Debbie Roome

Christchurch Earthquake Images Debbie Roome

On the morning of the 4th September 2010, I awoke to find our double storey home in the grips of a major earthquake. The bed was jumping and shaking and the house groaned as it stretched to its limits. I tried repeatedly to run to the doorway but the force of the quake flung me against the window, over and over again. I was convinced the wall was going to give way and I would end up in the garden below. An hour later with the electricity off, the family huddled over our car radio listening to news reports of the major 7.1 earthquake that had torn Canterbury apart. I'd been a keen photographer for years and realised this was an event that needed to be recorded. "I'm going into town," I announced, "is anyone coming with me?" It was the beginning of a journey that has continued until today. I've been shouted at, chased, bullied, misunderstood and shamed as I've captured scenes of devastation, but have also had people thank me for photos of their work place, city and dearly loved landmarks such as Christchurch Cathedral. This book is a collection of the best of my photos and also a memorial to Christchurch as we used to know it.