[1] The exhibition was one of the first to focus on contemporary photography in New Zealand, and attracted considerable controversy around the works included by artist Fiona Clark.
[2] The exhibition was a collaboration between photography organisation PhotoForum and the Manawatu Art Gallery under the director at the time, Luit Bieringa, and based on photos selected by Tom Hutchins, John B. Turner and Gordon H.
[6] They are: Laurence Aberhart, T V Austin, Gary Baigent, J G Blackman, Ben Boer, Justin Boroughs, Rhondda Bosworth, Joan Brown, Simon Buis, Glenn Busch, Murray Cammick, Dean Camp, Neil Carrie, Fiona Clark, Richard Collins, Bryony Dalefield, Jon S Daley, Gregg Devereaux, Brian Donovan, John Eastcott, John Fields, Michael Fitzgerald, Ken Foster, David A Fowler, Marti Friedlander, Murray Hedwig, Paul Hewson, Gary Ireland, Dave King, Graham Kirk, Steven La Plant, Graeme Leng-Ward, Darius McCallum, Allan McDonald, Jon Magill, Janet Mayo, John Miller, Mac Miller, Robin Morrison, Max Oettli, Peter Peryer, Mick Smith, Clive Stone, Do Van Toan, Roger Tolladay, Noel A Trustrum, Trevor Ulyatt, Kay Ungemeuth, Len Wesney, Ans Westra, David S Whyte, Stuart Young.
[8] The photographs depict transgender women, and the white paper around the images were inscribed with short texts by a friend of Clark's, including phrases such as 'Aren’t you furious you hung up closet queens' and 'How many of you boys would like to suck these tits or have them for your own?'.
[18] The works shown in The Active Eye were acquired by the Manawatu Art Gallery (now Te Manawa) as the basis of their contemporary photography collection.