NZPhotographer Issue 30, April 2020

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?
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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