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.