Atunaisa Rasea, a seasoned photographer with a career spanning four decades, recently bid farewell to The Fiji Times as he embraced retirement at the age of 60.
The Natauloa man from Nairai, was born and bred in Suva and began his education journey at Nabua Primary School. He later attended Nabua Secondary School, where he dropped out after Form 4 to find a job.
“School was not really for me, I wanted to work and earn so I could support my family,” he says.
His journey into the world of photography began in 1984 at an art studio owned by the Akbar family. There he was introduced to the craft during the era of old Mamiya cameras.
“I was good friends with Mr Akbar’s son, so they offered me a job as an assistant photographer at their studio. They taught me all that I needed to know,” he recalls.
In 1986, Rasea embarked on his professional photography career, joining Caines Jannif Photo Studio, followed by Island Studio in 1987. It was in October of the same year that he was tapped by Wame Waqanisanini Junior, owner of the Daily Post newspaper, to become its inaugural photographer.
“After Cainnes Jannif purchased the Akbar studios, they hired me as well, so I was there for a while before joining Island Studio,” he says.
“It was at Island Studios that I met the man who, I could say, changed the course of my journey.
“Daily Post had just started, and they had no photographer. They would come to Island Studio for photos and on one of those occasions, the owner, Mr Waqanisanini, approached me and asked if I would be interested in becoming a newspaper photographer.”
After three years at the Daily Post, he moved to The Fiji Times in 1992, only to venture into freelance photography a year later. However, his talent beckoned him back to The Fiji Times in 1997, where he remained for six years before pursuing freelance opportunities once more.
“I would say The Fiji Times was the best place I worked and I’m thankful that they always called me back.”
In 2007, he returned to The Fiji Times, marking the beginning of a remarkable 17-year tenure that concluded with his retirement in 2024. Throughout his illustrious career, Rasea immortalised significant moments in Fiji’s history, including the 2000 coup and Prince Andrew’s visit when he served as the official photographer.
“I’ve seen some things that I would want to keep confidential. There have been scary encounters and also enjoyable ones.
“I was one of the first photographers who arrived in parliament during the 2000 coup, and it is something I will not forget. I still can remember being chased by the army as they tried to shoot at us.
“Also, somewhere around the 1900s, Prince Andrew, son of Queen Elizabeth II, visited Fiji, and I was honored to be the official photographer of the visit.”
Reflecting on his journey, he offers sage advice to aspiring photographers, emphasising the importance of cultivating an artistic mindset, embracing every opportunity and nurturing a profound passion for the craft.
During his time at The Fiji Times, Rasea won numerous photography awards. When asked about how he did it, he said loving what you do will make you do the impossible’.
Though retired from mainstream media, he will do freelance jobs as he wants to continue being a photographer until he is six feet under, something that he jokingly told Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka when he was back in government in 2022 and got surprised to see Rasea still behind the camera lenses of The Fiji Times.
Rasea leaves behind a legacy of visual storytelling that has etched itself into the fabric of Fiji’s collective memory. || atu rasea || ATU RASEA
