Award-winning photographer Bob Tulloch’s favourite space has been his deck, particularly one overlooking Omanu Beach.

He misses the convivial atmosphere his deck created, where family and friends could barbecue and laugh together.

Nowadays, he has a small patio, so a visit to his son James’ extensive deck at Omanu allows the grand memories to return.

James and Barbara, along with Bob’s grandchildren, are carrying on the tradition of welcoming hospitality. An interesting change is Barbara’s parents, Lu and Bill Barron, who are originally from Iowa, USA, have become NZ residents. Bill is a dab hand at barbecuing a rack of lamb, while enjoying a Central Otago Pinot Noir.

In 2015, Bob was honoured in the 10th Annual Black and White Spider Awards, with his black-and-white image Friends unite, a poignant moment caught on his camera. Well-known for his portraits and Bay of Plenty scenes, he established his photography business in Tauranga in 1975.

Bob Tulloch has been a photographer in the Bay of Plenty for many years.

He’s had a long-standing involvement with the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography, achieving Master of Photography status and receiving numerous awards. And he’s also judged at national and international level for 25 years.

Bob has a sense of picking up the baton from renowned Tauranga photographer Alf Rendell and continuing to tell the social and cultural history of Tauranga through his photographs.

He reflects on the opening of the Kaimai tunnel, nine mayoral photos, and photographing personalities like Mary Dillon, Prue Gooch, Jane Barr, Jim Thomson, Winston Peters, Bob Addison, Bob Owens, Susan Harrison-Tustain, Sylvia Ashton Warner, and Lynley Dodd.

“Photographs of roads and bridges, and the Ruahini Canal project. Buildings that have now gone.

“One of my favourite pictures is from way back. I had a sort of re-enactment with a waka coming into the shoreline.”

A new book celebrating five decades of change is Bob’s latest project.