Arno Gasteiger tells stories with photographs.

He specialises in exploring contemporary issues and presenting them in a thoughtful body of work.

He credits his curiosity and love of adventure to his upbringing in a small village in the Austrian Alps surrounded by snow, rock climbers and artists. His move to New Zealand coincided with the birth of its most innovative photographic publication, New Zealand Geographic Magazine. He became its primary photographer.

Arno produced more than 100 assignments with the magazine, which took him to all parts of New Zealand and the South Pacific.  His work covered subject matter as diverse as the effect of global warming on the Tokelau Islands to the state funeral of Sir Edmund Hillary.

His geographic grasp of New Zealand and the South Pacific is unsurpassed in photographic circles. With this knowledge, plus his eye for intimate and poignant human detail, he was quickly noticed by international magazines and commercial companies in Europe and the USA.

Over the last 15 years Arno has specialised in location photography for commercial and editorial clients.   These include GEO (Germany, France, Finland, Spain), Spiegel, Australian Geographic, Smithsonian (USA), Merian (Germany), The New York Times, Rexel, Fletcher Challenge and Tourism New Zealand.

Books are Arno's favourite medium for exploring ideas and presenting a coherent body of work. Arno is the co-author of nine books, one of which, CENTRAL, won the illustrative category of New Zealand's prestigious 2004 Montana Book Awards. His work is widely exhibited in his new home of New Zealand as well as in Australia, Germany and France.

Arno lives with his family in the subtropical rainforest of Titirangi, Auckland. When he is not working on location you may find him cycling in the Waitakere Ranges, chopping wood, gardening or building something.

2010 - 2014. Member of judging panel 'NZ Geographic Photographer of the Year.'

2013. Acquisition of large format prints for new Elective Surgery Centre, Auckland.

2011. Musee Du Fjord, Canada, Contribution to exhibition on the Deep Sea.

2007. Espace culture, Marseille: Exhibition 'Ta Moko', Maori tattooing.

2006/ 07. Museum of World Cultures, Frankfurt: Exhibition 'Ta Moko.'

2005. Pataka Museum of Arts and Culture: Exhibition 'Tokelau Islands.'

2004. Winner, illustrative category, Montana Book Awards.

2001/ 02. Museum of Auckland: 'Taku ara, taku mana', exhibition on Maori tattooing.

2002. Sothebys/ New York: Represented in photographic art auction.

2000. Sarjeant Gallery/ New Zealand: 'Update // The Active Eye', digital group exhibition.

2000. Te Papa/ Museum of New Zealand: Exhibition 'On Location.'

2000. Australian Museum: Contributor to exhibition 'Body Art.'

1999. Acquisition of prints for permanent collection by Rautenstrauch - Joest Museum in Cologne/ Germany.

1997. American Express Photographer of the Year.

1995. Cathay Pacific Photographer of the Year.