Whether you’re an enthusiastic weekend snapper or a beginner who wants to learn more about photography, New Zealand Photographer is the fun e-magazine for all Kiwi camera owners
ISSUE 28, February 2020
FROM NURSERY
WORKER TO FULL TIME
PHOTOGRAPHER
INTERVIEW WITH JO LAMMAS
HOW LENSBABY
LIT UP MY LIFE
BY HEATHER MAREE OWENS
UNLEASHED COMPETITION
WINNERS & BEST ENTRIES
February 2020 1
WELCOME TO ISSUE 28 OF
NZ PHOTOGRAPHER MAGAZINE
HELLO EVERYONE,
We hope 2020 is going well for
you so far and you're out taking
lots of photos.
As you flick or click your way
through the following pages you'll
see that we have introduced
a special section of news and
features as well as Editors' Choice
Top 10 most interesting photos of
the month from our Excio Photo
Community. We have also given
Readers' Submissions a redesign
to allow us to bring you more
articles over the coming months
that allow you to grow your
photography skills even more.
The first of our new features
comes from Peter Laurenson
who is sharing his 'worth the effort photo locations', kick-starting his bimonthly
articles by taking us up Mount Taranaki to admire the view.
We have all the old favourite features too – Behind The Shot, Brendon
Gilchrist's photo adventures, and tips and tricks from Richard Young. Our
feature interview this month is with Jo Lammas, an inspirational woman
who went from being a nursery worker to full-time photographer. We
also take a trip with Bex Ammos to Africa, learn how playing with a
Lensbaby helped Heather Maree Owens find a new lease of creativity
during a tough time, and we reveal the winners and best entries from
the Unleashed photo competition.
OUR CONTRIBUTORS
Brendon Gilchrist
Brendon is the man behind
ESB Photography. He is an
avid tramper who treks
from sea to mountain, and
back again, capturing the
uniqueness of New Zealand’s
unforgiving landscape.
Emily Goodwin
Editor NZ Photographer
NZPhotographer Issue 28
February 2020
Cover Photo
Mount Sunrise,
Jo Lammas
Publisher:
Foto Lifestyle Ltd
Website:
www.excio.io/
nzphotographer
Graphic Design:
Maksim Topyrkin
Advertising Enquiries:
Email hello@excio.io
FOLLOW US
Richard Young
Richard is an award-winning
landscape and wildlife
photographer who teaches
photography workshops and
runs photography tours. He is
the founder of New Zealand
Photography Workshops.
© 2020 NZPhotographer Magazine
All rights reserved. Reproduction of any material appearing in this magazine in any form is forbidden without prior
consent of the publisher.
Disclaimer:
Opinions of contributing authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the magazine.
2
NZPhotographer
CONTENTS
BEHIND THE SHOT
WITH BRENDON PUTT
4
BEALEY SPUR – ARTHURS PASS
NATIONAL PARK
BY BRENDON GILCHRIST
4
6
9
10
14
20
24
30
34
41
BEHIND THE SHOT
with Brendon Putt
BEALEY SPUR – ARTHURS PASS NATIONAL PARK
by Brendon Gilchrist
WHAT'S ON
@EXCIO PHOTO COMMUNITY
EXCIO TOP 10
FROM NURSERY WORKER TO FULL TIME
PHOTOGRAPHER INTERVIEW WITH JO LAMMAS
HOW LENSBABY LIT UP MY LIFE
By Heather Maree Owens
THE BEST WEATHER FOR LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY
By Richard Young
PHOTOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS WORTH SWEATING FOR
by Peter Laurenson
AFRICAN ADVENTURES
with Bex Amos
PHOTOGRAPHY UNLEASHED COMPETITION
WINNERS & BEST ENTRIES
56 PORTFOLIO
BEST READERS' SUBMISSIONS THIS MONTH
6
14
34
AFRICAN ADVENTURES
WITH BEX AMOS
FROM NURSERY
WORKER TO FULL TIME
PHOTOGRAPHER INTERVIEW
WITH JO LAMMAS
WAIHI BEACH SUNSET
F1.4, 1/1000s, ISO400
Behind The Shot
with Brendon Putt
BRENDON, TELL US ABOUT YOU AND YOUR
JOURNEY WITH PHOTOGRAPHY SO FAR…
Born and bred in Tokoroa, I always had a strong
passion for music and the creative aspects of
school. I graduated at 19 with a Bachelor of Media
Arts in Commercial Music and as life would have
it, I landed a career in Management instead and
developed a passion for photography!
I met my wife, Charlotte, in 2009, and we are about
to celebrate our 6 th wedding anniversary in March.
We have two beautiful kids, Brodie (4) and Thea
(18 months), and together we live in Charlotte’s
hometown of Te Aroha, a small town nestled under
a mountain, which itself is a great subject for my
photography.
When Charlotte and I married in 2014, we purchased a
DSLR. If I remember correctly it was a Canon 600D with
two kit lenses. We travelled overseas for our honeymoon
and I fell in love with the art of photography. A few years
went by and I hadn’t managed a lot of photography
due to life being so busy and then, in 2017, I shot my
Brother-in-law’s wedding at a moment’s notice using
a borrowed Canon 7D from a friend. This camera blew
mine out of the water. I upgraded this past November
to a Canon 5D Mark IV in preparation for that same
friend’s wedding in January. After many debates about
which camera I would upgrade to, the decision to get
the 5D was made with the intent to create an income
from my photography and pursue the art with more
commitment. Since upgrading I have completed
some family portraits, a wedding, and vast amounts of
landscape imagery for my own enjoyment.
4
NZPhotographer
TELL US ABOUT THE 35MM SIGMA ARTS LENS
THAT YOU USED TO TAKE THIS SHOT…
I remember looking at the beautiful 50mm lens
from Sigma that our wedding photographer had –
you could tell the quality of the lens without even
touching it. When looking at the photos he captured
on this lens, the colours so beautiful, smooth, and
sharp. I have had a soft spot for Sigma lenses ever
since.
When I decided to buy the 5D I knew I needed a
Sigma – a great camera needs great glass and the
price point was spot on where I had budgeted. I did
a lot of research as to the wide-angle I wanted and
landed on the 35mm as I can use it for both portrait
and landscape work. With an F stop of 1.4 it really
allows me to have creative control over the shot.
Has it bettered my photography? Maybe not. But I do
feel with the combo that I am getting sharper, better
quality images and it has definitely made me learn
more and to push myself to be a better photographer.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR WAIHI BEACH PHOTO AND
WHAT WAS HAPPENING BEHIND THE CAMERA…
I am always thinking about new places to explore
and shoot, and like to try and have an idea of what
I am setting out to capture prior to heading out. On
the 2/1/2020 (first shot of the new decade) right on
sunset at about 8.30pm I had gone out knowing what
I wanted to achieve. Every year we spend some of
our time off work at Waihi Beach, and our Summer
holiday provided a perfect opportunity to attempt to
complete my vision. On this particular evening, I was
able to sneak away from the family as I could see the
sky lighting up the way I had hoped, the only issue was
that the wind was blowing hard!
My vision for this shot was to be able to compose it
so that I was overlooking Waihi beach with the hills in
the background and the beach stretching through
the middle. I didn’t want to have any of the hill I was
actually standing on in the shot, giving the illusion that
I was either using a drone or on the edge of a cliff
looking down. I wanted the sky to have real interest
and colour to it too and had planned on pushing the
exposure out as slow as I could to create a blurred effect
on the water and sky – I really wanted this shot to be the
kind of image people would print and display in their
bach (holiday home), or better yet in their permanent
home, reminding them of their favourite beach.
When I went up to the top of Bowentown the wind
was horrendous. There was no way I could do any
long exposure as I couldn’t get the camera sturdy
enough on my sub-par tripod. So, I worked with what
was happening around me and managed to pull
off an image I was really happy with. I didn’t get the
long exposure I had originally set out to get, but I am
content with the image I captured.
This image took A LOT of moving around to compose
it the way I wanted it. The hill and the amount of
bush on the side of it was enough to be in the shot,
however, I really wanted to make sure it wasn't in the
shot. I must have looked mad bouncing around the
hillside trying to compose this image!
DID YOU DO ANY POST-PROCESSING?
I shoot all my images in RAW so post-processing is an
integral part of my creative process. I edit all my work in
Lightroom. This shot has not been cropped at all except
for minimal straightening of the horizon. I always feel that
post-processing is important to be able to enhance the
natural dynamics of an image and bring your style or
vision to life. The final image has quite a cool nostalgic
vibe, as my wife would say, fitting well with my idea of
reminding someone of their favourite beach.
HOW DOES YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY CREATE
#PHOTOGRAPHYFORGOOD?
When out photographing, I always feel I need to
leave the environment the way I found it. I spend
a lot of free time outdoors and take great care
with nature. With this shot, I made sure when I was
bouncing around the hillside that I wasn’t destroying
the environment around me. Our photographs will be
around for good, but it is important we are good by
our photographs and encourage an appreciation for
our natural landscapes.
WHERE CAN WE FIND YOU ONLINE?
www.instagram.com/brendonputtphotography
www.facebook.com/brendonputtphotography
www.brendonputt.com
albums.excio.io/brendonputtphotography
BEHIND THE SHOT IS PROUDLY
SUPPORTED BY
February 2020 5
Bealey Spur – Arthurs Pass
National Park
by Brendon Gilchrist
This is one of the greatest and easier day or
overnight walks close to Christchurch. It’s a place
to refresh and rewind, to forget about the world,
and to take some beautiful photos of wide-open
fields, river beds, high-rising mountains, and the wildlife
that rules the land.
A treasure of Canterbury, Arthurs Park is a place that
people from all over the country come to explore.
The Canterbury rivers are well known for being
braided, and I myself was super excited to be able to
photograph these.
Bealey Spur is rich in history and was even farmed as
part of the Cora Lynn Station in 1935, a high country
muster which grazed up to 6000 sheep until 1978 when
farming in the area was retired due to the expansion
of Arthurs Pass National Park.
The iconic Bealey Spur Hut, also known as Top Hut,
was built by Walter Taylor and Harry Faulkner in 1935
from beech saplings and can still be used today
though we didn’t stay here, wanting to take in the
view over the river valley instead.
In no great hurry, myself and 2 others started off on our
1 hour 30 minute walk uphill around mid-afternoon. It
was hot and we had our full water bladders with us
due to there being no streams near where we were
going to be camping out under the stars. The start of
the track was a little steep, winding up Bealey Spur for
a bit before opening up with a decent view up the
Bruce and Power Stream which I recommend as a
detour as there are some nice cascades in the bush.
We carried on walking up, I was carrying all of my
lenses and 2 camera bodies which I soon regretted,
6
NZPhotographer
F16, 1/10s, ISO100
carrying too much gear in the heat is not a good
combination! However, it felt like the hardest part of
the walk was behind us as we started to get out into
the clearing that overlooks the valley.
Upon reaching the top, I looked out and over the
valley and realised, with a shock, that there was no
water in the river. The river looked as if it entered out
from Turkey Flat which, in a way, was very cool but
I was disappointed as all I could see was the gravel
braids that the water had shaped with just one stream
of water flowing. Don’t get me wrong, my first view of
this place was still pretty special, but it wasn’t what
I had thought I’d be seeing.
I pitched the tent I’d been carrying, using it purely for
photographic purposes this time as I took a time-lapse
that started inside the tent before slowly sliding out of
the tent to get the view in all its glory.
I could see mount Bealey on the other side of the
valley which I have previously climbed, and I could
see right up into the Arthurs Pass area and up the River
Waimak – It’s some really big country, and I can now
appreciate why so many climbers come here as you
have instant access to height without having to walk
in, even Sir Edmond Hillary used Arthurs Pass for this
very reason.
As the sun started to set, we were limited to what
we could shoot in this big open space as there were
very few clouds around but we had the bridge over
the Waimak and the golden glow on the mountains.
Sunset itself was a bit of a fizzer but with good
company, we enjoyed some banter.
February 2020 7
F16, 1/125s, ISO100
Despite it being summer, it got cold fast once that sun
went with a strong wind blowing right off the snowcapped
peaks. There wasn’t much else to do so I had
my dinner and then found a nice sheltered spot for
my bedroll, climbing into my sleeping bag to stay
warm. I did not get out again until sunrise, I should
have packed some warmer clothes, but thankfully
my new Macpac sleeping bag is good for some very
chilly temperatures.
Usually the warmth of my sleeping bag makes it hard
to get out of come morning and truth be known,
sometimes I do shoot the scene whilst sitting in my
sleeping bag but on this particular morning, with the
light hitting the mountains in the distance and the
Anticrepuscular rays shining, I jumped out of bed to
capture the scene before me.
This was just a short trip to a stunning location with no
plan for the rest of the day other than to complete
the walk back down which took just under an hour.
However, every photography / hiking trip teaches you
something – I now know that personally, I am happiest
hiking either in the rain or after a lot of rain has fallen.
Had I done that here I would have been able to
capture the headwaters of the Waimakariri River.
Before I make a future trip here I’ll be checking the
web cameras to ensure the river is in full flow!
3 TRAMPING PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS
• Have an ultra-wide to wide-angle lens. I take a 14–
24mm plus either a 50mm or a mid-range zoom,
either 24–70mm or 35–70mm. These will cover most
of your needs on tramping trips – Don’t do as I did
and take everything!
• Take filters, at a minimum you’ll want a CPL – Make
sure they are not being squashed by your back or
other items in your bag as you hike!
• A tripod is a must, despite the awkwardness of
carrying it, you will regret it if you don’t take one.
www.instagram.com/esbphotography_
www.facebook.com/ESB23Photography
www.esbphotography.co.nz
8
NZPhotographer
What's On
@excio photo community
The first month of the new decade
saw us diving straight into a
whirlwind of events, welcoming
new members and enjoying new
collections on Excio. It’s truly inspiring to
see more and more people joining our
#PhotographyForGood movement. For
our members it’s not only about sharing
the same values but also advocating
for good – good photography
practices and better understanding of
one's self through photography while
creating more positive vibes.
We are excited to announce our new
gallery of Top 10 Excio Photos which
you can see on the following pages –
these showcase the most interesting
images published by our members in
the previous month with our editorial
team selecting the images based
on different factors such as the story
behind the photo, its uniqueness,
creativity and most importantly how
it makes you feel as a viewer. Our
Top 10 selection this month is a great
illustration of photographs that make
you pause, think, and feel.
We are also launching a series of
offline events entitled “Walk+” in
Wellington and Christchurch (coming
to more places soon) that not only
combine a photo walk and networking
opportunities, but also aim to help
you develop as a photographer and
provide you with a safe and friendly
environment to share and discuss your
photos after the walks.
All events are listed on the Excio Photo
Community Facebook page so make
sure you follow us to stay in the loop
and to learn more.
We hope you enjoy the interviews
on the next pages with our members
and we hope to see your photos and
stories in the next issue! You can read
more stories on our Blog (www.excio.
io/blog) and to join us, simply go to
www.excio.io/membership.
www.excio.io
Ana Lyubich
Co-founder of Excio,
Ana's photography
journey started many
years ago with one of the
first Kodak film cameras.
She loves exploring the
unseen macro world
and capturing people's
genuine emotions.
@excionz
9 February 2020
10
Excio Top 10
MARINA DE WIT
DAHLIA MAGNIFICA
“A bright and colourful Penhill Watermelon Dahlia – I love
the mood and the flowing petals.”
LYNN FOTHERGILL
COLOURS OF THE TAKAHE
VANDY POLLARD
MONARCH BUTTERFLY CATERPILLARS
“Every year I grow swan plants to encourage
Monarchs into my garden to lay eggs. I love how
the caterpillars can simultaneously make their way
up the branches while feeding.”
DIONNE S
MOUNTAIN LUPINS
“For about 4–5 weeks of the year (mid-November)
the centre of NZ’s South Island bursts into colour.
Purple and pink plus blue and yellow Lupins sprout
up along lakes and river beds in the Mackenzie
Country making the views even more stunning!!”
CHARLOTTE E. JOHNSON
R STUDY 4
“A collaboration between myself, our anonymous
model, and makeup Artist Holly B.”
TANIA MACKIE
INVERCARGILLS CIVIC THEATRE AT NIGHT
“Night photography is one of my most favourite
genres… it’s like a different world at night time…”
RUDOLPH KOTZE
GNU IN DUST STORM
“I noticed these Gnu standing in a dust storm
looking at us.”
11 February 2020
12
TONY ELKINS
OPIKI BRIDGE FRAMED BY
THE TREES
“On this beautiful evening I took
the family out to the Opiki Bridge,
one of my favorite places to
shoot. The Sunset light on this
particular evening was just
incredible. The colours being
produced were something else.
In this image I’ve taken inspiration
from another photographer and
I love the framing of the bridge
between the two trees.”
ANITA RUGGLE
SHOOTING STAR
“At 4.30am a few of us very
keen photographers headed
down to Te Karo Bay for some
astrophotography. l was lucky
enough to capture a shooting
star.”
GRAHAM JONES
F8, 6s, ISO100
CATHEDRAL COVE
“Hahei in the Coromandel is a
favourite spot for tourists both
local and international visitors –
you need to be up at sparrows
fart to have it pristine. I took this
at low tide at 6am after a 45min
walk so that I could photograph
the dawn light and avoid the
many tourists that arrive via Water
Taxi. ”
Photo Community
YOU
CAN BE FEATURED
HERE
NEXT
MONTH
Passionate about #PhotographyForGood?
We want to see your work, hear your story and
share it with as many people as we can.
Find Out More
www.excio.io/membership
13 February 2020
14
From Nursery Worker to
Full Time Photographer
Interview with Jo Lammas
JO, TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR
JOURNEY INTO FULL-TIME PHOTOGRAPHY...
I am 43 years old and have a nearly 17 year old
daughter. I recently left an unhappy marriage, so I
now live in Tamahere.
I have always been interested in photography, initially
using it as a way of showing people what I saw on my
travels being that I am not very good at explaining
my trips with words. I started taking a lot more photos
after having a baby, as you do. It was still film cameras
at this time so you were limited in the number of
images you could afford to take. Then my brother
bought me my first digital camera - I was able to see
what I had taken before printing and seemed to be a
natural at finding the right composition in landscape
photos.
I loved capturing the great outdoors, travelling, and
visiting new places but I wanted to learn more, to
make full use of my camera from people who knew
what they were doing. I started a correspondence
course in photography but didn’t finish it, life as I knew
it had changed, I now had step-children to look after.
I moved back to Cambridge and eventually started
back at my old job of picking flowers in a nursery.
One day I had an email about joining The
Photography Institute to gain a diploma in
photography. My husband said I should do it and
he would pay for it. I joined and paid for it myself, I
could budget better. I liked my job at the nursery as
it was something I was good at, but I had a passion
for photography that I wanted to develop further.
Everyone including my boss supported me and
helped how they could, usually by giving me things
to photograph. I completed the course in less than 6
months, gaining my diploma. I knew that even though
I had a certificate, I had so much more to learn so I
continued to push myself to get better by practising
and testing out new ideas.
I kept doing my best at work, then my husband
started working with me. Things always seemed tense
at work and then at home, so photography was my
escape. Things got worse when my step-son also
began working with me. I started looking for other
work as I was no longer happy with my job at the
nursery and was suffering with anxiety and bouts of
depression and PTSD.
I took myself on holiday to surprise my mum and have
an adventure with my camera, when I got back I
was more determined than ever to get a new job. I
patiently waited, earning a year’s worth of holiday
pay. Then a job was advertised for an individual
photographer to travel to schools around the country
taking photos. I thought it sounded perfect, and with
some nights away due to travel time, it might also
help my relationship in the process. So I applied and
to my complete delight I was interviewed and then
eventually offered the job.
I was thrilled and scared because I was going into the
complete unknown. I gave notice to my employer
who knew I must have been going to do something
in photography. My work life got so much better but
my home life didn’t and I was not safe. I have only
recently moved into my own place and although I am
FENCED IN
F6.3, 1/125s, ISO100
lonely at times, I love it. I have absolutely no regrets in
changing my work and home life. I am in my opinion,
living the dream. I love my new found freedom. Of
course the job has some pressures, sometimes I have
to leave for work a day earlier or get up extra early to
be at work on time but I absolutely love smiling all day.
Thanks to this job I have travelled to some far off
places and if I’m away for the night, I get to go off
exploring the area with my camera after work, taking
landscape, nature, and wildlife photos.
WHAT ARE YOU SHOOTING WITH?
I still use the gear I bought when I was studying with
The Photography Institute. I have a Canon 700D with
a 50mm and 2 kit lenses, the 18-55mm and 55-200mm.
For filters, I have a polarising filter (my favourite) as well
as an ND8, ND4, ND2, and a UV filter.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE
IN PHOTOGRAPHY AND HOW HAVE YOU
OVERCOME THAT?
My biggest challenge is shyness, and speaking
confidently in public, something I have had to do for
work, talking to classes of children and the teachers.
I don’t think I have completely overcome it, but I am
getting there with determination and just doing it
anyway.
WHAT DOES #PHOTOGRAPHYFORGOOD
MEAN TO YOU AND HOW DO YOU IMPLEMENT
THAT IN YOUR WORK?
To me #photographyforgood means showing the best
of the landscape we are given. Beauty can be found
everywhere in the most diverse of places, in the faces
we see and in the places we visit. In my photographs, I
want viewers to see the beauty that I see.
WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE OTHERS ABOUT
TURNING PHOTOGRAPHY INTO THEIR FULL-TIME
CAREER?
Keep learning, and practising there is always
something new to learn. Then go for it, chase your
dreams achieve your goals, but keep being humble
and help others.
15 February 2020
16
REFLECTIONS
F/7.1, 1/13s, ISO400
WESTERN COASTLINE
F/7.1, 1/400s, ISO200
RAGLAN HILLS
F/16, 1/6s, ISO100
RANGITOTO LIGHTHOUSE
F/6.3, 1/1250s, ISO100
17 February 2020
18
FANTAIL
F5.6, 1/2000s, ISO5000
HOW DO YOU PROMOTE YOUR
PHOTOGRAPHY?
I try to promote my work through my
friends and family, I also enter online
photography competitions. I struggle a lot
with self-promotion, its not something I’m very
comfortable with. What comes naturally is
my friendliness and openness to learning new
things. I take pride in my work so I am very
critical with myself. Its a work in progress always.
WHEN DO YOU THINK A PHOTOGRAPHER
GOES FROM BEING AN AMATEUR TO A
PRO?
I think you become a professional when all or
most of your income comes from photography,
simply because you are being paid to take
photos, whether you work for yourself or
someone else. To complete the in between
steps from amateur to pro I recommend setting
up a website or a shop on Facebook to show
your work, entering photography competitions,
selling your printed work at markets, and getting
involved with local camera clubs.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU?
I plan to keep growing my photography, travelling,
and enjoying my peaceful times while pushing
myself to achieve personal goals.
ANY INSPIRATIONAL WORDS TO LEAVE US WITH?
You are not in competition with anyone, just try to be
better than you were the day before, make mistakes
but learn from them.
WHERE CAN WE FIND YOU ONLINE?
www.instagram.com/jolammasphotography
www.facebook.com/jolammasphotos
www.viewbug.com/member/joannalammas
www.picfair.com/users/Jolammas
albums.excio.io/profile/jo
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19 February 2020
20
HEAVENLY
LENSBABY VELVET 56
1/750s, ISO200
How Lensbaby Lit Up My Life
By Heather Maree Owens
My background is in the arts with Diplomas in
applied arts majoring in jewellery, painting,
and sculpture which I studied at Hungry Creek
Art School in Puhoi. Later, I went on to teach Jewellery
there for a couple of years before having my son.
When I first left Grammar school back in the ‘80’s
I did a photography course for a few months and
bought my first camera, a Pentax Spotmatic if
I remember correctly. I didn’t really do much more
with photography until by a series of events I found
my way back to it around 2014. It was a hard time in
my life dealing with family bereavements and I feel
photography literally saved me by bringing joy and
showing me the beauty in nature around me.
Since then I have completely fallen in love with it –
Photography gets under your skin, once it becomes
your passion everything you see and experience
feeds it. I find photography to be more freeing than
the traditional arts as you go out into the world rather
than into your studio. I look at photography as if the
camera and lens are a net to catch not just the
moment and what is seen, but also the feeling.
My approach to photography is much the same
as it has been for my formal art training; I follow
my eyes and heart with a focus on experimental,
non-traditional methods with the thought that if you
don’t know you can’t do something, sometimes you
can. I think this philosophy has served me well over the
years – I firmly believe that the knowledge you gain
from experimenting and finding things out for yourself
is the most valuable advice.
The Lensbaby Velvet 56 was one of the first lenses
I bought, which was very exciting if not a little
daunting at the time considering I didn’t have a huge
amount of experience. Admittedly it took some time
to get to know the lens and to get the best out of her.
The aha moment came when I upgraded to fullframe,
going from my beginners Canon 1200D to the 6D.
I remember the moment well, taking a photograph
of a camellia bud (something I had shot many times
before) at wide open and the wow feeling of being
let into some other dreamlike world! It made me
realise how much of an impact changing your lens
could have on your photography.
The avid collector in me led me on a bit of a lens
buying journey, hunting down vintage glass (and
filters) from obscure places via eBay as well as
purchasing other art lenses like the Petzval plus more
Lensbabies. My especial love is vintage and unusual
lenses, some of which I have modified myself.
STAINED GLASS AUTUMN WITH
REVERSE FRONT ELEMENT
HELIOS 44-2
1/750s, ISO800
21 February 2020
ORCHID PINK
HELIOS 44-2
1/500s, ISO200
PAINTED YELLOW ROSES
HELIOS 44-2 ‘THE BEAST’
22
1/180s, ISO100
The Jupiter 11 was my first vintage lens buy, I had to
wait 2 months for that exotic package to arrive from
the USSR. More vintage lenses followed; Industars,
Heilios, Jupiter’s, and then Vivitar’s and SMC Takumar
along with a mystery box of mixed vintage filters (prism
filters, half field, soft focus, and many more) – If I am
ever feeling a little uninspired I pull that box out and
have a play, I still haven’t used all of them!
The old lenses are designed to work on film cameras
so the distance between the back of the lens and the
sensor can have a big effect on how they perform
depending on their mount and which lens-cameraadapter
combo you are using.
My first Helios 44–2 came to me pre-modified, some of
its blades had been removed to give it square bokeh.
I then did a very simple mod of reversing the front
element of another Helios to affect how it caught the
light.
The next modification I did was more extensive, and
to be honest a bit extreme. Called the glow mod, it
called for removing all the glass elements and depolishing
them with metal polish then sanding the
black paint off of the inside tube. It shouldn’t have
been so bad but when I undid the lens (another
Helios 44–2) someone had obviously done some work
on it before and they hadn’t put one of the holding
screws back in so everything, guts and all, came
out in a gush! I carried on with the mod and put it
back together as best I could work out, which may
not have been 100% correct. When I started playing
around with shooting, I found she gives everything an
impressionist painterly look, so I decided to leave what
I’d done and I christened her ‘The Beast’ because she
is a one of a kind and quite tricky to use!
All of my lenses are different in one way or another
and it’s exciting finding out what they each have to
offer. My most favoured lens is the Lensbaby Velvet 56
as well as my vintage Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 2/58 and
my good old Helios 44–2.
I think that the skills I picked up using the old and
quirky (sometimes difficult) manual lenses helped me
a lot in handling the art lenses especially with manual
focusing with very shallow DOF.
Editing wise I mostly use Lightroom, but I have found
that I prefer to try and catch effects in-camera,
simply for the reason that I’d rather spend time with
the camera than on my computer editing. However,
I do still enjoy playing around with editing, especially
creating mirrored otherworldly images.
I mostly shoot for myself and my own enjoyment but
it pleases me no end that others find pleasure in my
images. I really enjoy seeing peoples differing styles
of work and being part of the Excio community that
supports and promotes NZ photographers like myself.
www.instagram.com/
heathermareeowensphotography
www.facebook.com/heather.m.owens.92
albums.excio.io/profile/heather maree owens
JOYFUL DANCE OF THE DAISIES
CARL ZEISS JENA BIOTAR 2/58
1/2000s, ISO100
23 February 2020
FIORDLAND PEAKS,
DUSKY SOUND
F8, 1/2000s, ISO800
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NZPhotographer
The Best Weather For Landscape Photography
Picking The Best Landscapes To Shoot For The Conditions.
By Richard Young
February 2020 25
MILFORD SOUND
F11, 8s, ISO100
There is a common misconception among nonphotographers
that the best photography weather
is a bright, sunny day. The reality is quite the
opposite; a sunny day for landscape photography
is often the worst weather you can have! Good
photography comes from a mix of weather – interesting
weather, along with its light, will add more drama to a
landscape. A bright, sunny day means boring, empty
blue sky and a flat image with deep shadows.
One of my favourite places to photograph in New
Zealand is in Fiordland. I love the scale and drama
offered by its impressive forest, mountain, and fiordcovered
landscapes. Each time I run a workshop there,
I see the disappointment in my group when the forecast
predicts rain for Milford and Doubtful Sound – which is
the case more often than not! This is a place where it
rains 300 days a year, so you’re lucky (or unlucky!) to
arrive here on a clear day. It is the rain that makes this
landscape so lush, and the weather is as much a part
of the landscape here as its geographical features:
without one, the other would not exist. So when I see
the forecast showing what many would consider
challenging conditions, I know that this is some of the
best weather for capturing the landscapes – both
in dramatic images and in telling the story of the
landscape through the weather that forms it.
A few years ago, when I was visiting Milford Sound in
winter, I had what you might call a curse of fine
weather: three cloudless days. That’s right, it did not
rain once in three days at Milford Sound! I stayed for
four nights with a friend to capture the “perfect shot”
of sunrise over Mitre Peak. Finally (after three boring,
cloudless mornings), the fourth morning brought some
high cloud – the edge of an approaching front, sitting
out in the Tasman sea. Of course, clouds can be as
much a curse and not a cure for the perfect sunrise if
they are in the wrong part of the sky! Luckily for us on
this particular morning, the weather front was
approaching from the west. The far eastern sky was
clear, turning the clouds above us purple, while the
sun’s first rays ignited the tips of the mountain peaks. If
it were sunset, it would have been a different story
altogether: the cloud bank on the western horizon
would have acted as a giant filter, preventing the sun
from lighting up the clouds.
Last year, a very different forecast awaited me as
I headed into Milford to spend the night on a boat –
200mm of rain was expected to fall overnight. I could
26
NZPhotographer
MILFORD SOUND
F4, 1/30s, ISO3200
not have been more excited to be heading out here
to experience this much rain and the photography
opportunities it might bring. The forecast rang true: it
rained heavily throughout the evening. Lying awake
for most of the night, I could hear it lashing against
the side of the boat, and I could not have been more
excited to get up for sunrise. I say sunrise, although it
was not the display of epic colours one might expect.
Instead, it was a very slow penetration of light into
the darkness of the fiord. The darkness seemed to
be trapped in against its deep cliff, not allowing the
light in until way past a time that it should have been
daylight. That morning, I managed to shelter under
the top deck of the boat and capture one of my
favourite shots of Milford Sound. With the torrential
rain, the waterfalls were huge. Every face of the
fiord had turned into a cascade of water. So while
most people would have been still sheltering in their
beds, I was out photographing in the rain and halflight.
I have lots of shots I like from that morning, but
the one I love the most was of another boat: the
Milford Wanderer, just as it passed towards a huge
waterfall. I had to shoot at 3200 ISO for just 1/30th of a
second to capture this in the low light, but had it been
any brighter, the drama of the image would have
been lost. For me, this shot captures the Fiordland
landscape (and weather) and the inclusion of the
boat within the landscape offers both a sense of scale
and a human connection to it.
Some of the most dramatic light is achieved through
cloud cover, when rays of light break through holes in
the clouds and light up parts of the landscape below,
offering a sense of depth to an image. The shot at the
start of this article was taken in just these conditions
while flying back from Dusky Sound in a helicopter.
The sun, low in the western sky, sneaked through a
small gap in the cloud, lighting up the mountain layers
and offering separation between the peaks.
When shooting in “bad weather”, it is important to pick
the right subject. There is little point going after an epic
sunrise shoot on a morning of full cloud cover, but this
does not mean there is nothing to shoot. Two subjects
that work brilliantly, perhaps even best, on an overcast
or wet day are forests and waterfalls. Photographing
a waterfall on a sunny day can be difficult, because
direct sunlight can result in uneven exposure. Cloudy
days offer better conditions, both for even exposure
and to facilitate longer shutter speeds to capture
movement in the water. Photographing in the forest
on a bright day is also hard, as the harsh light creates
a great deal of contrast – again making exposure
February 2020 27
FIORDLAND FOREST
F11, 0.4s, ISO200
DOUBTFUL SOUND
28
NZPhotographer
F8, 1/640s, ISO400
difficult. An overcast sky will fix this. Rain also adds a
level of lushness to the forest: after rain, the forest floor
and mosses spring to life. Leaves glow green with a
level of saturation you will never find when they are dry.
One of the more difficult tasks of shooting in the rain
is making sure your camera gear stays dry (ish) and
that you stay comfortable enough to stay out and
brave the conditions. It might not be the easiest
photography, but you will be rewarded for your
efforts. There is also something about being out in wild
conditions which makes you feel alive! For me, this
alone is a good enough reason to go. Photography
does not always have to be about coming back with
a “winning shot”; on its own, it is a great excuse to get
out and experience some wild places. I can think of
many times I have headed into a landscape in wild
weather – never once firing my shutter but returning
very happy from the experience alone.
Of course, there are times when a blue sky day will also
work. In this shot of Doubtful Sound, the empty blue
sky offers negative space which, along with the deep
shadow area, is mirrored in the fiord’s dark waters.
Here, the clear skies help to simplify the landscape.
So, the next time you plan to go out shooting and it looks
like it might rain, I dare you to go anyway; you might be
pleased with what you return with! After all, landscape
photography is not solely about capturing every iconic
vista bathed in golden colours at sunset and sunrise.
Capturing a landscape in all weather conditions will add
a lot more depth and contrast to your portfolio.
FIORDLAND PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR – JOIN RICHARD YOUNG ON A 4-DAY FIORDLAND
PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR THIS YEAR. DESIGNED AS THE ULTIMATE FIORDLAND EXPERIENCE, YOU
WILL CAPTURE SUNRISE AND SUNSET OVER MILFORD SOUND, STAY OVERNIGHT ON A BOAT ON
DOUBTFUL SOUND, AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A HELICOPTER FLIGHT OVER DUSKY
SOUND. CLICK HERE
Capture to Print
4 Day Masterclass
Central Otago & Wanaka
18th - 21st April 2020
Autumn Masterclass Workshop
Our Central Otago photography tour is programmed in for the month
of April when the Autumn colours are at their best. With landscape
photographers Rob Brown and Richard Young as your guides, and
utilising comfortable 4WD vehicles, we will be able to take you into some
of the most interesting and photogenic places of Central Otago.
www.photographyworkshops.co.nz
info@photographyworkshops.co.nz
021 0845 7322
February 2020 29
Ifirst became aware of the impact we travellers
and tourists have on both natural and urban
environments when I set off to see the world in 1988.
Since then, as each year has passed, that impact
has become more and more apparent. It’s not
good. Yes, I know the jobs and wealth created are
appreciated by locals and businesses, but it’s a finite
planet we live on. Mantras like ‘growth is essential’,
‘it’s only business’ and ‘a healthy economy looks after
everything else’ have always sat uneasily with me. But
today, as we gaze (still too often blindly, so it seems)
down the gapping double barrels of climate change,
the dark side of those claims is undeniable.
Even if our planet wasn’t warming at an alarming rate,
too many people in one spot at one time still have
a disturbing impact – environmentally, logistically,
emotionally, spiritually, and aesthetically. So it’s with
caution that I agreed to write about some wonderful
photographic locations I’ve been privileged to enjoy.
By showing you them, will I destine these places to
also one day become over-run like the Tongariro
Crossing, Roys Peak or the ‘Lone Willow’ at Wanaka?
Perhaps not – if I chose places that demand a little
pain in order to enjoy the gain. Places that take more
effort to reach than the immediate-gratification-selfieseeking
hordes are prepared to make. Well, that’s the
plan at least.
To begin then. A favourite for me is a winter sunrise at
Syme Hut. Perched on the northern edge of Fanthams
Peak, the secondary cone on the southern side of
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NZPhotographer
Here comes the sun, viewed from the southern edge of
Fanthams Peak, with Mount Taranaki and Syme Hut left
Photographic Locations
Worth Sweating For
by Peter Laurenson
Mount Taranaki, Syme Hut is a basic 10 bunk DOC
hut. At 1,950m and well above the tree line, there’s
no fuel for a stove up there, but a tap and sink in the
sheltered entrance alcove give access to rain water
when the pipes aren’t frozen.
Access to the hut is from Manaia Road, which ends
at a car park and DOC visitor centre, near Dawson
Falls. From there it’s a relentless climb from 900m, on
a well defined track up through native forest. As you
clear the tree line at 1,400m it steepens and a series
of steps make the going a little easier to begin with,
before you reach the bare eastern flanks of Fanthams
Peak. To reach the hut only requires about 3 hours of
climbing, so access is relatively easy by New Zealand
backcountry standards.
But here’s the catch – the ultimate time to
photograph this location is in full winter conditions.
While Syme Hut and Fanthams Peak are an
impressive location at any time of year, it’s when
snow and fantastic rime ice encase everything that
the magic really happens. Even from the hut door,
you can watch the eastern horizon redden. As the
dawn sun’s light intensifies through mauve, blood
red, orange and yellow, distant Mounts Ruapehu,
Ngauruhoe and Tongariro are silhouetted on the
eastern skyline. Meanwhile, all around you the snow
and ice become a fine art canvass, reflecting all
the drama of the changing light.
February 2020 31
Mount Taranaki and Syme Hut, early
morning from Fanthams Peak
The upper 600m of Mount Taranaki, bathed in
glorious dawn hues, loom larger than life directly
above to the north and, sometimes, if you walk
across to the southern edge of Fanthams Peak,
you can even see the mountain’s shadow cast out
across the lowlands to the southwest.
Syme Hut (and its separate loo) become partially
buried in snow and sometimes completely encased
in magnificent rime ice in mid winter. The hut’s
single door is split horizontally in the middle so that
entry and exit are possible just through the upper
half when required. I was able to crampon up rime
encased weather stabiliser cables on to the hut’s
roof on one winter visit. The evening before, when
we arrived we had to hack our way through a
coating of ice to even see the upper half of the hut
door. When the hut is encased like this, inside it’s
a cool 2 °C and the soft turquoise light is a bit like
what you might see from inside a glacial crevasse.
It’s an amazing place, perhaps the single best
place to photograph Mount Taranaki in my opinion.
But don’t even think about going there unless
you’re comfortable on exposed frozen terrain kitted
out with crampons and ice axe. While the terrain is
not technically difficult – free climbing has always
been how I’ve climbed up to Syme Hut and then
on to the main summit – a fall could be deadly. This
place is not friendly in bad weather either, so you
need a fine weather window, both for your safety
and also so you can enjoy the full photographic
potential.
For these reasons, I don’t think the selfie horde
will ever reach Syme Hut, but if you’re a keen
landscape photographer, I suggest you add this
place to your bucket list.
The dawn view north to Mount Taranaki and east to
Mounts Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro, from near
Syme Hut, Fanthams Peak
32
NZPhotographer
PM
Mounts Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro at dawn,
from near Syme Hut, Fanthams Peak
New to photography? Looking to improve your knowledge of
the essentials and take your photography to the next step?
Check out our upcoming Nikon NZ School events
in partnership with New Zealand Photography Workshops
Learn more at
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February 2020 33
African Adventures
with Bex Amos
7D and my 100D entry-level body to make sure I
didn’t miss a shot. It was lucky I had my 100D as a
back-up because only a few days into the trip my
second-hand 7D stopped working! This was extremely
disappointing, but I was glad that I still had a DSLR to
capture the important moments. I used my Canon
50mm 1.8mm for portraits, my 70-300mm USM II
for getting up close and personal with Tanzania’s
wildlife, and a 10-18mm for some gorgeous beach
landscapes. My 18-55mm kit lens also came in handy
for day-to-day use. Finally, I took my Polaroid camera
as well - such a great way of connecting with people,
and being able to gift them the captured moments
that they may otherwise never get to see!
I am a 29 year old social worker and hobbyist
photographer. I absolutely love being a social worker
however, the reality of my job is that I see the darkest
side of humanity: people at their lowest where
hopelessness and despair are rife. Photography is one
of my passions because it allows me to turn my lens
towards the light in this world; to capture moments of
natural beauty, joy, and hope. I love photographing
wildlife, people, and the beautiful landscapes of our
world.
In November of last year, I went on a whirlwind of
a trip to Kenya and Tanzania. It was all inspired by
my amazing mum who has been sponsoring a child,
Joyce, in Kenya for the last 14 years. It has always
been a dream of hers to visit Joyce and see the
project that ChildFund operates. Joyce is now 18
years old and the time was right for us to set off and
make my mum’s dream come true but of course, a
trip to Africa wouldn’t be complete without a Safari
and beach getaway too!
Because I wanted to capture the special moments
of our sponsor trip, the wildlife on safari, and the
beautiful island of Zanzibar, I needed to travel with
a little more equipment than usual! I took both my
34
NZPhotographer
MEETING JOYCE
We arrived in Nairobi early afternoon and the next
morning we were picked up at 8am by the lovely
staff of ChildFund Kenya. After going to their National
Office for a security briefing (due to some recent
civil-conflict and terrorism), we set off on a 5 hour car
journey to a town called Isiolo. It was from here that
we made the two-hour walk through mud and rivers,
to reach Joyce’s village – all made possible by some
makeshift gumboots found at a local market! During
the rainy season, it gets so flooded that vehicles are
not able to pass through. This makes it extremely
challenging for the families to get into town for
supplies, or to get drinking water from the nearest
borehole that ChildFund has installed. It was amazing
and humbling to meet Joyce and her family who
welcomed us in with open arms. It was such a special
moment to be able to capture my mum embrace the
girl she has been writing to for the past 14 years. Joyce
was shy at first, but soon warmed up after a game
of balloons! Using the ChildFund social worker as an
interpreter, we learnt about Joyce’s aspirations to
become a teacher, alongside some of the challenges
that this family faces in accessing education, due to
their extreme state of poverty. Mum has supported
Joyce with her school fees as well as providing for
basic items such as food and water. The family were
even able to buy a donkey from the money mum
gave them one year, he is used to carry their water
back from the borehole which is invaluable. After an
amazing and humbling day spent with Joyce and her
family, we set off on our walk back into town, albeit
a lot shorter on the return leg as the hot African sun
had dried up some of the mud and water that once
anchored our gumboots to the ground with every
step.
F5.6, 1/500s, ISO125
F5.6, 1/500s, ISO200
NEXT STOP: TANZANIA!
As an animal lover and photography
enthusiast – our Safari adventure felt like
a dream come true. The only way I can
describe it is: Heaven on Earth. Mum and
I were joined by 2 other travellers on our
5 Day Safari tour and we explored the
Serengeti including the Ngorogoro Crater.
Our tenacious tour guide, Jackson, lead us
along the bumpy and dusty roads of the
Serengeti, surrounded by lush bush gifted
to us by the rainy season. Some of our
highlights were seeing gorgeous lion cubs
cuddling and playing together, capturing a
majestic leopard up in the shade of a tree,
and witnessing the wildebeest migration.
We were also fortunate enough to visit
a Masaai village and learn about their
fascinating way of life. There were so many
beautiful sights and moments that it was
hard to take everything in. But after 5 days
of excitement, adventure and memories
we will cherish forever, we moved on to the
last leg of our trip – a relaxing few days on
the Island of Zanzibar.
February 2020 35
F5.6, 1/1250s, ISO100
F5.6, 1/1250s, ISO100
36
NZPhotographer
F11, 1/100s, ISO100
F5.6, 1/1250Ss, ISO100
February 2020 37
F4, 1/1600s, ISO100
F4, 1/4000s, ISO100
EXPLORING ZANZIBAR, THE ‘SPICE ISLAND’
Zanzibar sits off the east coast of Tanzania and
remains a beautiful island, with an ugly and
tormenting history. Zanzibar, was the epicentre
for the slave trade market in Eastern Africa, with
thousands of locals captured by the Arabs,
auctioned off and then sold as slaves for the
British colonies, as well as other European nations.
Stone Town, the island’s capital, is an exotic
maze of alleyways, coral walls, spice markets,
and large wooden doors with articulate carvings
and brass studs. The mix of Arab, Indian and
African influences makes it an interesting place
to explore while learning about its history.
Once we arrived at our final destination of
Kendwa, we were blown away by the white
stretch of sand and turquoise waters. The ocean
felt like a bath, which didn’t bring much relief
from the unrelenting sun, but we had the pool for
that. Kendwa is on the northern tip, and one of
the most beautiful beaches on Zanzibar which is
why we chose this location to end our amazing
trip, it certainly did not disappoint!
CLOSING THOUGHTS
This may sound awfully cliché, but Africa truly
did capture my heart: the people and their
resilience, the beautiful landscapes and the
majestic animals. I know that I will go back oneday,
without a doubt. For now, I will be grateful
that I was born in Aotearoa, and I will think of
those who have the misfortune of being born into
a poverty-stricken land still recovering from the
generation impacts of slavery, colonisation and
poverty. These are some of the bravest people
you will ever meet, yet also the friendliest and
most hospitable. Their beaming white smiles will
stay imprinted on my heart for a long time.
If my images and words inspire you to go on
safari, be sure to use a local tour company who
are operating ethically by paying the local
staff a fair wage and ensuring appropriate
working conditions. This along with taking the
time to learn about the history and culture
of the places I visit are how I use my camera
for #photographyforgood. I believe we as
photographers should use our talent to capture
the beauty alongside reality, so that we can
understand the plight of others.
www.instagram.com/bexamosphotography
www.facebook.com/bex.amosphotography
38
NZPhotographer
1 Day Workshops
Learn how to take full creative control
and capture your own unique images.
Different one day options:
Basic Photography
Creative Photography
Long Exposure
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2 Day Workshops
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Lightroom Processing
Tongariro Landscapes
Kaimai Waterfalls
Cape Palliser
BOP Seascapes & Waterfalls
4 Day Masterclass
Be inspired with our master class
workshops, which are designed to be
educational vacations, where you are
immersed in a specific area
of photography.
Long Exposure - Coromandel.
Landscapes - Aoraki, Mt Cook.
Astro - Aoraki, Mt Cook.
Autumn Colours - Wanaka.
Wildlife - Otago Peninsular
Photography Tours
Taking you to the best locations
the country has to offer.
Draw inspiration from capturing
New Zealand’s most iconic
landscapes alongside some of
our more hidden gems.
20 Day: South Island Highlights
20 Day: North Island Highlights
17 Day: Ultimate New Zealand
12 Day: New Zealand Icons
15 Day: New Zealand
Coastal Landscapes
15 Day: North Island Landscapes
7 Day: Wild South Island
7 Day: West Coast Wilderness
7 Day: South Island Beaches
& Bays
7 Day: Volcanic North Island
7 Day: Northland & Bay of Islands
4 Day: Fiordland
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info@photographyworkshops.co.nz
February 2020 39
021 0845 7322
VERSA TILITY MEETS AGILITY
C A P T U R E T O M O R R O W
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Photography Unleashed
Winners and Best Entries from the Long Exposure
Photography Competition
WINNERS:
1ST PLACE: THE REWARD OF SUNRISE BY SARAH SMITH
2ND PLACE: THE BEACH ROCKS BY JANA LUO
3RD PLACE: NOT AN ISLAND BY PADRAIC CALLANAN
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
The Birds by Rob Gale
Low Tide Meets Breaking Dawn by Scott Cushman
Colourful Centre of the Universe by Anita Ruggle
Haunting by Tanya Rowe
PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD:
Emotional Expression by Paul Heads
February 2020 41
1st Place
42
NZPhotographer
THE REWARD OF SUNRISE
I often struggle to get out of bed to catch the sunrise, however, when
I do I am always rewarded. On this morning, at my local beach, the
light was subtle and infused everything. I used a 10 stop ND filter to
smooth out the sea which also created the streaky clouds.
Sarah Smith
February 2020 43
2ND PLACE
THE BEACH ROCKS
F18, 30s, ISO64, 16mm
Taken at Muriwai Beach, Auckland.
Jana Luo
44
NZPhotographer
3RD PLACE
NOT AN ISLAND
F8, 117s, ISO100, 56mm
The remains of an old timber pole at Corsair Bay, Christchurch shot on a Nikon
D750 with Tamron SP 24-70mm and NISI V5 ND filter.
The timber pole had interesting texture and there was a nice shadow on the water.
I had to wait until the tide came in enough to cover the rock in the foreground but
by then the tide had almost covered the timber pole and lost the shadow as well. I
find this photo interesting as it is not immediately apparent what it is a photo of - is
it an aerial photo of a small island, or a rocky outcrop?
Padraic Callanan
February 2020 45
HIGHLY
COMMENDED
46
NZPhotographer
THE BIRDS
F18, 30s, ISO64, 16mm
Taken at the Gannet colony at Muriwai Auckland,
I wanted to show some movement in the birds to
reflect the long exposure.
Rob Gale
February 2020 47
HIGHLY
COMMENDED
48
NZPhotographer
LOW TIDE MEETS BREAKING DAWN
I was looking for a decent section of interesting foreshore that
would break up the water and provide nice soft white patches
around the rocks during the long exposure. A first look proved very
boring however, moving closer to the water line produced a better
composition and final image. Shot with the Nikon D810 with Tamron
15-30mm and a 10 stop ND filter with a 30 second exposure time.
Scott Cushman
February 2020 49
HIGHLY
COMMENDED
50
NZPhotographer
COLOURFUL CENTER
OF THE UNIVERSE
This image was taken at Wharekaho beach
looking towards Whitianga township. About
40 min exposure time, it was a very cold
night down at the beach and a challenge to
keep the camera lens fog free.
Anita Ruggle
February 2020 51
HAUNTING
F11, 30s, ISO800,18mm
During the day, I came across an ornate gate
standing alone on the edge of the forest on Stewart
Island. I felt that it would be quite interesting
to photograph at night. So I created this photo
which makes the gate look quite haunted with the
assistance of a white jacket and lights.
Tanya Rowe
52
NZPhotographer
HIGHLY
COMMENDED
February 2020 53
EMOTIONAL EXPRESSION
F11, 4s, ISO100
In 2019 I found light painting was a great way to
express my emotions on good and bad days. Ever
since then I haven't stopped creating different
images that come to mind, this photo was taken at
Awarua bay on the 5th November 2019.
Paul Heads
54
NZPhotographer
PEOPLE'S
CHOICE
February 2020 55
PORTFOLIO
BEST READERS' SUBMISSIONS THIS MONTH
56
NZPhotographer
BIO-LUMINESCENT WAVE
F2.8, 5s, ISO1600
ARKLES BAY
I was in bed when I noticed a post on our local FB page that a bit of bio-luminescence had been spotted in
our area so I jumped out of bed, woke our 8 year old, and off we went hunting for it - this was at midnight!! We
found a little and after an hour or so the little guy was tired so we decided to call it a night. Once home and
climbing back into bed, I noticed another post from earlier with someone saying they saw bio-luminescence
at another beach so, me being me, I jumped out of bed again and this time headed out on my own - it
was 1:30 in the morning by now! When I got there I noticed a little directly in front of me on the beach but
as Murphy would have it, as I set up my camera up, it started fading and then disappeared completely. I
decided to call it a night (again) and started walking to the car. As I was virtually at the car, I saw a blue
flicker up against the cliffs out of the corner of my eye so I decided to head across for one more look! It was
so bright I could see it going off but only on certain waves!! I had to get pretty wet wading in knee deep
water, in the pitch dark, trying to get to the spot at high tide but I was going to try capture this no matter what!!
It was very sporadic and trying to capture it proved very difficult - for me anyway! However, this was a big
highlight in my short photographic career and I suspect a once in a lifetime opportunity. In all the time I was
there the bio-luminescence only went off a handful of times. The colour was generated by mother nature - I
did not have to disturb the water in any way myself to "activate" the amazing colour!!
Grant Birley
February 2020 57
THE JUMP
I was watching some children having fun jumping off the
Whitianga wharf, so I asked the mother if it was ok to take
some photos, she agreed and I grabbed the opportunity to
shoot a series, later merging them together.
Anita Ruggle
KAIKOURA PENINSULAR WALK
Made with the iPhone11 pro of family members walking on the
Kaikoura Peninsular walk and disappearing over the horizon.
Ann Wheatley
58
NZPhotographer
February 2020 59
60
NZPhotographer
SUMMER WEDDING
F2.8, ISO200, 38mm
Photographer / Retoucher : Anupama S. Wijesundara
Model / Makeup Artist : Zenia
Anupama S. Wijesundara
OVERLOOKING HAHEI
F10, 1/250s, ISO200, 44mm
It's taken 21 years, but finally friends from the UK came to visit
over Christmas. One of the trips we took them on was around
the Coromandel. We stayed at Hahei for a few days in a bach
looking over the beach. Happy times, creating new memories.
Carole Garside
February 2020 61
AHURIRI
HARBOUR
F9, 1/200s, ISO200, 18mm
Whilst visiting Napier, we caught
this view at sunset with interesting
light.
Rudolph Kotze
LANDING SPOT!
F9, 1/200s, ISO200, 18mm
I visited the Gannets at Cape
Kidnappers over New Year and
captured many birds in flight -
some landed gracefully and others
not so much. I captured this one on
the approach, still looking for an
open spot.
Rudolph Kotze
TE MATA
F10, 1/320s, ISO100, 18mm
While on holiday this year we went
to Napier and while enjoying great
wine we also had great weather.
Taken with Canon D80.
Rudolph Kotze
ISABELLA AT GOLDEN HOUR
F1.2, 1/1250s, ISO100
I wanted to encapsulate summer by shooting a portrait
session of my best friend's daughter at golden hour. The
evening was still warm and beautiful. I took a number of
portraits of Isabella, which are also lovely, but this image
of her spontaneously running ahead of me through the
shimmering grass, lavender in hand, into the lowering
summer sun speaks to me of summer evenings. The tones
are true to the light on the night. It was perfect. Shot with
a Canon 5DMkiv, 85mm f/1.2L II USM.
Lynn Fothergill
February 2020 63
AITUTAKI - LOVE
A LITTLE PARADISE
F11, 1/800s, ISO160
Aitutaki, Cook Islands is known as one of the most
heavenly places on Earth. From the air, Aitutaki has to be
one of the most beautiful sights in the world and it is just as
stunning from the ground.
Maria Ligaya Bumanglag
64
NZPhotographer
SERENITY
During the summer holidays, while out walking with
friends, I identified this location as a great place to
develop a better understanding of how to use ND filters
with water. Planning to come back with my camera,
I checked the sunrise, tide times, and weather then
marked the day in my calendar. On the day, I woke
at 5am then drove and walked through the dark to the
location. My planning paid off. The sunrise was subtle
and brief, but I still managed to capture some great
light and a variety of effects using the action of the
waves. One of my best 2020 summer memories so far!!
Sarah K Smith
February 2020 65
66
NZPhotographer
A LIFE WORTH LIVING
A picnic at the end of the jetty by Lake Mahinapua, just
south of Hokitika, epitomises the New Zealand way of life
and the slower pace of the West Coast.
Peter Kurdulija
February 2020 67
"IN A GENTLE
WAY, YOU
CAN SHAKE
THE WORLD."
MAHATMA
GANDHI
68
NZPhotographer
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