World Wanderer

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 927, 21 March 1930, Page 10

World Wanderer

FAMED PHOTOGRAPHER TOURS

Marvellous Milford Sound

“Milford Sound is marvellous. I have seen only one thing to compare with it for beauty, and that is the Rainbow Bridge in Utah, America.” This tribute to New Zealand scenery comes from Mr. E. O. Hoppe, one of London’s most famous photographers and a writer of distinction. Mr. Hoppe has been touring the world for the past ten years. He is therefore eminently qualified to compare the scenery of New Zealand with what he has seen on his wanderings. As he travels from country to country Mr. Hoppe records his impressions with his camera, and writes of people and conditions. He is not one of those whirlwind tourists who views the country from the window of a firstclass hotel, and then writes illuminating articles about it. “That would be an impertinence,” lie said today. “I like to live in the country amo.ng the people before I express an opinion about it.” That was why, when he published "This Romantic America” bis critics could not accuse him of merely passing through the country and writing superficial nonsense about it. Before he wrote his book, which created an immense amount of argument, he lived in the United States for soipe years.

Mr.. Hoppe sailed for Sydney this afternoon by the Ulimaroa, after spending two months in New Zealand. He calls this the final stage of his world-wanderings, but be still proposes to spend nine months in Australia and a considerable time in Japan and China before returning to London.

The last ten years have been years of romance for - the photographerauthor. Time has meant nothing to him. He has chosen to go wherever fancy led him. Mexico, Central America and South America —he has spent a year in each of them—living with the people in order to know them, their outlook, their habits and their politics. India was a romance in itself, and when he returns to London he will write a book, which should be fascinating. For ten months Mr. Hoppe lived as the guest of some of the wealthiest and most influential of the native princes in their marvellous palaces. His photographs of these should be a revelation. The Nawab of Bhopal, the Maharajah of Mysore and the Maharajah of Udaipur were three of the pi’inces with whom Mr. Hoppe spend months. “I had a marvellous time there,” he

says*. “One doesn’t get to know India if one simply coniines one’s visit to British India. I think that I got behind the scenes.”

And Mr. Hoppe knows just as intimately the whole of Europe, particularly the Balkan States, where he lived with the people to get to know them as few Englishmen have been able to do. The north coast of Africa and Morocco are also open books to this much-travelled and well-informed man of the world.

“We are extraordinary in Europe,” Mr. Hoppe confessed. “For instance, when we speak of Australia we immediately conjure up mental pictures of blacks and kangaroos, sheep, desert and gum trees. I hope to write of Australia after I have lived there. I want to write just as 1 find the country, the scenery, the people. My book will be a series of incidents, loosely strung together.”

Mr. Hoppd is accompanied by his son who, after leaving Westminster School, joined his father. He was too young to go on to the university, so his- father decided that it would be better for him to travel. “It has been amazing to watch him develop,” Mr. Hoppe remarked. “The tour has completely altered his outlook. I believe that boys from public schools, particularly those who are intended for positions in the Dominions, should be sent on a tour for a year or two. It breaks down prejudice. What a. fine thing it would be if there was an exchange of youth between England and the Dominions.” Mr. Hoppe said that the two most wonderful things he had seen in his ten years of travel were the Milford Sound and the Rainbow Bridge at Utah. He was so impressed that he spent a fortnight at Milford. “Your sounds are infinitely better than the fiords of Norway,” he said. He was the first Englishman to see the Rainbow Bridge, which is reached on horse-back after a journey lasting 11 days. Mr. Hoppe contributes illustrated articles to “The Illustrated London News,” “Country Life,” “The Graphic,” “The Tatler,” “The Sphere,”

“The Windsor” and “Eve.” One of his other hobbies is the theatre, and he contributes articles to “The Studio” ou stage decoration and theatre craft. Mr. Hoppe was the man who began the exhibitions of theatre crafts in London. “The Book of Fair Women,” another of his publications, contains photographs of the world’s most beautiful women.