Zone 1 at the Feilding Art Center - July 2026

Racheal Young – Light in Bloom

Light in Bloom invites viewers into a world where photography and painting seem to merge. Feilding‑based photographer Racheal Young uses light as her brush, transforming everyday flowers into artworks that appear delicately water‑painted. By photographing blooms from her own garden and those of friends, she creates images that encourage viewers to pause, look closer, and question what they’re seeing. The joy comes not only from the beauty of the flowers themselves, but from the moment of realisation - it’s a photograph.

Racheal’s journey into photography began after an arm injury forced her to step away from teaching and painting. Determined to keep creating, she pursued a Diploma in Photography through UCOL Manawatū, earning the prestigious NZIPP New Zealand Student Photographer of the Year award in both 2024 and 2025. As her skills developed, she discovered she was still painting - only now with light instead of pigment.

Light in Bloom showcases this evolving passion, offering a collection of luminous, painterly photographs that celebrate simplicity, beauty, and the quiet magic found in everyday flowers.