NZPhotographer Issue 30, April 2020

ISSUE 30, April 2020 

OUR FIRST COUPLES 

INTERVIEW WITH ANNETTE 

AND MALCOLM WHYTE 

PHOTOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS 

WORTH SWEATING FOR 

BY PETER LAURENSON 

RISING STAR: 

ETHAN CALDER CASS 

THE TOP NZ LOCATIONS 

FOR LONG EXPOSURE 

PHOTOGRAPHY PART 2 

BY RICHARD YOUNG 

April 2020 1

WELCOME TO ISSUE 30 OF 

NZ PHOTOGRAPHER MAGAZINE 

HELLO EVERYONE, 

What crazy times we find ourselves in 

right now with much of the world on 

lockdown due to Covid19. We hope 

you're able to find some inspiration 

and indeed peace within these pages 

as you leave the doom and gloom of 

the hourly news behind and put your 

focus back onto photography and the 

beauty of New Zealand. 

You may not be able to get outdoors to 

any epic locations right at this moment 

but Brendon, Peter, and Richard ensure 

you'll be raring to go once lockdown 

is lifted – Use this time to plan your 

future photographic adventures and 

daydream about where you'll go alternatively, use the second part of 

Richard's Top 10 NZ Photo Locations to look back on your own images 

and come up with your own list of places you love whether at home or 

around the world. 

We also have our first couples interview with Malcolm and Annette 

Whyte, and introduce a new feature, Rising Star which shines the 

spotlight on New Zealand's talented young photographers. We continue 

with our new 4x4 feature which showcases the work of NZP subscribers 

and talk iPhone photography with Dionne Solly, get inspired with Ana 

as she outlines all the events ongoing at Excio, and learn about the 24 

Hour Challenge as we go Behind The Shot with Gail Orgias. To wrap 

things up until next month, we end with your best red photos in readers' 

submissions – perhaps you'll feel inspired to hunt around your home for 

some red objects to photograph once you've finished flicking or clicking 

through these pages! 

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 30 

April 2020 

Cover Photo 

Sculpture Red, 

Ann Kilpatrick 

Publisher: 

Foto Lifestyle Ltd 

Website: 

nzphotographer.nz 

Graphic Design: 

Maksim Topyrkin 

Advertising Enquiries: 

Email 

hello@nzphotographer.nz 

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 

4 

8 

12 

18 

27 

28 

38 

56 

58 

62 

BEHIND THE SHOT 

with Gail Orgias 

PHOTOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS WORTH SWEATING 

FOR: MOUNT RUAPEHU SUMMIT PLATEAU 

by Peter Laurenson 

GETTING TO KNOW ANNETTE & MALCOLM WHYTE 

THE TOP NZ LOCATIONS FOR LONG EXPOSURE 

PHOTOGRAPHY - PART 2 

by Richard Young 

INSIGHTS FROM 

@EXCIO PHOTO COMMUNITY 

EXCIO TOP 10 

MINI 4 SHOT PORTFOLIO 

HOW TO GET THE BEST OUT OF YOUR IPHONE 

by Dionne Solly 

RISING STAR: ETHAN CALDER CASS 

JORDALE ROCK 

by Brendon Gilchrist 

66 PORTFOLIO 

BEST READERS' SUBMISSIONS THIS MONTH 

LOCATIONS WORTH 

SWEATING FOR 

BY PETER LAURENSON 

INTERVIEW WITH MALCOLM 

AND ANNETTE WHYTE 

JORDALE ROCK 

BY BRENDON GILCHRIST 

8 

12 

62 

MEMBERSHIP 

FREE 12$ MONTH 120$ YEAR 

• Online issue 

• High res PDF download 

• Access to all back issues 

• Competition entry 

($15 per entry) 

• Readers gallery ($5 per entry) 

• 4x4 gallery submission 

• A chance to be featured 

in interviews, cover photo, 

behind the shot and articles 





(1st entry free) 

• Readers gallery (1 free entry 

per month) 









(1st entry free) 

• Readers gallery (1 free entry 

per month) 





SUBSCRIBE

WHITE LADY 

F2, 1/60s, 23mm 

Behind the Shot with Gail Orgias 

GAIL, TELL US ABOUT YOU AND YOUR 

JOURNEY WITH PHOTOGRAPHY... 

Photography has always been an interest of 

mine, beginning with a film camera when I was a 

‘happy snapper’ taking photos of a young family 

and holidays. 

I have a background in teaching, interior design, 

and urban planning and have done some 

voluntary work along the way. A move from 

Taupo to Auckland a few years ago, with a view 

to live there permanently, was an incentive to 

get into photography again and I joined the 

local Taupo camera club which was the start 

of a renewed interest. A street photography 

workshop in Melbourne was also the beginning 

of a new direction. Since then I have been 

fortunate to take part in street photography 

workshops in Sydney with Vineet Vohra and in 

Paris with Valerie Jardin, both well respected 

teachers/photographers. 

Now back in Auckland, I continue to take 

photographs. I am a member of PSNZ 

(Photographic Society New Zealand) and 

PhotoForum both of which encourage and 

educate photographers in all aspects of 

photography. 

Though I enjoy other photography genres, it is 

street/documentary photography and people 

that most interest me. I love to travel but most 

of my work is about capturing my own urban 

(Auckland) environment where there is no 

shortage of visual material. 

4 


WHAT ARE YOU SHOOTING WITH? 

For this shot I was using the small Fuji X100T with 

23mm fixed lens, it’s an unobtrusive camera, ideal 

for street photography. I also have a Fuji XT2 and 

usually use a 35mm or 16mm prime lens. 

Street photography is difficult in that you never 

know what to expect. You are always anticipating 

that special moment and it has to be captured 

quickly so for this reason, I shoot on Aperture priority 

mode, letting the camera select the shutter speed 

so that I can concentrate on the subject. 

TELL US ABOUT THIS PHOTO... 

I remember this (photo) well as it was taken at 

12.35am – at the beginning of the 24 hour project. 

It was taken in downtown Queen Street, Auckland, 

outside the iconic ‘White Lady’ pie cart, something 

of an institution, which has been run by the same 

family since 1948, and is a well- known gathering 

place and food provider for late-nighters. 

The 24 hour project is an annual global street 

style project with an aim to ‘connect emerging 

photographers, aspiring photojournalists, and visual 

storytellers from every city of the world to document 

humanity and make a difference by raising 

awareness about global issues and empowering 

NGO’s.’ 

Photographers take one photograph per hour in 

their city, at the same time, throughout the world, 

during 24 hours and share via Instagram. In 2019, 

there were 4,880 photographers who took part in 

826 cities of 100 countries and I was one of them. 

Through the 24 hour website, I was able to contact 

3 other photographers in Auckland who were 

taking up the challenge. We met in the central city 

at midnight, before each going our separate ways. 

Before the start of the evening, I had made a list of 

potentially interesting areas and Queen Street was 

one of them. At first, I simply observed the scene – 

there were a number of people about and so it was 

necessary to look for the best vantage point, light 

etc. I took a few initial shots and no one seemed to 

be aware or take notice of my presence. 

This couple, relatively isolated and in conversation, 

caught my eye. They were oblivious to their 

surroundings and my camera. It is ideal to isolate 

your subject wherever possible so I was pleased to 

get this natural shot of the young couple (backlit 

by the pie cart), the position allowing for enough of 

the background to give context. 

The first part of the ‘night shift’ was definitely the 

hardest as this was the time when I felt the most 

tired. It was good to know the ‘support crew’ 

were there (the other 2 Auckland photographers 

who were taking part) plus I did have company 

throughout the early hours for some transport to 

various locations but it was mostly coffee and 

the challenge to complete that was sufficient 

motivation to keep me going through the 24 hours, 

along with always having something interesting to 

photograph. 

HOW DO YOU THINK THE 24 HOUR PROJECT 

FOLLOWS THE #PHOTOGRAPHYFORGOOD 

PHILOSOPHY? 

As part of the 24 hour project there is a sense of 

a worldwide photography community who use 

their skills in a positive way and, although you may 

not interact with all of your subjects, there is the 

opportunity to talk about the project and charity 

with people which helps to raise awareness. 

WHAT ELSE SHOULD WE KNOW ABOUT YOUR 

PHOTOGRAPHY? 

My photography has definitely changed since 2016 

when I exchanged my DSLR setup for a lightweight 

mirrorless system. The lighter setup means I am 

never reluctant to take a camera out with me all 

day - I take more shots and have more fun. 

As well as general street photography, 

photographing protests is another interest of mine. 

You can see my images from the Ihumatao land 

occupation on FujiLove.com 

DO YOU HAVE ANY WORDS OF WISDOM TO 

LEAVE US WITH? 

The best camera is always the one you have with 

you - not my words but I think they are true! 

WHERE CAN WE FIND YOU ONLINE? 

www.gailorgiasphotography.com 

albums.excio.io/profile/pixelmix 

BEHIND THE SHOT IS PROUDLY 

SUPPORTED BY 


NOW 

April 2020 offer - only $80/year or 

$8/month for your first 12 months. 

JUST $80 

SUBSCRIPTION BENEFITS: 

High res PDF download 

Access to all back issues 

Competition entry (1st entry free) 

Readers gallery (1 free entry per month) 

4x4 gallery submission 

A chance to be featured in interviews, cover photo, 


6 

SUBSCRIBE NOW 


Subscribe 

today 

and 

download all back 

issues. 

www.nzphotographer.nz 

www.nzphotographer.nz 


Photographic Locations Worth Sweating For: 

Mount Ruapehu Summit Plateau 

by Peter Laurenson 

In my first article of this series (issue 28) I described 

a dawn/dusk photo session achieved by climbing 

to Syme Hut on Fantham’s Peak, Mount Taranaki. 

Being New Plymouth born, that mountain holds a 

special significance for me, but we live in an amazing 

land and there are plenty of other fabulous spots that 

are seemingly designed for photographers – if you’re 

prepared to put in the effort. 

At 2,797m Tahurangi is Ruapehu’s highest point as well 

as the highest point in the North Island. As the closest 

ski area to our biggest urban population centre, 

lots of people visit Mount Ruapehu every year – for 

skiing, about 450,000 people a year, that’s without 

the trampers and general sightseers. What the vast 

majority of visitors don’t see though is the Summit 

Plateau, the surprisingly expansive, relatively flat area 

contained within this volcano’s crater rim. 

To reach the Summit Plateau there are several quite 

straight forward options. Year round your feet can 

take you there from the Turoa and Whakapapa ski 

area carparks. Whakapapa also operates a tourist 

chair lift that gets you above 2,000m before you even 

have to start climbing. From the eastern side of the 

mountain, when the road is in condition, you can 

drive to 1,700m at Tukino village and walk from there. 

In winter those same options exist, but Turoa also offers 

a sightseers’ lift pass that takes you to 2,300m, from 

8 


A view from the crater rim at 2,750m, looking 

north across the Summit Plateau. Tahurangi, 

the main summit of Ruapehu, is right 

there the most direct route to the crater rim, just north 

of the main summit, is by climbing up a snow face. 

In winter skiers, sightseers, and climbers can all quite 

easily plug or skin their way up to the Summit Plateau 

on a day trip, if they come prepared with the right 

gear to handle the cold and ice underfoot. As on any 

alpine terrain, they must be aware of the weather 

conditions and avalanche risk too – remember that 

poor weather on the Summit Plateau is a killer – at 

such times, stay away! 

Usually the chair lifts open from around 9am‐4pm 

but for photographers that’s no good for magic 

hour shooting. Sure, you can enjoy and capture the 

beauty of the rising or setting sun colouring the slopes 

of the mountain from a distance, but being inside the 

crater, high on the Summit Plateau, takes things to 

another level altogether – literally, aesthetically and 

experientially. 

Camping up on the Summit Plateau is easier said 

than done. Firstly, you need calm and clear weather 

– If it’s cloudy your photography will likely be 

underwhelming and, if it’s windy, trying to keep your 

tent anchored to the surface is a near impossible 

challenge. There’s another factor to be aware of if 

you’ve never camped on snow before. Snow is not 

like ground – it’s freezing cold, often soft, and it melts. 

Without insulation your bum will soon go numb sitting 

on it and your clothes and sleeping bag won’t be 

enough to keep you warm all night long. Therefore a 

good ground mat is essential. Anchoring your tent to 

the surface is not straight forward either as there are 

no rocks available in winter and, depending on the 

condition of the snow, it can be difficult to peg your 

tent down – much longer items such as ski poles and 

ice axes come in handy. Also remember that water to 

drink and for cooking must be melted, and there are 

no toilets. 

For these reasons I don’t think the selfie horde will 

ever experience Plateau Camp. If you’re a keen 

landscape photographer though, overcoming these 

challenges will reward you many times over when 

the dawn and dusk symphonies of sunlight and snow 

unfold and chances are, you’ll be the only one in the 

audience. 


A dawn view east from 2,650m 

on Summit Plateau, Ruapehu. 

A stitch of 3 landscape shots 

F5.6, 1/60s, ISO200, 27mm 

At dawn looking east across 

Pyramid Peak, Summit Plateau 

F11, 1/160s, ISO 200, 72mm 

10 


NZ Landscapes 

PHOTO COMPETITION 

WWW.NZPHOTOGRAPHER.NZ/COMPETITION 

Show us the best view of New Zealand through your lens! 

Judged by New Zealand award-winning photographers, the competition is now open for 

entries. For prizes, judges, and full Terms & Conditions see: 

www.nzphotographer.nz/competition 

1st PLACE 

Samyang 14mm F2.8 lens, 

valued at $1,399 RRP. 

Nikon/Sony/Canon mount. 

1st, 2nd and 3rd PLACES 

24" x 17" Epson Signature Worthy print of your photo 

ENTER NOW 

PARTNERS 

PHOTO COMMUNITY 


Our First Couples Interview 

Getting to Know Annette & Malcolm 

Whyte of Glassography 

HI GUYS, WHY DON’T YOU INTRODUCE 

YOURSELVES TO US! 

We met at Rangiora High School after Malcolm 

moved up from South Otago in year 10. Now in 

our late thirties, we have been together ever 

since and have two teenage children. 

After dairy farming for 13 years, we both left 

the industry to work in different areas of the 

rural sector and bought a house in Ashburton. 

Malcolm works as a truck driver for a local 

fertiliser spreading company and I, Annette, 

work for a rural farming store. We suddenly 

found ourselves with our weekends free to 

indulge in our passion for photography which 

has led to us creating a part time enterprise 

called Glassography. 

DID YOU ALREADY HAVE AN INTEREST IN 

PHOTOGRAPHY OR WAS THIS A BRAND 

NEW HOBBY? 

M: I got into photography while I was dairy 

farming around 13 years ago as a way to 

record how rapidly the kids were growing up, 

family holidays, and for Annette’s scrapbooking 

addiction. It only became more serious 

after Annette picked up a camera. We both 

joined the Ashburton Photographic Society 

to challenge ourselves, to learn from more 

advanced members, and to get constructive 

criticism from the external judges to help us 

grow. 

A: I started photography in 2018 when I got 

a Canon 1500d for Mother’s Day. I chose a 

camera as my gift as a way for me to join in 

Malcolm’s hobby, for something for us to do 

together, but mostly as a way to join in so 

I wasn’t so bored as he pottered around the 

countryside taking photos! 

Photography has actually turned into a family 

affair now – since I upgraded to a Canon 80d, 

our daughter has picked up my old 1500d and 

joined the Ashburton Photographic Society with 

us, she is determined to give us a run for our 

money in competitions! 

WHAT DOES YOUR STYLE OF 

PHOTOGRAPHY LOOK LIKE? 

Our photo styles are diverse and vary but most 

weekends find us driving around Mid Canterbury 

looking for new locations and animals to 

photograph as we both dabble in landscapes 

and flowers. Malcolm leans towards macro and 

farm style photography whilst I love to capture 

birds and other animals plus motorsports. I’m 

currently learning macro photography but 

we’re both constantly looking to learn new 

genres to improve in. 

WHAT DO YOU EACH SHOOT WITH? 

A: As mentioned, I currently use a Canon 80d 

and have 4 lenses; a Tamron 150–600mm f5.-6.3, 

a Tamron 90mm 2.8 macro, a Sigma 17–50mm 

2.8, and a Sigma 17mm 2.8 fisheye. 

M: I also have a Canon 80d, my lenses including 

the Canon 50mm 1.4, Canon 100mm 2.8 Macro, 

and the Tamron 70–200mm 2.8 G2. We got the 

same camera brand so that even though we 

have our ‘own’ lenses, it’s not uncommon for us 

to swap and share as the occasion arises. 

12 


SO WHEN AND HOW WAS GLASSOGRAPHY 

BORN? 

Glassography was born earlier this year when 

we went searching for a cleaner, more unique 

looking way of displaying some of our images 

that would really make them pop besides 

getting them displayed on canvas or in a frame. 

We found a company that helped us to print 

our images onto 5mm reinforced glass, which 

gave us the timeless, high quality finish we were 

searching for. 

After having a few of our favourite images done 

this way, we thought that it would be a good 

option for other people, whether photographers 

with clients or individuals with a favourite photo, 

to display their images this way. Glassography is 

a part time enterprise at the moment which we 

focus on in the evenings after work, and most 

weekends when we are not out taking photos. 

We love seeing how creative other people are 

and want to share how spectacular the images 

which hold a special place in their heart can 

look on glass. 

HOW DO YOU SPLIT UP THE DIFFERENT 

ROLES THAT A PHOTOGRAPHY BUSINESS 

REQUIRES? 

We decide as a couple which locations to visit 

depending on the time of year and what we are 

trying to capture. In terms of promoting ourselves 

and day-to-day tasks, Malcolm takes care of 

Instagram and I handle Facebook and emails. 

We share liaising with the printing company 

over orders, deliveries, and any queries in the 

evenings when we are both home as this is the 

most productive time for us together without 

interfering in our day jobs. 

We also decide together which images get used 

in the business and on social media – often we 

will have similar shots, but from different angles 

and/or aspects, and since we process our own 

images separately, it comes down to which one 

makes the biggest impact on us. You can see an 

example of this from our supercar line up shots 

(below) taken on a recent trip to the Mike Pero 

Skope Classic 2020. We were walking the pit area 

looking for interesting photojournalism images for 

an upcoming Ashburton Photographic Society 

internal competition. Both images were taken 

without the others knowledge as we walked past 

the display line up. After reviewing and editing 

our own keeper images from the day, it was 

decided that Annette’s photo (top) would be 

used as it had better composition, resulting in a 

more pleasing image. 

AS A COUPLE, HOW DO YOU WORK 

THROUGH ANY PHOTOGRAPHY/BUSINESS 

ISSUES OR DISPUTES THAT COME UP? 

Being together for 22 years, married for 15, has 

taught us a lot about each other and the art of 

conflict resolution. If we have any creative or 

business issues come up between us, they are 

solved around the table, usually with a cuppa 

and some chocolate, but it is a rare thing for 

us not to be on the same wavelength after this 

many years together. 


DAVID BROWN 

Malcolm Whyte 

F3.2, 1/1600s, ISO100 

ROYAL SPOONBILLS 

Annette Whyte 

F6.3, 1/400s, ISO1600 

14 


TWIZEL SUNRISE 

Annette Whyte 

F3.5, 25s, ISO 100 

NOSE PICKER 

Malcolm Whyte 

F6.3, 1/640s, ISO800 


KINGFISHER 

Annette Whyte 

F8, 1/800s, ISO800 

WHAT DO YOU STRUGGLE WITH THE MOST IN 

PHOTOGRAPHY? 

A: Patience. I struggle with patience. From waiting 

for that perfect shot and not rushing it, to adjusting 

settings on my camera to ensure I capture 

that perfect moment. Until I learn a particular 

technique to perfect the shot I am after, it can be 

very frustrating and I will go back again and again 

if I can until I achieve the desired effect. Luckily 

Malcolm is a very patient teacher and a good 

chauffeur. 

M: From time to time I still struggle with creative 

flow. I can be in a perfect location, with perfect 

settings, but struggle to find the motivation to take 

photos. In times like these, I will generally not take 

out my camera, but instead help Annette if she 

needs it, or just enjoy the scenery without pushing 

the shutter. The technical side of photography, 

while sometimes difficult, can be learned either 

from others, or online, but the motivational ebb 

can sometimes be harder to overcome. 

DO YOU EACH HAVE A FAVOURITE 

IMAGE? 

A: My favourite image so far is definitely my Kingfisher 

on a branch. It was a culmination of many weekends 

worth of travel to Brooklands Wetlands trying to get 

that perfect balance of light, background, and 

sharpness of image using the Tamron 150–600mm at 

600mm. Kingfishers hold a special place in my heart as 

they were the favourite bird of a close friend of mine, 

and since he died, I seem to see them just about 

everywhere we go. 

M: My favourite image is one I took at Mike Pero 

Motorsport Park in Ruapuna Christchurch earlier this 

year. I have started to dabble in Photojournalism, 

especially in black and white images that tell a story 

you might not normally see, or not think of in the 

traditional sense. To me, the image of a helmet sitting 

on the rear wing, ready for the driver to slip on just 

before the race tells the backstory of the preparation 

that goes into getting the cars on the track for a 10 

minute or so race. 

16 


ANNETTE, YOU’RE PASSIONATE ABOUT 

CAPTURING BIRDS, WHAT ARE YOUR TOP TIPS 

FOR BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY? 

Be in the moment. I will usually always have my largest 

lens at the ready with a fast shutter speed. I shoot in 

shutter priority mode, usually as close to 1/1000 th as 

I can, with as low ISO as I can get away with, and let 

the camera choose the other settings. If I don’t have 

my 150–600mm with me, then I don’t look for birds! 

If I miss the shot, I’m gutted – I study the birds I see and 

find out a bit more about their nesting and feeding 

habits, and return regularly until I get that shot I’m 

after. Birds are amazing and can be very challenging 

to photograph, but I love the challenge of a moving 

object – You’re never going to get the same shot 

twice. 

WHAT DOES #PHOTOGRAPHYFORGOOD 

MEAN TO YOU? 

#PhotographyForGood means, to us, making sure we 

can capture the amazing image we see in front of us 

and display them in such a way that we can project 

the same joy we felt at the time of taking those shots 

to someone who may need that little spark of joy in 

their day. 

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE? 

We are looking to continually grow our business within 

New Zealand, hoping to establish a reputation for high 

quality glass images, before offering the same services 

overseas. 

WHERE CAN WE FIND YOU ONLINE? 

www.instagram.com/m.a.whyte.photography 

www.facebook.com/M&AWhytePhotography 

albums.excio.io/profile/glassography 

READY TO RACE 

Malcolm Whyte 

F3.2, 1/160s, ISO100

The Top NZ Locations for Long 

Exposure Photography - Part 2 

by Richard Young 

In part two of this feature, we share another 5 of Richard Young's favourite 

locations for long exposure photography in New Zealand. 

18 



CATHEDRAL COVE 

CATHEDRAL COVE, COROMANDEL PENINSULA 

F11, 8 minutes, ISO64 

One of my top coastal landscapes on the North Island is Cathedral Cove, an 

awe-inspiring location to photograph. It is one of the most popular sites of the 

Coromandel Peninsula and therefore frequented by hordes of tourists during 

a hot summer day, just like the iconic archway of Durdle Door in England, but 

an early sunrise can offer the chance to get the beach mostly to yourself. 

Standing under the gigantic stone archway which shelters the white sandy 

bay in an air of cathedral-like majesty, you look out onto a crystal clear 

ocean, dramatic cliffs, and pohutukawa trees. Capturing the near-fantasy 

framing of the large pinnacle rock known as 'Te Hoho' or Sail Rock through 

the archway with a long exposure creates an extremely compelling and 

iconic New Zealand photograph. 

20 


TAWHAI FALLS 

TAWHAI FALLS, TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK 

F11, 4s, ISO64 

Pouring over the lip of an ancient lava flow amongst native forest, these 

13-metre high falls are a stunning and easily-reachable location in the 

extensive Tongariro National Park. This beautiful waterfall stands below the 

volcanoes of Mt Ruapehu, Mt Tongariro, and Mt Ngauruhoe. It is a landscape 

created by many volcanic eruptions, containing myriad waterfalls - some as 

high as 50 metres. 

Tawhai Falls was the filming location of Gollum’s pool - where Faramir and his 

archers watch Gollum fish - making it a highlight for Lord of the Rings fans! 

I have probably shot this waterfall more than any other in New Zealand, due 

to the amount of time I spend in the park. Like any waterfall, it requires a 

combination of conditions to get the perfect shot; I find the best conditions 

are found on an overcast afternoon, when the light penetrating through the 

forest is controlled for an even exposure. 


AORAKI/MT COOK NATIONAL PARK 

TASMAN LAKE, MT COOK 

F11, 10s, ISO64 

Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park is a mecca for New Zealand landscape 

photographers, offering great opportunities to build your landscape portfolio. 

The peak of Aoraki/Mt Cook is the highest mountain in New Zealand, 

calculated to be 3,724 metres high. 

Options for photography and views of Mt Cook are limitless in the park. 

Many are accessible only by arduous hikes and climbs onto the surrounding 

mountainsides but if you are not a climber, never fear! Mt Cook can be shot 

from various locations on the valley floor to produce jaw-dropping images. 

One of my top spots for shooting an epic sunrise is the Tasman Glacier Lake, 

with icebergs floating atop its deep waters. 

22 


WHARARIKI BEACH 

WHARARIKI BEACH, GOLDEN BAY 

F11, 8s, ISO100 

My favourite South Island beach and home to some of the most spectacular 

coastline in Aotearoa, Wharariki offers endless vistas with wind-sculpted 

sand dunes, beautiful rocky outcrops, and the Archway Islands - two giant 

monoliths rising out of the ocean at high tide. Due to its remote location on 

the top northwest corner of the South Island, it is off the beaten track of the 

main tourist route. 

Although this area is known for dramatic weather, I captured my most 

treasured photograph here on what I thought would be a disappointing 

sunset, with completely cloudless skies. The shoot was saved by the find of 

a very calm tidal pool: in its reflection, I was able to capture the perfect 

symmetry of the islands. 


LAKE MATHESON 

LAKE MATHERSON, WEST COAST 

F11, 30s, ISO64 

A gem of New Zealand’s west coast, Lake Matheson sits within beautiful 

native forest at the foot of the snow-capped Southern Alps. Attracting 

photographers from all over the world, the lake’s view is one of the staple 

images of any New Zealand landscape photography portfolio. 

It is still one of my favourite views in New Zealand when conditions are 

optimal which can be hard to find, given that it is in one of the wettest 

parts of the country. I love visiting on a clear winter’s morning for the best 

chance to capture the perfect reflection, with the added element of some 

morning mist. By shooting the lake with a long exposure, you can smooth 

out its surface to capture the glorious mirrored reflections of Mt Cook and Mt 

Tasman. 

JOIN RICHARD YOUNG ON A PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR WITH NEW ZEALAND PHOTOGRAPHY 

WORKSHOPS AND CAPTURE SOME OF THESE ICONIC LOCATIONS ALONG WITH SOME OTHER 

HIDDEN GEMS. FIND OUT MORE AT WWW.PHOTOGRAPHYWORKSHOPS.CO.NZ

VERSA TILITY MEETS AGILITY 

C A P T U R E T O M O R R O W 

From fast-moving action to rich 4K HDR video, the new Nikon D780 helps your vision take flight. Its unique combination of 

innovations including an algorithm adapted from the flagship D5. Meanwhile, live view shooting brings all the advantages of 

hybrid AF using focal-plane phase-detection AF technology, including eye-detection AF and wide 273-point coverage. Combined 

with shutter speeds from 1/8000 s to 900 s, and advanced video and time-lapse features, the D780 embodies true versatility. 

2 4 .5 MP | I S O 1 00-51200 | 51-point AF | 273-point hybrid AF | 4K UHD, HDR (HLG) vi d e o 


PHOTO COMMUNITY 

APRIL 2020 

You're invited! 

Join our online live 

photography chats, 

challenges, expert critique 

sessions and more. 

26 

NZPhotographer 

www.excio.io/events

INSIGHTS FROM 

@excio photo community 

The theme of our Top 10 

photos uploaded to Excio 

by our members this month 

is “Focus on the Positive”. 

On the day this issue is published, 

New Zealand will be on day 7 of 

the national 4-week lockdown 

due to coronavirus. With the world 

turning upside down, there is a 

lot of uncertainty and anxiety in 

the air which is boosted by all the 

negative news thanks to TV, radio, 

social media, and even some 

publishers, the photojournalists 

using moody, dark photographs 

when they are simply not 

necessary. 

Now more than ever, the 

Excio photo community has 

proven to be the source 

of #PhotographyForGood 

where people can enjoy the 

photographs created and shared 

by our members. We can’t stress 

enough how proud we are of our 

members who continue uploading 

and sharing their work because in 

times like this, every photo has the 

power to cheer up thousands of 

people around the world. 

For that exact purpose we have 

created a free WhatsApp group 

that you are welcome to join – 

Each day we post an inspirational, 

bright and cheerful, or interesting 

photo from our members 

collections so that you receive a 

daily dose of positivity and can 

also pass that spark of happiness 

on to others in your circle whether 

family, friends, or colleagues. Of 

course, you can also download 

the free to browse Excio app 

where you can literally have 

unlimited inspiration with hundreds 

of photos and photographic 

stories to browse. 

If you are reading this right now, 

we bet you love photography! It 

means you are one of the lucky 

ones who will never be bored 

during self-isolation since there 

are so many photography related 

events and projects that we can 

do while staying at home. Read 

our ideas and tips here. 

We are fortunate that Excio has 

always been an online community 

so we have been able to act 

quickly as the world around 

us has turned upside down. 

We have recently launched a 

selection of online activities to 

help our members stay active, 

stay together while being is selfisolation, 

and even get rewarded 

by participating in creative 

challenges. For the next 4 weeks 

we will be sending Excio members 

a weekly dose of ideas, online 

events, and challenges but you 

can also stay up to date on 

everything that's happening at 

Excio via our Blog. 

We hope you enjoy the top 10 

photographs you see on the next 

pages and get inspired to grab 

your camera and try a few shots 

yourself. The photos remind us that 

there is so much more in the world 

than this virus that is currently 

getting constant coverage - 

wonderful wildlife, scenes from 

nature, and, of course, wonderful 

human beings all still exist so 

stay kind, stay home, and ramp 

up your efforts to encourage 

#PhotographyForGood as we're 

all in this together. 

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 

www.excio.io 

27 April 2020

28 

Excio Top 10 

LINDA CUTCHE 

TUI 

“Be as a bird perched on a frail branch that she feels 

bending beneath her, still she sings away all the same, 

knowing she has wings.” – Victor Hugo

GRAHAM JONES 

BUMBLE BEE HEAVEN 

“The Sunflowers are blooming and the Bumble Bee's arrive 

- an annual event in our backyard. With a tripod, macro 

lens and shutter release... What more could one ask for!” 


30 

DAMON MARSHALL 

MR FROGGINTGTON 

“Raised from a tadpole, Mr Froggington was a well-kept pet of ours for 

some time. The frog was eventually released into the wild.” 

VICKI FINLAY 

DRAGONFLY 

“What do you do when you go birding and a dragonfly lands on a leaf near by and you don't 

have a macro lens? Use what you have! My trusty 100-400mm still worked a treat and got 

me close in to an otherwise unsuspecting dragonfly from quite a distance away.”

FAIRLIE ATKINSON 

ROSES ARE RED 

“Zoom burst of a glass with a red rose and paint in it.” 

KAREN CROZIER 

UNDER MY UMBRELLA 

“I love colour so was pleased when I found this 

beautiful colourful umbrella and a willing model. I took 

this at Papamoa Beach look down Mount Maunganui.” 


32 

LEE WADDELL 

PURE JOY 

“This is my son, playing in the rain with a hosepipe in hand. What more could a 

kid want. I took this image because of the pure joy my son had on his face and 

the way the light captured every drop of water.”

ROY CHERNOHORSKY 

KAURI POINT 

“Reflected sunset in a little bay by Kauri point 

heading towards Tauranga.” 


34 

LIA PRIEMUS 

TRIBAL WOMEN 

“I know these tribal women, Sindori and Noori, well. They live in tents near the camel settlement of town in 

Rajasthan, India and are very street wise, no nonsense. Their lives are anything but soft in this community 

of women bringing up children without a father but they still manage to retain a sense of humour.”

PAMELA JOHNSTONE 

SIDE VISION 

“Taken at the Estuary in South New Brighton Christchurch, these were the colourful reflections of the last sunset before our 

New Zealand Level Four Covid-19 lockdown. I believe that while we cannot go about our normal everyday tasks at the moment, 

it is still very important for our mental health to take a break from all the sad images around the world and not watch the 

news 24/7.Yes, by all means keep informed however, allow yourself and your mind to rest we are all in this globally together.” 


Mini 4 Shot Portfolio 

Our 4x4 feature showcases 4 mini portfolio’s of both 

professional and up and coming New Zealand 

photographers. The 4 images are linked in some way, 

allowing you to get an understanding of what each 

photographer is most passionate about capturing. 

For a change to get your own 4x4 feature in a future 

issue of the magazine, become a subscriber of the 

magazine here. 

ANN KILPATRICK 

Impact Wellington 

DON MCLEOD 

Emberá Indians Of Panama 

KIM FREE 

Portraits of Conservation 

TANYA ROWE 

Birding Moments

ANN KILPATRICK 

38 


Photography is a creative outlet for me - 

a catalyst to explore new places, meet 

new friends, and find different ways of 

working with my camera. I have been 

photographing the activity around my life for 

as long as I can remember but have recently 

stepped up my photography game by 

attending a variety of different courses 

that have been invaluable for me. 

@Annk_photography 

IMPACT WELLINGTON 

These photos are from a number I shot from 2016 to 

2019 which were exhibited at Photospace Gallery. 

My objective was to document some of the impact 

of the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake on Wellington, New 

Zealand. 

At the time of the earthquake I was working in 

Thorndon, Wellington. Immediately after the 

earthquake, we had to move out of our building for 

about a month. Several buildings around Thorndon, 

and the nearby wharf area, were either carefully 

dismantled, or simply demolished and bulldozed 

away. As the face of Wellington changed, I 

observed and photographed the disappearance 

of the buildings. They are no more. These are my 

record of a time, and buildings, now passed. 


DON MCLEOD 

42 


Photography is a medium for expression of life in 

all its facets. From learning the art with a Rollei 

medium format to a Nikon D700, one is never short of 

opportunities to tell a story. My greatest interest has 

been photographing people, and looking for that 

special photo to portray the inner soul of the person. I 

always love the challenge of photographing children, 

with their sense of freedom and fun. 

www.snugharbour.co.nz 

EMBERÁ INDIANS OF PANAMA 

A few years ago I seized the opportunity to visit an Emberá Indian village on the banks of a river 

in Panama. This visit was like going back in time because the village offered a unique glimpse 

at a preserved way of life of the indigenous people of Panama and Colombia with music and 

dance, traditional clothing, and indigenous foods all part of the immersive experience. 

The Emberá are historically a riverine people, building their houses on stilts along the banks of 

rivers where they are organized into a small community with a communal house at its centre. 

The craft of constructing dugout canoes (hampá) was historically a very significant skill for 

Emberá men, at times serving as a rite of passage or prerequisite for marriage according to oral 

history. 

Although most Emberá people now live in villages, towns, or urban centres, many established 

Emberá communities still found along riverbanks have resisted modernization and still keep 

their own government and family structures, however, they do rely a lot on tourism to sell their 

homemade products. 


KIM FREE

I'm a Canterbury/ West Coast, based photographer. 

My passion is shooting nature. For me, photography is a 

meditative experience - I am fully in the moment when 

shooting. I hope my photos will cause an emotional 

response in the viewer and that I can show them the 

beauty in our world, the landscapes and the animals. 

I am extremely passionate about wildlife conservation 

and support as many causes as I can. 

@kimfreephotography 

PORTRAITS OF CONSERVATION 

These four images were all taken at Orana Wildlife Park in 

Christchurch. I work closely with Orana to capture images of 

their beautiful animals that show how truly amazing they are. 

So many of these incredible beings are critically endangered 

in the wild and I believe good wildlife parks and their breeding 

programs are the ark of our time. Orana want images that 

show their animals enjoying their surroundings and that will 

help to promote them as ambassadors of their species, 

hopefully raising awareness of the effects of climate change, 

deforestation, and poaching and giving an opportunity for 

education around these things. 

I seek to capture bright, vibrant images that really showcase 

these animals living happy stimulating lives and I love to show 

people the details they may otherwise miss, like their eyes, the 

textures and patterns of their fur or coats, and their colours. 

Sometimes looking from a distance people will not see these 

things. 

We are so privileged to share the planet with these animals 

and if I can make one person, through my photos, care 

enough to help ensure the survival of these species for 

decades to come, then a life goal for me is complete.

TANYA ROWE

I have been keen on photography since a 

young age but I started taking photography 

more seriously as a hobby about 10 years 

ago. To make the most of my interest, I spent 

a year in Dunedin completing a Certificate 

in Digital Photography in 2016. Since then I 

have become more capable, particularly 

with using my camera in manual mode. I 

am especially interested in photographing 

nature in all its diversity. 

tanyarowenz.wixsite.com/photography 

BIRDING MOMENTS 

I get so much enjoyment out of photographing 

animals. Specifically, I find myself spending a lot 

of time watching and photographing birds. This 

series represents some of the great variety of 

birds we have in New Zealand. 

The White-Fronted Tern photo was taken in 

Tauranga, where a large group of terns were 

nesting on the edge of a busy bridge. The Wood 

Pigeon photo was taken at Zealandia, a fenced 

ecosanctuary in Wellington. The Fantail photo 

was taken at my house. Initially the lighting 

wasn’t great but the clouds parted just in time. 

The Australasian Crested Grebe photo was taken 

in Queenstown. It is one of my most memorable 

bird watching moments as it was the first Grebe I 

had ever seen.

Capturing The Beauty Of The 

World With A Phone 

How To Get The Best Out Of Your iPhone Camera 

By Dionne Solly 

MALDIVES SUNSET 

What’s the best camera for photography? The one 

you have available! 

I found this to be oh-so-true shortly after completing 

an online Diploma in Photography when my old 

bridge digital camera stopped working. 

Did I let this equipment failure stop my photography 

journey in its tracks? No! I had noticed that I 

seemed to be taking more and more photos on 

my iPhone X as I always had it on me. It was just 

so easy when out for a run or bike ride to snap a 

quick pic. And the photos seemed to come out 

pretty good too! I did a bit of searching online and 

found an iPhone photography course, this helped 

me to get the most out of my iPhone camera and 

taught me a lot of tips and tricks. As I was still fairly 

new to photography at this time, I found the phone 

camera was excellent for practising composition 

techniques as I didn’t have to think too much 

about what the camera was doing and could put 

more effort into the scenes/images I was shooting. 

There are people I follow on Instagram who take 

insanely amazing images with their iPhone and 

others who use editing apps to make images that 

are more like works of art than photos. I guess that’s 

part of the appeal of mobile photography - most 

people already have a phone with a camera so 

can start taking photos straight away, no need for 

54 


ulky/expensive equipment and certainly no need 

for an extra bag to carry it around in! 

iPhone photography lends itself really well to many 

different photography genres including portraiture, 

street, food but for me it’s lansdscapes, macro, and 

travel photography that are my passion. 

I love being outdoors and the art of being able 

to capture the beautiful things I see in nature has 

always been the draw card for me. I really enjoy 

shooting landscapes and anything to do with water 

(the sea, lakes, rain) plus, getting up early and 

watching the world wake up as the sunrises, really 

fills my cup! Macro is also fascinating as you get to 

see, up close, a whole other world - I can sit in the 

garden for hours while bees and insects are hard at 

work, happily snapping photos from their world but 

enough about me, let me share some tips and tricks 

for making the most of your iPhone camera. 

10 TIPS ON GETTING THE BEST OUT OF YOUR 

IPHONE CAMERA: 

1. Turn on your iPhone camera grid. This will help 

with composition (especially rule of thirds) and 

will help keep your horizon line straight when 

shooting landscapes. 

2. Always set the focus yourself, rather than relying 

on the phone to guess correctly. Simply tap the 

screen on whatever part of the scene you would 

like the focus to be set on. A yellow box will 

appear which means the focus is set. 

3. You can also set exposure yourself by swiping up 

or down on the sun icon next to the yellow focus 

box. 

4. Change up the angle you are shooting from. 

With your iPhone being so small and light you 

can really get creative with the angles you 

are shooting from. Getting low is my favourite, 

especially when shooting water scenes... getting 

as close to the water as possible results in great 

reflection photos! 

5. Make sure you clean the lens on your iPhone! 

It might sound like a given, but even a small 

smudge where its been in your pocket or bag 

can result in a blurry photo. 

6. Use portrait mode for great blurred backgrounds 

in your photos. 

7. Use burst mode to take action photos. Just hold 

your finger down on the home button. 

8. Never miss a shot by quickly opening the camera 

app from the locked screen. Tap the screen to 

wake it up (or press the home button on older 

iPhone models) then swipe left - the camera app 

will slide onto the screen. 

BASKET OF DREAMS, 

QUEENSTOWN 

BUBBLES, HANMER SPRINGS 

GLOW, LAKE WANAKA

9. Use the volume buttons on your headphones 

to take a picture. This is really good for street 

photography or in situations when you want 

people to act naturally. Simply frame your 

shot and with your headphones plugged into 

your phone click on either one of the volume 

buttons. 

10. Headphone volume buttons can also act as 

a remote shutter release – perfect if you have 

your phone on a tripod and you want to avoid 

camera shake in low light conditions. 

If you have an Android phone, or something else, 

use these tips as the inspiration to learn how to take 

control over your make and model, though the 

steps won’t be the same, you can still take control 

and make your phone work how you want it to! 

TAKING PHONE PHOTOGRAPHY FURTHER: 

I’ve found editing on my iPhone or iPad really 

easy. Apart from the editing software already 

available on the iPhone, the number one app I use 

is Snapseed. It’s free and easy to use with a huge 

range of editing tools meaning you can quickly 

and easily improve colour, exposure, sharpness, 

cropping and straightening. It also has different 

filters, a healing tool, and you can add a vignette, 

lens blur and more. 

Camera + is another free app I use which is great 

for macro photography with Retouch, Superimpose 

and LensLight other free apps that are great for 

adding fun elements to your images. 

For older iPhone models there are special macro, 

wide angle, and fish eye lenses that you can buy 

and attach to your iPhone to take your creativity 

further though these add-ons not so relevant for the 

newer models that already have multiple lenses. 

IS A DSLR EVEN NEEDED? 

For me, the answer is yes but for some people it 

might be no. The more photography I did with my 

iPhone, the more I started to realise the limitations. I 

love long exposure, wildlife and Astro photography 

and my iPhone just didn’t cut it in these genres 

so I bought a Nikon D5600 last year along with a 

few extra lenses. I still get my iPhone out to take a 

few snaps occasionally and really appreciate the 

time I’ve spent taking photos with it so if you’re 

holding your passion for photography back due 

to lack of funds for a fancy camera, or indeed 

interested in trying out photography as a new 

hobby, I encourage you to use your phone camera 

as a stepping stone into the enchanting world of 

photography to see how far it can take you. 

START OF THE DAY 

VITAMIN SEA 

www.instagram.com/dionne.solly 

56 

NZPhotographer 

BUSY BEE

Deliver 

a larger 

impact. 

BONUS 

Epson Signature 

Worthy Sample 

Pack** 

EPSON PHOTO RANGE – FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS WHO WANT MORE 

· Unparalleled print quality: Print at resolutions up to 

5760x1440 dpi using advanced Epson all-pigment ink 

· Outstanding productivity: Print at high speed with 

cost-effective high-capacity ink cartridges up to 200 ml 

· Exceptional media support: Print on the widest range of 

fine art media including roll based stocks, and thick board* 

· Superior control: Print with maximum precision via an advanced 

driver, special Black & White Mode, and an optional SpectroProofer* 

· Simpler operation: Epson Print Layout Software for rapid production 

of a vwide range of outputs for various display requirements 

· Lower maintenance: Stable permanent print heads covered by a 

comprehensive warranty with optional on-site service extendable up to 5 years 

SC-P600 A3+ 

SC-P5070 A2+ 

SC-P800 A2+ 

Learn more, visit www.epson.co.nz 

*SureColor P5070 only 

**Valid with purchase of SC-P600, SC-P800 from Epson or selected resellers. 


STREET VIEW REFLECTIONS 

F5.6, 1/500s, ISO1000 

Rising Star: Ethan Calder Cass 

Ethan Calder Cass is a rising athletics star 

(in the top 10 in NZ for sprints) and a gifted 

photographer. He is currently in year 13 

at Kapiti College and has an interest in street 

photography and sports photography. His purpose 

is to catch evocative images reflecting the 

emotion at the time of the event. 

ETHAN, WHEN DID YOU FIRST PICK UP A 

CAMERA? 

When I was around 4 years old I was given a 

toy camera, I would spend hours going around 

thinking I was taking photos but in reality not 

taking them. Eventually, I was given an old point 

and shoot camera and that’s when I began 

58 


taking ‘real’ photos. Out of this grew a 

passion for photography which I’ve had ever 

since, making it a pretty easy choice to take 

photography as a subject in school. 

F4.5, 1/2000s, ISO1000 

HOW HAS YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY 

PROGRESSED IN TERMS OF CREATIVITY? 

I wouldn’t say I’ve always had a creative 

streak with my images. Looking back on older 

images I took, I can safely say they were very 

technical and very accurate to genre. As I’ve 

grown older, I’ve tried to explore more in 

different ways. I’ve had an urge to steer away 

from the ‘same old same old’ and to try and 

create something different whenever I can. 

Last year I explored a bit of surrealism and this 

year I am starting to look at the more abstract 

nature of photography. 

HOW DOES PHOTOGRAPHY HELP YOU 

EXPRESS YOURSELF? 

I started out by saying that photography 

doesn’t really help me to express myself, but 

my teacher pointed out that I am quite a 

reserved person and that my passion and my 

interest in the world around me is expressed in 

my photos. I have always done photography 

for the sheer pleasure of challenging myself, 

rather than trying to express myself, but 

I guess as I’ve grown I’ve started to develop 

more of my own style rather than copying 

others. In this way I guess photography is 

indeed helping me to express myself in a way 

that I am not really conscious of. 

F4.5, 1/2000s, ISO1000 

TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR PASSION 

FOR SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY AND 

STREET PHOTOGRAPHY – WHY THESE 

GENRES? 

My passion for sports photography has just 

come naturally. From a young age I’ve been 

heavily involved in a range of sports. I just 

love the atmosphere and emotion that comes 

with sport. From my own personal ups and 

downs within sport I just know there are some 

moving and deep images to capture and 

that has probably created my passion for it. 

My interest in street photography probably 

came from spending a lot of time in 

Wellington… spending the weekends in 

the city I would find myself taking a lot of 

architecture or street images. Going online 

I would always see those types of images 

and think ‘wow, those are really amazing’ 

and then trying to replicate them myself in 

Wellington. 


WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST STRUGGLE WITH 

PHOTOGRAPHY AND HOW ARE YOU 

OVERCOMING THAT? 

I’d have to say my biggest struggle has been 

motivating myself to go out and shoot. A lot of my 

time is spent at college and training for athletics along 

with other sports. Both of these coupled with working 

a part time job means I’m short on time but mainly 

energy to go out to shoot. Sometimes I’ll drag myself 

out to go and shoot but I’ll end up not being happy 

with anything or struggle to see anything worthwhile 

shooting. Although I’m finding the more often I go out 

I’ll see something and then an idea will click and I’ll 

be away. I think it’s like anything in terms of the more 

you do it, the better you get at it and the more your 

passion develops for it. 

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE AND 

HOW DO YOU SEE PHOTOGRAPHY PLAYING A 

PART IN THAT? 

I don’t really know my plans for the future but 

definitely photography will be some part of it, 

whatever I may end up doing. It has ended up being 

such a part of my being now that I can’t imagine not 

doing photography in some form. 

WHERE CAN WE SEE YOUR WORK ONLINE? 

www.flickr.com/photos/187421693@N05 

PAIN OF DEFEAT SERIES 

F5.6, 1/400s, ISO1250

4 Day Portfolio & Processing Masterclass 

Based in Wellington, our Portfolio & Processing Masterclass guides you through the process of creating a 

photography portfolio showcasing your unique style and vision. This workshop is designed as a portfoliobuilder: 

we will cover advanced processing techniques in both Lightroom and Photoshop, as well as working 

through the printing process. By the end of this Masterclass, you will have completed a handmade fine-art 

portfolio containing ten of your best prints. Professional photographers Richard Young and Ken Wright will be 

your tutors, giving both group and one-on-one support. 

1 Day Fine-Art Printing Workshop 

Wellington 4 Day Masterclass 11-14 June and 27-30 August 2020 

Join us for a one day fine-art printing workshop and learn how set up print files, using a colour managed 

workflow to turn them into professional grade prints. Our workshop has been designed to simplify the printing 

process, you will come away with the knowledge to print your own prints at home or to be sent to a lab. 

Auckland 

1 Day Workshop 

22nd March 2020 

7th June 2020 

22nd Nove 2020 

Wellington 


5th April 2020 

31st May 2020 

1st Nove 2020 

Christchurch 


23rd May 2020 

20th Sept 2020 

www.photographyworkshops.co.nz 

info@photographyworkshops.co.nz 

April 2020 61 

021 0845 7322

Jordale Rock 

by Brendon Gilchrist 

JORDALE ROCKS 

F8, 1/4s, IS064 

62 


With the events of recent weeks, I could not think what 

to write and wondered if I should take a break. But then 

I thought my words might help people in this testing time 

so here I am, doing my best to put some motivation into 

a situation of uncertainty. 

A few years ago during a very bad rainstorm at home, 

I headed over to the rugged West Coast beach of 

Motukiekiei and Jordale Rock to get away from the wet 

weather that we were having and start the year with 

something new and refreshing – I needed to capture a 

shot to inspire me through the year. The West Coast is just 

stunning, a place where I find a lot of peace, yet many 

people miss this highlight as they travel from Greymouth 

up to Punakaiki. 

Traveling with a friend and making stops enroute, we were 

in no hurry to reach Motukiekiei, enjoying the drive and the 

serenity of the scenes that unfolded in front of us as the rain 

slowly eased showing us clearer skies ahead. 

We stopped in at the Historic Brunner Mine Historic Reserve 

for a look around and to learn what happened in the 1896 

mining disaster that killed 65 miners making it the worst 

mining disaster in New Zealand history. It was amazing to 

learn about the heroes who lived during this time and I was 

in some way sad but also inspired by the heroic actions of 

these wonderful people. You see, people from other mines 

put down tools to come and rescue the miners trapped 

at Brunner Mine. The shaft of the mine was airless but the 

rescuers were relentless in finding their friends, family, and 

the community of the West Coast miners, the rescuers 

themselves suffocating on the after damp gas and often 

having to be rescued by other rescuers but insisting they 

return to the mine to look for survivors after they came 

around again. I find this determinedness amazing, almost a 

little shocking considering the recent Pike River Mine disaster 

in which no one was allowed in even though rescuers were 

willing. 

Cultural activity over, our next stop was at Jordale Rock to 

check out possible compositions and see what the water 

was like - I find this useful to do so that I can understand how 

often the waves come and go and how strong they are. 

Since I usually end up in the water to get the best shot I can, 

it’s a good safety measure too. 

After 30 minutes of watching the waves, I was happy. I saw 

the image that I wanted to capture so we headed back 

to the car and drove along to Punakaiki, taking a walk 

around the Pancake Rocks followed by a bit of window 

shopping before driving to Bullock Creek Road (where 

Cave Creek Track starts) to check out the place we were 

planning to camp - it looked peaceful with not many 

people or cars so, feeling satisfied that we had a place to 

rest our heads that night, we made the 40minute journey 

back to Jordale Rock with an hour to spare for sunset. 

I headed down to the beach with my tripod and camera 

bag and set up my camera, putting the filters on, ready 

and waiting for something to happen. As the sun got 

lower it was not long until there was an explosion of 

orange and red colours in the sky - I was not expecting 

that as it was looking like nothing was going happen. I 

was the only one on the beach, the tide was perfect and 

of course, I was in the water. The best image I captured 

MOTU 

F16, 4s, ISO64

almost washed me off my feet and you can almost see 

the wave that would have swamped my camera had 

I not of lifted it out of the water a split second after I 

heard the shutter click whilst trying to stay stable on my 

feet at the same time. 

When I checked the back of the camera I was so 

happy with the image I’d caught - it was unreal looking 

like clouds with a candle while the sky was on fire. I 

thought that I couldn’t get a better shot than that so I 

headed back up to go to the car. 

I was wrong in thinking it couldn’t get better! I turned 

around and lo and behold, the sky was almost bloodred 

with the reds reflecting in parts of the water so I had 

to take a few more frames. I set up a long exposure, a 

little longer than my other frames, so that I could blur 

more of the water whilst capturing the rocks in the far 

distance of Motukiekie and the somewhat popular 

starfish colony. I was rapped that it was the 1st January 

and I had 2 images that I still consider the best sunsets 

that I have captured on the South Island West Coast. 

I only took a few frames from this spot as I knew the 

show was almost over plus it was getting late and we 

still needed to drive 40 minutes back to our campsite 

and pitch the tent. 

Tucked up in my sleeping bag later that night around 

11pm, thinking that the incredible moments of the 

day were over, I heard More Pork, a native owl, Kiwi 

Screeching. This, the sunset and the owl, together with 

the singing Tui’s Bellbirds, Fantails, and Robins that woke 

me the next morning before sunrise make me relive 

this trip to this day. It still amazes me how everything 

went to plan and how even though back home in 

Christchurch there was some bad flooding, I had 

experienced one of the most amazing overnight trips of 

my photography career. 

I hope that in all this uncertainty this story of one of 

my photography trips can help you through and even 

bring back memories of the amazing trips you have 

been on, helping you to reminisce on special moments 

that have happened in your life. After all, you don’t 

have to leave your house to go on a trip, photos last a 

lifetime and the stories you share can go that one step 

further so let me leave you with this question - What 

stories can you tell from your photos? Why don’t you 

write them now, sharing them on your Facebook page 

or blog so that others can all take a trip down memory 

lane with you? 

www.instagram.com/esbphotography_ 

www.facebook.com/ESB23Photography 

www.esbphotography.co.nz 

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 

www.mynikonlife.co.nz/school

BACKYARD 

BEAUTY 

READERS' SUBMISSIONS 

Submit your photos by 15 April 

for a chance to be featured in the 

next issue of NZPhotographer. 

Submit at www.nzphotographer.nz

PORTFOLIO 

BEST READERS' SUBMISSIONS THIS MONTH 

SCULPTURE RED 

F22, 1/13s, ISO100, 165mm 

If we are in Sydney at the right time we go to the Sculpture by the Sea exhibition. It 

is usually very interesting and shows the work of many artists. The works are placed 

around a coastal walk that finishes/starts at Bondi. It is always crowded and hot, but 

well worth the walk. I think this work (photo shows only a part of the sculpture) may 

have been done by Chen Wenling but I am not certain. 

Ann Kilpatrick 

66 


REMEMBRANCE WALL 

F2.7, 1/35s 

I went to visit the Australian War Memorial with a Canadian colleague while we 

were working together in Canberra. This wall resonated with ANZAC connections. 

Taken on my Samsung Phone. 

Ann Kilpatrick

RED PEPPERCORNS 

F5.6, 1/20s, ISO100, 28mm 

I wanted to create a photo that was full of red! I chose to photograph some red 

peppercorns with only a few in focus. I put them in and around a mortar pestle to 

be able to create some depth in the photo. 

Tanya Rowe

RED BEDFORD 

F8, 1/250s, ISO200 

Lovingly restored to its former glory, this red Bedford van (c.1950's) sits proudly on 

display at Hobsonville Point. 

Gail Orgias

OLD BEGINNINGS 

This was a old deserted iron house taken in the South African Drakensberg. To 

someone it would appear abandoned and old, to others it would be a home and a 

new beginning. 

Lee Waddell

PURE GEM 

This image of a crystal was taken at Auckland's Crystal mountain mine museum. It 

was pretty difficult to photograph the crystals as most of them were behind glass. 

The crystals are all well lit as they are in a underground museum, so I had no need 

to use a flash. (The flash would have bounced off the glass anyway) 

Lee Waddell

ENDO AWARENESS PHOTOSHOOT 

Endometriosis is a common inflammatory disease estimated to affect 176 million girls and women 

worldwide (120,000 in NZ) in their reproductive years. This means that roughly 1 in 10 women in New 

Zealand suffer from Endometriosis, but it definitely doesn't get the attention it deserves and many 

of them suffer in silence. Join courageous women like Melodie in raising Awareness and support for 

those who suffer in silence. 

Photographer/ Retoucher: Anupama S. Wijesundara 

Model: Melodie 

Makeup & Hair: Alyssa houston 

Anupama S. Wijesundara

ARE YOU WORRIED NOW? 

Red rage, and a knife that’s handy - Someone help! 

Kate Dockerty

MONK AND NOVICES AT THIKSEY MONASTERY 

LADAKH, HIGH HIMALAYAS 

At Thiksey the main temples are on top of the hill while monks' quarters crowd down 

the lower slope. Within the community monastery, the central courtyard plays a key 

role. Here novices are relaxing following an early puga ceremony in their wonderful 

bright red robes. 

Peter Sheppard

LOCALS AT KARSHA MOUNTAINSIDE 

ZANSKAR, HIGH HIMALAYAS 

Zanskar is known as the most remote inhabited place on earth. Here a Buddhist 

community has survived generations in extreme conditions at high altitude and 

barren mountainscape. I caught this shot of a couple of Zanskarpa on the Karsha 

mountainside on their way to one of the annual festivals. 

Peter Sheppard

RED CARPET FOR BJORN 

The fallen pohutakawa flowers made a red carpet for Bjorn. Bjorn and his 

black coat really looked the part. Photo taken while walking through Central 

Park in Wellington. 

Peter Maiden

LADY IN RED 

Double exposure in camera with red scarf and woman. 

Kate Dockerty

EXPERIMENTATION 

Playing with masks and paint and just enjoying the experimentation. 

Pia Thompson

LOVE IS SAD 

Sometimes it turns us upside down and inside out, and sometimes it makes us cry. 

But love is love. 

Sophie Pitt

CAUGHT 

Caught in the spotlight and guilty. Red is for shame, red is for guilty, red is for caught 

red handed. 

Charlise Sefo

SLOW BURN 

We often have emotions simmering behind our eyes. The colour red here is an 

outward reflection of the slow burn that anger is when it is internalized. 

Charlise Sefo

"WHEN YOU 

FOCUS ON THE 

GOOD, THE 

GOOD GETS 

BETTER." 

ABRAHAM HICKS 

82

NZPhotographer Issue 30, April 2020

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?