other South Island tracks. Colin Berry will no doubt continue in some capacity with his son Ajay to uphold a proud family photography tradition. Colin Berry, a well deserved new entrant to the Addington Harness Hall of Fame for his service to the harness racing industry.
October 2016