David Hartman Photography

07/04/2020

THANK YOU ALL!!!
With all the difficulties that people are living through with Covid-19, with the devastation brought by TC Harold to Vanuatu two days ago and to Fiji right now, I just wanted to share some good news and say a BIG THANK YOU TO YOU ALL.

The Vulaga Book Kickstarter has finished last night and has been an incredible success considering everything that is going on. We reached 107% of our target with support from 139 people.

Well over 90% came from you my village, from my sailor friends, my artist friends, from FB friends, from Canada to South Africa to South Pacific and every else in the world.

With tears in my eyes, I just want to give you all a big hug to say thank you. It allows me now to go to the next step of making the book a reality and fulfilling my promises to Chiefs Mika and Besi and the rest of the village of Muana-i-cake on Vulaga Island, who gave their permission and shared their stories.

Vinaka Vakalevu
Thank you very much
David

06/04/2020

VULAGA BOOK LAST CHANCE!!!
Last chance to order a book or prints as the VULAGA BOOK Kickstarter ends in under 12 hours.

I thought are with you all around the world in self-isolation, plus especially today to the people of Vanuatu who got devastated last night by TC Harold and all my Fijian friends who are now facing TC Harold in the next couple of days.

Please stay safe. Love and peace to you all.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/966407816/vulaga-portrait-of-a-traditional-fijian-village

06/04/2020

VULAGA BOOK ONLY 1 DAY TO ORDER BOOK
Hope you are all safe wherever you are in the world.
The VULAGA BOOK Kickstarter is finishing in ONLY 1 DAY, so if you would like still like to order the beautiful hardcover personally signed books or fine art giclee prints now is the time to do it.

Thanks to all your wonderful support the Books Kickstarter has been fantastically successful and the book is definitely a go. Don't forget everyone who contributes to the Kickstarter gets their name in the book and 5% of books printed will be going back to the Village.

Love and Peace to you all,
David

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/966407816/vulaga-portrait-of-a-traditional-fijian-village

05/04/2020

VULAGA : ONLY 2 DAYS TO ORDER YOUR BOOK
The deadline for the end of the successful Vulaga Book Kickstarter is fast approaching, only 2 day days left to order your personally signed books or prints of Vulaga (Fulaga).

Reminder all supporters of the Vulaga Book will get their name in the book, plus 5% of all books printed will be going back to the village.

Stay safe everyone
Vinaka Vakalevu
Thank you very much,

David Hartman
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/966407816/vulaga-portrait-of-a-traditional-fijian-village

03/04/2020

My lockdown home, Entico Bay, Urupukapuka Island, Bay of Islands, NZ. I took this pic a couple of years ago ... sadly I no longer have my drone after updating the software. Thank you, Jacinda and NZ for the great job you are doing and for looking after us visitors.

02/04/2020

VULAGA BOOK: ONLY 4 DAYS LEFT
I hope you and all your family are safe in these extremely difficult times. Sadly it is looking there will be no cruising in South Pacific this year, what better way to remember the islands than by buying the photobook on Vulaga (Fulaga) a very remote and traditional island in Fiji.

I am very happy to report the Kickstarter has reached 105% and the book is a definite go.

Only 4 days to order your personal signed copy of the book or Fine Art Giclee prints, plus everyone that supports the Kickstarter will get their name in the book plus 5 % of all the books printed will go back to the village.

Stay safe everyone,
Vinaka Vakalevu
Thank you very much,

David.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/966407816/vulaga-portrait-of-a-traditional-fijian-village

30/03/2020

VULAGA BOOK + ONLY 7 DAYS LEFT.
Revised deadline for Vulaga Book by Kickstarter because of Covid 19. Happy to report, the book is a definite go as we have passed 100%. You can still come to order books or prints or sailing for the next 7 days.
As before all supporters of kickstarter will get there name in the book and 5% of all book printed will go back to the village. Vinaka Vakalevu David Hartman

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/966407816/vulaga-portrait-of-a-traditional-fijian-village

26/03/2020

VULAGA BOOK NEW DEADLINE 11 DAYS
Due to the Covid19 outbreak around the world, Kickstarter has decided to extend all project deadlines by one week. The Vulaga Book Kickstarter's new deadline is 7 April or 11 days' time.

So you are still welcome to come to order books or prints or sailing for another 11 days. Due to the fantastic support, the kickstarter is at 102% so the book is definitely going ahead.

Stay safe everyone.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/966407816/vulaga-portrait-of-a-traditional-fijian-village

23/03/2020

VULAGA BOOK: ONLY 7 DAYS TO ORDER
You can still come order books or prints or sailing through the Vulaga Book Kickstarter over the next 7 days. We have passed 100% so the book is a definite go.

As before, everyone contributing to the Vulaga Kickstarter will get their name in the book and 5% of all books printed will be given to the Village.

Stay safe everyone where ever you are,
David

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/966407816/vulaga-portrait-of-a-traditional-fijian-village

22/03/2020

VULAGA BOOK REACHES 100%
What an amazing day!!! We have reached 100% funding on the VULAGA BOOK. A huge thanks to the 122 and counting supporters of the Kickstarter. Vinaka to friends who helped to write and edit proposals, and documents. Thank you letters of support for the kickstarter from Nikul, Noel, and Ashley.

A special thank you my village, to my friends, to friends of friends, to complete strangers, to all the people who shared the Vulaga Kickstarter over the last 6 weeks.

Most important a mega Fiji thank you to all the people of Muana-i-cake village on Vulaga, who have trusted me to share their story. To Chief Besi and Chief Mika who is sadly not here to see this day, Vinaka Vakalevu for your permission to do the book.

Now we can move onto the next stage of getting the book produced. As before you can still support the project by pledging to buy books or prints by going to the Vulaga Kickstarter.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/966407816/vulaga-portrait-of-a-traditional-fijian-village

21/03/2020

VULAGA BOOK: JUST 3% TO GO.
Thank you very much for the 8 new supporters of the Vulaga Book Kickstarter in the last 24 hours.
We are so close now: 97% + 9 days to go + 117 supporters.

If you are able to support the book at the moment, no matter how small it will really help us get over the line. Come pledging to buy a book or maybe a second one to give away, Giclee Prints or a week sailing in Fiji (no timeline). Just remember you get your name in the book (if you want it) and 5% of the books will go to the village.

Love to everyone wherever you are in the world. Stay safe everyone.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/966407816/vulaga-portrait-of-a-traditional-fijian-village

20/03/2020

VULAGA BOOK ONLY 10 DAYS + 93%
Hi peeps, I hope I find you and your families safe and well wherever you might be. With all the craziness that is happening in the world over the last week, I have held off making appeals for support for the Vulaga Book. BUT we are so close, we have raised 93% of the goal and if we don't reach 100% in the next 10 days the entire VULAGA book kickstarter fails. So I am now turning to you once more for your help to get over the line.

My primary goal in doing the VULAGA book was to capture the simple traditional way of life of this remote Fijian island and its wonderful values, many of which the entire world needs right now. First and foremost, the family is all-important, then the clan (extended family) and finally the village.

I remember one afternoon sitting with some of the older men, Big Joe, Tai, Seti, and Mo, and I was asking about their values of Verwasei (sharing) and Balebale (community spirit working together) and where these values came from and they were all confused by the question just saying, it was always that way. Eventual Big Joe was able to articulate the idea that in the old times when life was a lot harder, they had many more children to look after, and they were very dependent on what they could grow or catch. Sometimes water was very scarce, and a family might not have enough food to feed their children, so they had to turn to their clan or the village to get them through that day. Aren't we all learning that right now? We are all in this together.

So my village, I reach out now and ask you to support in getting over the line and making the VULAGA book, to making something very beautiful, to make something that shares great values, and allow me to keep my promises to all the people that trusted me to record and share their beautiful fragile Vulaga.

Please come pledge to buy a book or maybe a second one to give away, Giclee Prints or a week sailing in Fiji (no timeline of when you come sailing). Just remember you get your name in the book (if you want it) and 5% of the books will go to the village. Please share this post.

Vinaka Vakalevu

David Hartman

A beautiful book of 300 black and white photographs, celebrating the people of Vulaga, their lives, their culture and their values.