PHOTOGRAPHY is more than just a skill or talent. It is a passion that needs constant fulfillment.
Today, we take a look into the journey of Pita Simpson – the man behind one of the most outstanding photography media pages in Fiji known as ‘Pitas Picture’.
If you’re active on Facebook, you would have come across one of Pita’s handiwork, particularly the photos he took of the Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua ladies.
Originally from Nautoloulou village in Wainunu, Bua, Pita was raised in his village and also completed his primary education there. Born to parents who were farmers and fishermen, Pita was the middle sibling of three boys.
After completing his primary education, he moved to Savusavu Secondary School where he did Year 9 to Year 12.
It was while he was in high school that he received his first camera, which was later to be one of his most treasured possessions. “I used to see town people traveling to our village and they brought their cameras with them when they came for holidays or visited to the village.
“I was in form three or four when someone brought me a camera, a digital Powershot camera. “That’s where I started to really love taking photographs.
“I used that camera for about two years then it got damaged.”
After leaving school after Year 12, Pita went back to the village to help his parents eke out a living. “That time the only main source of income for my family was to cut copra,” Mr Simpson said. ”
However, my dad also went fishing and whatever he caught was sold in the village. We also did a little bit of grog farming.” In 2017, ginger farming was introduced into Nautoloulou village by Ranadi Plantation from Navua.
“They were doing exports so they asked me if I would like to volunteer as an office assistant at their Navua office for three weeks. “That’s when I moved to Suva.”
Pita worked at Ranadi Plantation and at the end of the three weeks, he was scheduled to go back to the village.
However, he knew that he had a better chance at supporting his family back in the village if he found work in Suva, so he applied to work at Cost-U-Less at Laucala Bay Rd, Suva.
“On the Saturday that I was supposed to go back, I wrote an application and took it to Cost-U-Less and they accepted me the same day as a packing boy.
“I was totally new to Suva, and it was the first time too for me to move to the city. “I worked at Cost-U-Less as a packing boy for two years before I got promoted to floor supervisor.”
In 2019, he left his job at Cost-U-Less and went to work at the MaxValue Supermarket outlet at MHCC Mall as a merchandiser officer. During this time, photography was always at the back of his mind.
“I was a big fan of the those working in the media industry, especially when I saw them with cameras and recording equipment. “I used to wish that one day I would get to work alongside them, with my own gear.”
After a few work stints in two other supermarkets around Suva, COVID-19 pandemic struck and he lost his job at Extra Supermarket in Flagstaff.
He had a bike during this time and while at home, the idea of operating a bike messenger business, which he named ‘Pita’s Bike Messenger’, dawned on him.
“The idea came to me while I used to watch movies at home and I told myself that I could do it and although I didn’t have any job, I owned a bike.
“I started the business, and I was lucky to be invited as guest on Breakfast at Fiji One and more people knew about my business. “People started contacting me, especially the UN offices and the European Union and aside from being a messenger, I also did bank runs for some of my clients.”
He operated the business for up to four months and was able to buy himself a second bicycle. Then the Barter for Better Fiji
Facebook group was created and this gave Pita his big break.
He was able to trade one of his bikes for a camera that was posted on the BFBFF page. “It was my first professional one and it was a Canon camera and that’s where I started taking photos seriously .
“I started doing landscape photography, wildlife photography and nature photography. Pita would travel by bike up to the Namosi highlands and took photos of waterfalls, forest and rivers.
He also did street photography.” Pita had his first event when he volunteered as a photographer for the Fiji Bitter Marist 7s tournament in 2021.
The pictures he took were uploaded onto his Facebook page. This brought him more followers. “So, I started building contacts
and people would also call me up. “I made sure I covered all the sports tournaments around Fiji, even if I had to go at my own expense.
“The owner of Zoom Fiji saw one of the photos I took, and he approached me and asked what sort of camera I was using. He gave me one of his.
“He just offered it to me, and I was surprised but grateful at the same time.”
Last year, Pita scored a lifetime deal with Getty Images, one of the world’s biggest photo library, to cover selected events here in Fiji.
“I have also worked with the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), the National Football League (NFL) and during the 2022
Pacific Nations Cup (PNC), I got to cover for the Manu Samoa camp. “All these organisations have really paid well because they know the value of photographs.”
Just last week, Pita got into a deal with Rooster Chicken, the major sponsor of the Fijiana Drua team. He was given more than
$3,000 worth of photography equipment. Pita’s advice to youngsters is to never give up.
“I left school at Year 12 but that did not stop me from pushing forward. “If you did not get a good education but you have the passion for something, then work on it. “Pursue whatever it is you’re passionate about.
“Never give up.”
