NZPhotographer Issue 26, December 2019

I love knowing that I am part of preserving history,
preserving precious moments and creating images
that evoke emotion. It’s about giving others
pleasure and preserving our way of life even if it is
just for a split second.
WHAT ARE YOU SHOOTING WITH?
For my landscapes, I have a Nikon D5500 with an
8–20mm lens.
My Canon 80D which alas has died recently, is
currently getting fixed at Canon. For this camera.
I have a 16–300mm Tamron lens, a 150–600mm
Tamron lens and a Samyang 8mm wide angle
which I use for Astro photography. I also have a
Singh-ray Trio filter, a Pluto trigger, and a tripod.
I don’t have a lot of funds for photography but will
hopefully be able to upgrade soon – I’d love a full
frame camera one day.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR PHOTO FROM
MOKAU…
The photo was taken on 8 th November 2019, a
Friday night.
The day before this shot I had just found out my
husband was diagnosed with cancer, a tumour
in his throat along with liver disease so a lot of
thoughts were going through my mind, a lot of
emotions.
I have known my husband since I was fifteen years
old. When he was 23 years old he was in a serious
car accident and suffered a chronic back injury
and brain injury. We were married in 1997 and
together for 21 years, so the last year was very hard
as I was his support person. Even though we are
apart it is still very raw and emotional but I am there
always whether he wants it or not.
Combining my anxiety and this latest news, it took
a lot for me to get to Mokau that day but I was
determined as I enjoy spending time at the beach –
I love the power of the waves as it cleanses the soul
and recharges your being.
I did some long exposures that day and noticed
that even more driftwood had washed onto the
beach from when I was last there. It looked like
remnants of decayed skeletons scattered over the
sand, the wind blowing sand across the surface like
those old cowboy movies with the tundra blowing
across the scene.
Whilst taking photos and picking up rubbish (every
place I go I make sure I remove rubbish that I see)
I was having conversations with God and asking
him why is he so cruel, berating him. But as I left
I thanked him for the wonders of nature that he
bestows upon us, the beauty and the power of life.
WHAT ELSE SHOULD WE KNOW ABOUT YOU?
I am half blind from an accident I had as a kid
where a golf ball smashed through my glasses into
my left eye, I’m classed as a monocular driver.
I also have impinged hips and suffer with quite
a bit of pain in my left hip. I’m also half deaf lol
and was born with a rare syndrome along with a
hole in the heart. None of this stops me getting to
places, but what did stop me was the depression
and anxiety – this can be more powerful than any
physical disability you can imagine.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AND DREAMS FOR
THE FUTURE?
Now my girls have grown up I have more time
to concentrate on my photography. My dream
job would be to work for a magazine. I have a
bachelor’s in graphic design and photography and
want to get into journalism/photography.
I am taking a cruise next year as an internship on
the Holland American Cruise ship that is travelling
up to Cascade Islands, back down to New
Zealand, Bay of Islands, New Plymouth, Mount
Maunganui, Wellington and Akaroa. Where I will be
writing a blog and promoting the cruise.
I am also currently selling my property in Te Kuiti and
hopefully getting a motorhome where I will spend
the next few years touring New Zealand. I have a
dream to create my own publication too, I have a
few ideas in mind!
WHERE CAN WE FIND YOU ONLINE?
albums.excio.io/profile/knightfire
www.facebook.com/
www.HelenKnightPhotographer
sites.google.com/view/
hellfire-photography/home
BEHIND THE SHOT IS PROUDLY
SUPPORTED BY
8
NZPhotographer