01.05.2020 Views

NZPhotographer Issue 31, May 2020

As of December 2022, NZPhotographer magazine is only available when you purchase an annual or monthly subscription via the NZP website. Find out more: www.nzphotographer.nz

As of December 2022, NZPhotographer magazine is only available when you purchase an annual or monthly subscription via the NZP website. Find out more: www.nzphotographer.nz

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

ISSUE <strong>31</strong>, <strong>May</strong> <strong>2020</strong><br />

INTERVIEW WITH<br />

PAMELA JOHNSTONE<br />

FROM THE ROAD:<br />

HONG KONG<br />

BY SUSAN BLICK<br />

NZ LANDSCAPES COMPETITION<br />

WINNERS & BEST ENTRIES<br />

INTRODUCTION TO<br />

STYLE AND VISION<br />

BY RICHARD YOUNG<br />

<strong>May</strong> <strong>2020</strong> 1


WELCOME TO ISSUE <strong>31</strong> OF<br />

NZ PHOTOGRAPHER MAGAZINE<br />

HELLO EVERYONE,<br />

As we send out the second issue<br />

produced during the Covid-19 lockdown<br />

we hope you've been able to keep<br />

clicking that shutter button over the<br />

past month, finding both backyard and<br />

indoor photo projects to keep yourself<br />

occupied and the creativity flowing.<br />

You're no doubt itching to get out<br />

and about with your camera properly<br />

but until restrictions are fully lifted and<br />

borders reopened we invite you to lose<br />

yourself in our pages as we embark on<br />

a photographic journey to soak up New<br />

Zealand's landscapes.<br />

Brendon Gilchrist takes us on a<br />

seascape sightseeing tour around Dunedin, we learn how Pamela<br />

Johnstone found freedom through landscape photography, get<br />

to know hobbyist photographer Jimmy Millar, and then take a<br />

hop, skip, and a jump through some of the best North and South<br />

Island landscapes as we reveal the winners of our NZ Landscape<br />

Photography Competition.<br />

If you're dreaming of getting further afield with your camera once borders<br />

reopen then dive into Susan Blick's article as she takes us On The Road to<br />

Singapore. Can you feel those bright city lights calling your name?!<br />

With the location bucket list now filled, it's time to get back to reality and<br />

put the focus on what we can photograph now - Raewyn Smith shows us<br />

what she captured in her backyard in Behind The Shot, our Rising Star, 13<br />

year old Cooper Madsen, discusses his bug project which might spark a<br />

photo project idea of your own, and Richard Young inspires you to think<br />

about your photographic style and vision.<br />

OUR CONTRIBUTORS<br />

Brendon Gilchrist<br />

Brendon is the man behind<br />

ESB Photography. He is an<br />

avid tramper who treks<br />

from sea to mountain, and<br />

back again, capturing the<br />

uniqueness of New Zealand’s<br />

unforgiving landscape.<br />

Emily Goodwin<br />

Editor NZ Photographer<br />

<strong>NZPhotographer</strong> <strong>Issue</strong> <strong>31</strong><br />

<strong>May</strong> <strong>2020</strong><br />

Cover Photo<br />

Ohau Peace,<br />

Matthew Davey<br />

Publisher:<br />

Foto Lifestyle Ltd<br />

Website:<br />

nzphotographer.nz<br />

Graphic Design:<br />

Maksim Topyrkin<br />

Advertising Enquiries:<br />

Email<br />

hello@nzphotographer.nz<br />

FOLLOW US<br />

Richard Young<br />

Richard is an award-winning<br />

landscape and wildlife<br />

photographer who teaches<br />

photography workshops and<br />

runs photography tours. He is<br />

the founder of New Zealand<br />

Photography Workshops.<br />

© <strong>2020</strong> <strong>NZPhotographer</strong> Magazine<br />

All rights reserved. Reproduction of any material appearing in this magazine in any form is forbidden without prior<br />

consent of the publisher.<br />

Disclaimer:<br />

Opinions of contributing authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the magazine.<br />

2<br />

<strong>NZPhotographer</strong>


CONTENTS<br />

4<br />

6<br />

10<br />

30<br />

36<br />

39<br />

40<br />

46<br />

48<br />

55<br />

57<br />

BEHIND THE SHOT<br />

with Raewyn Smith<br />

GETTING TO KNOW JIMMY MILLAR<br />

MINI 4 SHOT PORTFOLIO<br />

INTERVIEW WITH PAMELA JOHNSTONE<br />

RISING STAR: COOPER MADSEN<br />

INSIGHTS FROM<br />

@EXCIO PHOTO COMMUNITY<br />

EXCIO TOP 10<br />

JOURNEYING HOME - THE QUEST<br />

TO CAPTURE DUNEDIN<br />

by Brendon Gilchrist<br />

FROM THE ROAD: HONG KONG<br />

By Susan Blick<br />

INTRODUCTION TO STYLE AND VISION<br />

by Richard Young<br />

NZ LANDSCAPES COMPETITION<br />

WINNERS & BEST ENTRIES<br />

GETTING TO KNOW<br />

JIMMY MILLAR<br />

FROM THE ROAD: HONG KONG<br />

BY SUSAN BLICK<br />

INTRODUCTION<br />

TO STYLE AND VISION<br />

BY RICHARD YOUNG<br />

6<br />

48<br />

55<br />

MEMBERSHIP<br />

FREE 12$ MONTH 120$ YEAR<br />

• Online issue<br />

• High res PDF download<br />

• Access to all back issues<br />

• Competition entry<br />

($15 per entry)<br />

• Readers gallery ($5 per entry)<br />

• 4x4 gallery submission<br />

• A chance to be featured<br />

in interviews, cover photo,<br />

behind the shot and articles<br />

• Online issue<br />

• High res PDF download<br />

• Access to all back issues<br />

• Competition entry<br />

(1st entry free)<br />

• Readers gallery (1 free entry<br />

per month)<br />

• 4x4 gallery submission<br />

• A chance to be featured<br />

in interviews, cover photo,<br />

behind the shot and articles<br />

• Online issue<br />

• High res PDF download<br />

• Access to all back issues<br />

• Competition entry<br />

(1st entry free)<br />

• Readers gallery (1 free entry<br />

per month)<br />

• 4x4 gallery submission<br />

• A chance to be featured<br />

in interviews, cover photo,<br />

behind the shot and articles<br />

SUBSCRIBE


WHITE HIBISCUS<br />

F4, 1/200s, ISO400, 90mm<br />

Behind The Shot<br />

with Raewyn Smith<br />

RAEWYN, REMIND US ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY<br />

WITH PHOTOGRAPHY…<br />

I have always had a keen interest in photography<br />

from the days of the Kodak Instamatic to an early<br />

digital Kodak point and shoot. My first “real” digital<br />

camera, a Canon 100D, still had me shooting in full<br />

auto until I saw an advertisement for a Photography<br />

for Beginners course at a local learning centre<br />

approximately four years ago. I completed the<br />

course and I was hooked, going on to complete an<br />

intermediate level course some months later.<br />

Photography continues to be a hobby which I fit in around<br />

working full time and home and family commitments –<br />

I have 4 grandchildren and a husband who is still recovering<br />

after major spinal surgery eight months ago.<br />

WHAT HAS CHANGED WITH YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY<br />

SINCE WE INTERVIEWED YOU IN ISSUE 22?<br />

I feel that I have learned to critique my own photos<br />

quite well, I look at earlier photos and tell myself how<br />

I could do things differently, for the better. I don't think<br />

my style or preference has changed – my favourite<br />

subject is still flowers and I guess this comes from my<br />

other passion, gardening – but I understand much<br />

more about the technical side of photography and<br />

I experiment with different settings a lot more. It takes<br />

fewer shots to get one I am happy with now!<br />

TELL US ABOUT YOUR WHITE HIBISCUS SHOT…<br />

I can see this Hibiscus shrub from my kitchen window.<br />

It was damaged last year during a storm and looked<br />

like it wouldn’t survive, taking quite a while to recover.<br />

Then, a few flowers appeared and one morning<br />

I looked out and there was this flower perfectly open<br />

and just begging to be photographed.<br />

The fence behind this shrub is painted black making a<br />

nice dark background. It was early morning and it was<br />

calm which is often unusual in Auckland.<br />

I loved this shot immediately. I think I took 3 photos<br />

and this was my favourite – I love the contrast of the


white flower against the dark background and the<br />

little bit of colour in the stamens.<br />

The beauty of this made me think about the lockdown<br />

due to COVID‐19 – not everything happens the way we<br />

want it to but there is still beauty to found wherever we<br />

look.<br />

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING ON DURING<br />

LOCKDOWN?<br />

I had originally booked 3 weeks annual leave for around<br />

this time, returning to work after Anzac day. I was rather<br />

excited as we weren’t intending to go away so I thought<br />

I could get out and do some landscape photography for<br />

a change. Obviously that isn’t happening now but I’ve<br />

watched a few tutorials to gain a bit more knowledge<br />

and am participating in a 30 day photo challenge that’s<br />

running on one of the photography Facebook pages<br />

I follow. This has encouraged me to think differently about<br />

everyday objects around my home, I am finding the<br />

challenge extremely motivating and find myself looking<br />

forward to the next day’s subject.<br />

ANY TIPS FOR TAKING FLOWER PHOTOS THAT<br />

YOU CAN SHARE WITH OUR READERS?<br />

The best time for flower photography is early morning<br />

or early evening. Cloudy days are also better and<br />

calm conditions. Not all of my flower photos are<br />

taken outside – I often put them in a vase and use a<br />

lightbox – a good project when the weather is not<br />

the best or if I have nothing interesting in the garden.<br />

I prefer to use a macro lens but outside you can get<br />

some stunning shots using a telephoto lens, some<br />

I have taken with a 70–200mm zoom lens.<br />

I find that red flowers are the hardest to photograph<br />

due to capturing the colour accurately – experiment<br />

with different white balance settings and then edit<br />

your shots. I use Lightroom and always spend more<br />

time editing if the subject is red.<br />

WHERE CAN WE FIND YOU ONLINE?<br />

instagram.com/raewynjsmith<br />

albums.excio.io/profile/Photoqueen<br />

BEHIND THE SHOT IS PROUDLY<br />

SUPPORTED BY<br />

New Zealand<br />

Photography Workshops<br />

New Zealand photography tours with<br />

New Zealand’s best landscape and<br />

wildlife photographers. Join us on our<br />

next adventure to help you to get the<br />

most from your photography.<br />

20 Day: South Island Highlights<br />

20 Day: North Island Highlights<br />

17 Day: Ultimate New Zealand<br />

12 Day: New Zealand Icons<br />

15 Day: New Zealand<br />

Coastal Landscapes<br />

15 Day: North Island Landscapes<br />

7 Day: Wild South Island<br />

7 Day: West Coast Wilderness<br />

7 Day: South Island Beaches<br />

& Bays<br />

7 Day: Volcanic North Island<br />

7 Day: Northland & Bay of Islands<br />

4 Day: Fiordland<br />

<strong>May</strong> <strong>2020</strong> 5<br />

www.photographyworkshops.co.nz info@photographyworkshops.co.nz 0064 21 0845 7322


Getting To Know Jimmy Millar<br />

Jimmy (James) is a 26 year old whose passion for photography is purely a hobby,<br />

an opportunity for him to be creative away from his day job as a geographic<br />

information systems analyst (a modern day cartographer mixed with a data<br />

analyst).<br />

JIMMY, TELL US ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY WITH<br />

PHOTOGRAPHY…<br />

The first time I remember using a camera was an old<br />

disposable Kodak which I used to take some holiday<br />

snaps. A little later I was given my first digital camera<br />

as a Christmas gift when I was about 10. I used it for<br />

holidays and school trips and on the odd occasion,<br />

I tried to get a little creative. I started to develop an<br />

interest in the art of photography but I didn’t really try<br />

to take it further until around 4 years ago when I got<br />

my first DSLR and the world of photography really<br />

opened up for me.<br />

HAVE YOU TAKEN ANY PHOTOGRAPHIC<br />

WORKSHOPS OR COURSES?<br />

I am entirely self-taught, both with the camera and<br />

editing in Lightroom. A few blogs and YouTube videos<br />

can go a long way towards learning the basics of<br />

photography and editing and provide inspiration to<br />

get out there and put things into practice. Once you<br />

understand the balance between settings and how<br />

they can change an image and start developing an<br />

eye for composition I’ve found the best way to learn<br />

is to practice. Get out there take some shots and find<br />

out what works for you and what doesn’t.<br />

WHAT ARE YOU SHOOTING WITH?<br />

Right now I’m still using an entry level DSLR, a Nikon<br />

D3300 that I bought 4 years ago with an 18–55mm<br />

lens and a 55–200mm lens. Photography can be an<br />

expensive hobby and I wanted to ensure that it was a<br />

hobby that would genuinely motivate and inspire me<br />

before investing further. I also occasionally shoot with<br />

a DJI Mavic Pro drone, I find the drone can provide<br />

a unique perspective on photography and you can<br />

accomplish things you simply can’t with a traditional<br />

camera. After seeing the results I’ve gotten in the time<br />

I’ve spent with the D3300 I’m planning to invest in a<br />

new camera and more glass sometime soon.<br />

OAK AVENUE<br />

F5.6, 1/50s, ISO100<br />

6<br />

<strong>NZPhotographer</strong>


HAVE YOU ALWAYS HAD A CREATIVE STREAK?<br />

I believe that having some form of creative output<br />

is important to living a healthy and balanced life,<br />

whether that’s photography, painting, music, or<br />

something else. I’ve dabbled in a number of different<br />

creative outputs but photography has been the one<br />

I’ve enjoyed the most and had the most success in.<br />

I’m also fortunate that my profession allows for some<br />

creative freedom on occasion.<br />

HOW DOES PHOTOGRAPHY HELP YOU EXPRESS<br />

YOURSELF?<br />

Photography allows me to share my perspective of<br />

the world, to capture a moment and try and bring out<br />

the best of that moment and then share that moment<br />

with friends and family. It’s a snapshot in that point<br />

in time which is unique, no two shoots end up being<br />

exactly the same, even at the same location.<br />

WHAT GENRES OF PHOTOGRAPHY MOST<br />

INTEREST YOU, WOULD YOU SAY YOU’VE<br />

FOUND YOUR STYLE?<br />

I primarily shoot landscape photography, there is a lot<br />

of beauty in our surroundings both natural and manmade<br />

plus it provides a great excuse to get out into<br />

the world and see more of it, through photography<br />

I’ve done plenty of hiking and I’ve become much<br />

fitter! I don’t know if I could say I’ve found my style yet<br />

though, I have found myself going through a number<br />

of stages. I would really like to spend more time with<br />

portrait photography.<br />

TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAVOURITE IMAGE…<br />

My favourite image so far is Rising Mountain, for a<br />

number of reasons. Firstly I think it’s just a beautiful<br />

photo, the lighting was great and it’s a unique shot of<br />

Mt Taranaki – The clouds rolled in at the perfect time!<br />

But more important to me is the story behind it…<br />

This shot was taken on the walking track to the<br />

Pouakai Tarns, which is a 3–4 hour hike up a steep<br />

incline. I made the trip 3 times one summer hoping to<br />

get a classic shot of Mt Taranaki reflected in the pools.<br />

With the first 2 attempts, the conditions just weren’t<br />

right, there was too much wind disturbing the pool,<br />

and cloud kept obscuring the mountain. I decided to<br />

make the climb again in the afternoon of New Year's<br />

Day 2019 hoping to get that reflection, also a great<br />

opportunity to reflect on the year that had been and<br />

the year ahead. I reached the pool just in time for<br />

sunset. I got some nice photos but the conditions still<br />

weren’t quite right. It was beginning to get dark and<br />

it was a lengthy walk back so I left feeling somewhat<br />

disappointed. It was on the way back that I spotted<br />

the opportunity to take the photo you see now, the<br />

clouds rolled in at the perfect time obscuring the base<br />

of the mountain and reflecting some of the pinkish<br />

hues from the setting sun.<br />

For me, this shot was a lesson in persistence. It’s a<br />

reminder to make the most of the opportunities before<br />

you and to accept that things might not always work<br />

out as planned but that it doesn’t mean they won’t<br />

work out in the end.<br />

RISING MOUNTAIN<br />

F5.6, 1/40s, ISO100<br />

<strong>May</strong> <strong>2020</strong> 7


WHERE IS YOUR FAVOURITE PHOTO<br />

LOCATION?<br />

Te Mata Peak in Hawke’s Bay is probably my<br />

favourite photo location so far. It is near where I live<br />

so I’m often up there either taking photos or getting<br />

some exercise. It’s a beautiful location with stunning<br />

views from the top of the peak itself but also the<br />

Red Woods and other numerous places along the<br />

walking tracks. I have spent a lot of time up there<br />

exploring the different views and perspectives of the<br />

peak.<br />

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST STRUGGLE<br />

WITH PHOTOGRAPHY?<br />

My biggest struggle is finding the time to get out with<br />

my camera. I keep finding myself going back to the<br />

same locations time and time again and while they<br />

can often show something new it can be difficult to<br />

find the motivation to go back. I think the key for me<br />

is to keep trying new things and seeing new places to<br />

keep things fresh.<br />

WHAT LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS CAN<br />

YOU SHARE WITH US?<br />

I find there are a number of things that factor into<br />

good landscape photography. It’s generally quite<br />

important to have a focal point in your image, an<br />

object in the foreground or the background that<br />

draws the eye. Alternatively, you can use leading lines<br />

to draw the eye deeper into the image.<br />

Lighting plays an important role too and can make<br />

a seemingly dull landscape dynamic and likewise,<br />

lighting can make a beautiful landscape look flat in<br />

a photo. Golden hour is usually best for getting that<br />

strong contrast between your highlights and shadows<br />

but cloud cover can also provide a lot of contrast<br />

making for a more dynamic landscape.<br />

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE AND<br />

HOW DO YOU SEE PHOTOGRAPHY PLAYING A<br />

PART IN THAT?<br />

I’m going to be sticking around in Hawke’s Bay for<br />

the foreseeable future and will continue developing<br />

my GIS career. I plan to continue developing my skills<br />

in photography when the opportunities arise. I shot a<br />

couple of events pre-lockdown and really enjoyed the<br />

dynamic nature of those shoots. I will gladly take more<br />

opportunities like that as well as exploring the beautiful<br />

country that we live in.<br />

WHERE CAN WE SEE YOUR WORK ONLINE?<br />

www.instagram.com/jmphotographynz<br />

www.facebook.com/jmphotographynz<br />

albums.excio.io/profile/jmphotography<br />

HERETAUNGA PLAINS<br />

F5.6, 1/200s, ISO200<br />

8<br />

<strong>NZPhotographer</strong>


Photo Community<br />

What is PFG?<br />

Discover the amazing #PhotographyForGood stories<br />

behind some of the photos published on Excio.<br />

FIND OUT MORE<br />

www.excio.io<br />

Photographs shown (left to right): Maria LIgaya, Vicky O'Connor, Fairlie Atkinson, Kim Free,<br />

Lynn Fothergill, Damon Marshall, Marina de Wit, Brendon Gilchrist, Ann Wheatley


Mini 4 Shot Portfolio<br />

Our 4x4 feature showcases 4 mini portfolio’s of both<br />

professional and up and coming New Zealand<br />

photographers. The 4 images are linked in some way,<br />

allowing you to get an understanding of what each<br />

photographer is most passionate about capturing.<br />

For a change to get your own 4x4 feature in a future<br />

issue of the magazine, become a subscriber of the<br />

magazine here.<br />

GARY REID<br />

Wildlife Characteristics<br />

GRAHAM JONES<br />

The Birds Eye View<br />

SARAH CALDWELL<br />

Reflected Architecture<br />

SARAH K SMITH<br />

Ebbs and Flows


GARY REID<br />

12<br />

<strong>NZPhotographer</strong>


Growing up in South Africa, my interest in wildlife<br />

started in my early school years when game<br />

rangers would visit our school and show us wildlife<br />

movies. My interest in photography started in my<br />

teens and it was a natural progression to marry my<br />

love of wildlife and photography together. Being<br />

surrounded by wildlife game reserves gave me<br />

plenty of opportunity to photograph<br />

and learn about nature.<br />

www.gazza.photography<br />

WILDLIFE CHARACTERISTICS<br />

I find wildlife fascinating and enjoy being on a<br />

constant learning curve and honing my skills as a<br />

wildlife photographer. Each species has its own<br />

characteristics and individual personalities. The<br />

difficulty is capturing these traits in an image.<br />

The pictures of the rhino and kudu show how each<br />

uses mud for different reasons. The kudu uses it to<br />

make its horns to look larger and more intimidating<br />

to other males whilst the rhino uses mud to keep<br />

cool and ward off parasites. In my other two<br />

pictures, the lion is bold, strong and intimidating,<br />

afraid of very little whereas the leopard is secretive<br />

and cunning.<br />

The more you know about your subject, the<br />

easier it is to anticipate the shot. Even with good<br />

forethought though, it often takes hundreds of<br />

shots before you get the one you want.<br />

<strong>May</strong> <strong>2020</strong> 13


GRAHAM JONES<br />

16<br />

<strong>NZPhotographer</strong>


Photography for me has been a 3 year path of discovery.<br />

In the beginning I only snapped landscapes but soon after,<br />

I became interested in other genres such as birds, long<br />

exposure, and macro. Currently I am discovering the variety<br />

of perspectives that aerial or drone photography has to offer<br />

across New Zealand's coasts and highlands. A good day for<br />

me is a backpack, camera with couple of lenses or drone,<br />

and the anticipation of what I shall find<br />

around the next headland…<br />

@graham.jones.790693<br />

THE BIRDS EYE VIEW<br />

Aerial or drone photography is a new path for me. I<br />

was fascinated by the variety of perspectives and the<br />

thought of a birds eye view. Like all new things it takes<br />

time and practise to learn the skills, firstly how to fly<br />

and second how to compose a photo. I am currently<br />

shooting with a ND16 Polarising filter and 3 shot exposure<br />

stack always in RAW. The average drone battery gives<br />

me 15 minutes in the air so the challenge is always<br />

what height and where to position the drone so I can<br />

compose the photo. My 4 shots attempt to show the<br />

diversity of aerial photography.<br />

'Cruise Ship Departing Tauranga' is the classic drone<br />

shot – I'm always apprehensive flying over water but the<br />

results can be amazing. 'The Tennis Court' shot caught a<br />

new perspective for me… Sunrise brings shadows of light<br />

poles and lines.<br />

I had 'Self Portrait' in mind long before it was taken. The<br />

composition was the challenge as was positioning the<br />

drone in time to capture myself and the rising sun.<br />

'The Track' shows a birds eye view of a walking track as it<br />

winds its way to the summit of the Papamoa Hills.<br />

<strong>May</strong> <strong>2020</strong> 17


SARAH CALDWELL<br />

20<br />

<strong>NZPhotographer</strong>


I have found a passion in photographing<br />

architectural lines, shapes and symmetry,<br />

often in a creative manner, and this passion<br />

is what I try to communicate in my work.<br />

My career as an airline pilot, albeit recently<br />

retired, has afforded me the opportunity to<br />

capture wonderful architecture overseas,<br />

and with retirement I am now exploring<br />

more of what we have here in NZ.<br />

@sarah_e_caldwell<br />

REFLECTED ARCHITECTURE<br />

My love of lines and symmetry is fully expressed in<br />

capturing reflections of architecture.<br />

These 4 images are from New Zealand, the cityscape<br />

ones are by Shed 6 on Wellington’s waterfront, and<br />

the two single shots of a building are from the Wynyard<br />

Quarter in Auckland.<br />

The challenge with natural puddle reflections is that one<br />

has to make do with what is found, and sometimes the<br />

angle or distance is not ideal. I get great satisfaction out<br />

of making them in camera and shoot with a wide angle<br />

lens either a 12mm or, sometimes, a 16mm lens.<br />

One of the things I love about reflections is that often<br />

a different overall shape is created, giving the image<br />

greater depth. I do spend quite a bit of time post<br />

processing them to clean up the reflection<br />

<strong>May</strong> <strong>2020</strong> 21


SARAH K SMITH<br />

24<br />

<strong>NZPhotographer</strong>


Photography is a meditation for me. Immersing myself in<br />

the natural landscape brings me to the present moment.<br />

It encourages me to focus on what is in front of me and<br />

the feelings and emotions I experience. In my formative<br />

years, I recall being disappointed with my photos - they<br />

didn’t capture the feelings I had about what I was seeing.<br />

My ongoing quest is to hone my craft to a point where<br />

I can satisfyingly convey, visually and<br />

creatively, the emotional experiences I<br />

have when in the landscape.<br />

www.souldelightphoto.co.nz<br />

EBBS AND FLOWS<br />

Long exposure photography aligns neatly with<br />

the meditative approach I bring to my landscape<br />

photography. You have to slow down, you have to be<br />

patient and you have to be present in the moment to<br />

adjust to the constantly changing light. The technique<br />

allows scenes to be simplified and unnecessary details<br />

to be smoothed out, leaving only those elements the<br />

photographer wants to remain.<br />

Over the last year, I have been exploring the creative<br />

possibilities of ND filters in my long exposure landscape<br />

photography. These images are a selection from that<br />

journey so far. Using the local coastline as a subject<br />

matter provided ample opportunity to work out the<br />

mechanics of the exposure triangle (a mathematical<br />

conundrum - thank goodness for phone apps!) and<br />

to explore a range of creative effects. All the images<br />

were created at sunrise and speak to me about the<br />

ebbs and flows of life, hope, direction, optimism,<br />

beauty, serenity, calm and peace. We are so lucky<br />

in New Zealand to have the diverse and magnificent<br />

landscape environments that we do. It is a great place<br />

to rebalance and it is good for your soul!<br />

<strong>May</strong> <strong>2020</strong> 25


NOW<br />

<strong>May</strong> <strong>2020</strong> offer - only $80/year or<br />

$8/month for your first 12 months.<br />

JUST $80<br />

SUBSCRIPTION BENEFITS:<br />

High res PDF download<br />

Access to all back issues<br />

Competition entry (1st entry free)<br />

Readers gallery (1 free entry per month)<br />

4x4 gallery submission<br />

A chance to be featured in interviews, cover photo,<br />

behind the shot and articles<br />

SUBSCRIBE NOW


Subscribe<br />

today<br />

and<br />

download all back<br />

issues.<br />

www.nzphotographer.nz<br />

www.nzphotographer.nz


Finding Freedom with Landscape Photography<br />

Interview with Pamela Johnstone<br />

PAMELA, TELL US ABOUT YOU AND YOUR<br />

JOURNEY WITH PHOTOGRAPHY…<br />

I am that person who loves to think outside the box<br />

and gets excited over colourful skies, coffee, and<br />

road trips. I love art, music, photography, and doing<br />

things on the spur of the moment!<br />

I was born in Invercargill but from the age of 12,<br />

throughout my teenage years, moved to a variety of<br />

different places around the South Island. I have two<br />

children who are now adults, my son is the youngest<br />

at 19 and my daughter is 20.<br />

I live in Christchurch now, after relocating from<br />

Blenheim in December 2019 due to my daughters<br />

visual impairments – she has a condition called<br />

nystagmus which is sometimes known as dancing eye<br />

syndrome and also has a few other visual impairments<br />

but she is my go to person for the voice of reason<br />

every time.<br />

I work as a checkout person at a local supermarket,<br />

I love interacting with the customers and believe that<br />

it is important to try and brighten someone’s day even<br />

if it’s just with a smile and a friendly hello as you never<br />

know who needs to offload for a few minutes.<br />

When it comes to hobbies, aside from photography,<br />

I love camping and to me there is nothing better than<br />

jumping in a car with lots of music and going on a<br />

road trip with no real destination – you can discover so<br />

much about yourself, life, and everything in between.<br />

My journey into photography started with my phone<br />

camera when I moved to Australia for about a year –<br />

I used to put my phone photos up on social media<br />

as a way to stay connected with those I loved whilst<br />

showing them some of the great places around me.<br />

I then moved back to New Zealand and continued<br />

taking photos with my phone whilst out on walks,<br />

this being back when I didn’t drive. Then one day a<br />

friends mum told me there was a cheap $50 second<br />

hand Fuji Finepix camera going in a garage sale so<br />

I grabbed it. From that moment on I was taking photos<br />

every time I went out whether for a walk or on a<br />

random drive to the beach with my friend – every time<br />

she asked if I wanted to go for a drive or go for a walk<br />

up the wither hills I would jump at the opportunity –<br />

I never used to think about where my photos would<br />

take me, it was just something I loved to do.<br />

I had some people tell me my photos were great<br />

and I should post more of them online so I created a<br />

Facebook page but it wasn’t until a lady who I did<br />

not know personally asked me what gear I used and<br />

then asked if I would like to do a photo shoot for a<br />

birthday party to gain some extra exposure as she<br />

thought I had a natural talent (she herself being into<br />

photography) that I began to realise I might be onto<br />

something.<br />

I am very much my own worst critic, so with this photo<br />

shoot offer I thought my goodness I really should<br />

get a better camera. The Fuji I was using just had<br />

rechargeable AA batteries and I was having to put a<br />

rubber band around the closure to stop the batteries<br />

from falling out, it was a very well loved camera!! So,<br />

after a few weeks of pondering, I purchased a Canon.<br />

Due to getting very sick I was unable to do that<br />

birthday photo shoot but it was that invite that made<br />

me take my passion for photography more seriously.<br />

My Facebook page is a little over a year old now and<br />

at the time of writing this, has 1060 followers. I am very<br />

grateful for my friends and family giving me the push<br />

to get out there and believe in myself.<br />

30<br />

<strong>NZPhotographer</strong>


SUMNER<br />

F3.5, 1/600, ISO100,18mm<br />

<strong>May</strong> <strong>2020</strong> <strong>31</strong>


LIGHT AND FLUFFY<br />

F6.3, 1/100s, ISO100, 42mm<br />

32<br />

<strong>NZPhotographer</strong>


ROCKY SHORES<br />

F4, 1/250s, ISO100, 20mm<br />

SHAG ROCK<br />

F3.5,1/1600s, ISO100, 18mm<br />

<strong>May</strong> <strong>2020</strong> 33


HEAVEN AND HIDING<br />

F20, 1/200s, ISO800,18mm<br />

WOULD YOU SAY YOU HAVE FOUND YOUR<br />

PHOTOGRAPHIC STYLE?<br />

Although I’m still very much new to photography,<br />

I mostly lean towards taking landscape photos. I<br />

love vibrant colours, the honesty of cracks in the<br />

land, ripples of the sea, moody skies, and calm days,<br />

especially at sunset as it reminds me to be grateful for<br />

another day on this earth.<br />

WHAT ARE YOU SHOOTING WITH NOW?<br />

I have a Canon 3000D with a standard kit lens as well<br />

as a 50mm lens that I play around with. I have a tripod<br />

but I haven’t really used it as I lost a part to it that<br />

I haven’t replaced!<br />

WHY IS PHOTOGRAPHY IMPORTANT TO YOU?<br />

To me, photography means pure freedom, this is why<br />

I love landscape photography so much. After leaving<br />

a bad relationship 10 years ago I was on a journey to<br />

find myself again.<br />

Up until 3 years ago I did not drive so now when I am<br />

out and about, standing at some of the beautiful<br />

places I have found, I just take in the beauty and<br />

the peacefulness that I am so fortunate to see. Not<br />

everybody can see in colour, and not everybody can<br />

see clearly but we all can feel tranquillity when we<br />

calm our minds and take in nature.<br />

WHAT PHOTOGRAPHY CHALLENGES DO YOU<br />

STRUGGLE WITH THE MOST?<br />

Probably learning all of the technical terms. I am self<br />

taught and to be honest there is no method to my<br />

photos, I literally point and shoot and hope for the<br />

best! When I am at a beautiful location I feel so free<br />

that I do not think too much about what is happening<br />

with my camera as I am too busy being amazed by<br />

the beauty of what I see!<br />

I would love to do a photography course at some<br />

stage to gain more knowledge but there are quite a<br />

few fantastic people I watch and learn from on social<br />

media.<br />

HOW DO YOU PARTICIPATE IN<br />

#PHOTOGRAPHYFORGOOD?<br />

I like to share my photos as much as I can, aiming to<br />

help people with their mental health as well as helping<br />

to raise disability awareness, two issues that are very<br />

important to me. I have been told by a couple of<br />

34<br />

<strong>NZPhotographer</strong>


people that they find my photos very calming which<br />

is the best feedback I could ask for especially as I do<br />

photography purely because I love it.<br />

I made a video last year called solitude, it features<br />

a variety of photos taken at Monkey Bay and<br />

Marlborough, a favourite place of mine and a friend<br />

who sadly took his own life. He loved the beach<br />

especially Rarangi and had travelled all over the<br />

world, I think perhaps wanting to find his place, but<br />

sadly he was in a dark place. By making and sharing<br />

the video, I wanted to remind everybody on this earth<br />

that they are loved and that they do matter. That<br />

they should not resort to a permanent action for a<br />

temporary problem as they are never alone under a<br />

sky full of stars and beaches full of sand.<br />

WHAT ARE YOUR DREAMS AND GOALS FOR<br />

THE FUTURE?<br />

I would love to tap into some groups to help promote<br />

mental health and disabilities. I would also love to<br />

travel to as many places as I can, to meet as many<br />

different and unique people as I can, and to learn<br />

about different cultures as everybody has a story and<br />

every place a story too.<br />

ANY INSPIRATIONAL WORDS TO LEAVE US<br />

WITH?<br />

When out taking landscape photos, be sure to feel<br />

the moment, take in the magic of the environment,<br />

and enjoy the freedom you have in nature whether<br />

you’re on the beach, in the bush, or somewhere else –<br />

Just feel it, breathe it, and calm your mind from your<br />

everyday busy life even if it’s just for 10 minutes.<br />

WHERE CAN WE FIND YOU ONLINE?<br />

albums.excio.io/profile/pamela johnstone<br />

pamelajohnstone.smugmug.com<br />

PamelaJohnstonePhotographyHouse<br />

SIDE VISION<br />

F3.5, 1/80s, ISO160<br />

<strong>May</strong> <strong>2020</strong> 35


Rising Star: Cooper Madsen<br />

Cooper is a 13 year old who is passionate about photography, creating abstract<br />

art, and cycling/bikepacking. Living in Ohakune, Cooper is home schooled<br />

which gives him the time to focus on the things he loves.<br />

COOPER, WHEN DID YOU FIRST PICK UP A<br />

CAMERA AND WHAT GOT YOU INTERESTED<br />

IN PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE FIRST PLACE?<br />

When I was little I was given an old Minolta SLR to<br />

play with, then at the age of 9, I sold all my Lego<br />

and purchased my first DSLR which was a Nikon<br />

D3300 with an 18–55mm, 40mm micro lens, and a<br />

cheap ring flash.<br />

I guess my Dad has been a huge influence in my<br />

photography as he is a photographer and also runs<br />

photography courses here in the Ruapehu region.<br />

WHAT CAMERA GEAR DO YOU HAVE NOW?<br />

Currently I have a Fujifilm X-Pro1 with a Fujinon<br />

35mm F2. Just recently I purchased a 7artisan 35mm<br />

F1.2 which has quickly become my favourite lens.<br />

I really enjoy manual focus and the shallow depth<br />

at F1.2 is awesome. Although it is the same focal<br />

length as the Fuji, the 7artisan has its own character<br />

/ quirks, which I really like. Paired with the X-Pro1 it<br />

has a film like result but nothing really compares to<br />

the real thing.<br />

HOW HAVE YOU DEVELOPED YOUR SKILLS IN<br />

PHOTOGRAPHY?<br />

Having a Dad like mine, I don’t need to do any<br />

photography courses, I can just ask him but I also<br />

have a good library of books. I find that studying the<br />

greats is the best way to learn, not reading “How<br />

To” books. One of my favourite books is Seeing<br />

Things by Joel Meyerowitz.<br />

I have also learned a lot from shooting film rather<br />

than digital, this including learning to process my<br />

own black and white films which I really enjoyed.<br />

HOW DOES PHOTOGRAPHY HELP YOU<br />

EXPRESS YOURSELF?<br />

Photography is just drawing with light, so for me it’s<br />

just the same as my canvas art or digital abstract<br />

work. I have been taught to shoot how it feels not<br />

how it looks so all of my photos are a reflection of<br />

me in some way. Recently I was diagnosed with<br />

Tourettes which can be a little chaotic and I see<br />

that come through in my pictures.<br />

WHAT GENRES OF PHOTOGRAPHY MOST<br />

INTEREST YOU?<br />

I don’t really do the typical pretty sunsets LOL,<br />

I prefer abstract, portraits, and documentary style<br />

like my “Buggered” project where I photographed<br />

all the dead bugs around my house for about a<br />

year. Right now I’m really loving black and white<br />

though.<br />

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST STRUGGLE<br />

WITH PHOTOGRAPHY AND HOW DID YOU<br />

OVERCOME THAT?<br />

In the beginning it was probably getting my<br />

exposures right as I have only ever used the camera<br />

on full manual exposure. I learned to slow down<br />

(no longer shooting like it was a machine gun!),<br />

read my meter, and then expose for what I want to<br />

create, and not just follow my light meter – learning<br />

to read light basically. Film photography helped me<br />

a lot.<br />

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE AND<br />

HOW DO YOU SEE PHOTOGRAPHY PLAYING<br />

A PART IN THAT?<br />

I know that being an artist is what I want to be, I am<br />

sure that photography will always play a major part<br />

in my future.<br />

WHERE CAN WE SEE YOUR WORK ONLINE?<br />

www.instagram.com/cooper_madsen<br />

albums.excio.io/profile/cooper_madsen<br />

36<br />

<strong>NZPhotographer</strong>


BUGGERED 1<br />

F7.1, 1/640s, ISO400<br />

FLOWER<br />

F2.8,1/2000s, ISO200<br />

BUGGERED 61<br />

F9, 1/125s, ISO1600<br />

FLOWER 2<br />

F1.4<br />

<strong>May</strong> <strong>2020</strong> 37


38<br />

Deliver<br />

a larger<br />

impact.<br />

BONUS<br />

Epson Signature<br />

Worthy Sample<br />

Pack**<br />

EPSON PHOTO RANGE – FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS WHO WANT MORE<br />

· Unparalleled print quality: Print at resolutions up to<br />

5760x1440 dpi using advanced Epson all-pigment ink<br />

· Outstanding productivity: Print at high speed with<br />

cost-effective high-capacity ink cartridges up to 200 ml<br />

· Exceptional media support: Print on the widest range of<br />

fine art media including roll based stocks, and thick board*<br />

· Superior control: Print with maximum precision via an advanced<br />

driver, special Black & White Mode, and an optional SpectroProofer*<br />

· Simpler operation: Epson Print Layout Software for rapid production<br />

of a vwide range of outputs for various display requirements<br />

· Lower maintenance: Stable permanent print heads covered by a<br />

comprehensive warranty with optional on-site service extendable up to 5 years<br />

SC-P600 A3+<br />

SC-P5070 A2+<br />

SC-P800 A2+<br />

Learn more, visit www.epson.co.nz<br />

*SureColor P5070 only<br />

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


INSIGHTS FROM<br />

@excio photo community<br />

WHAT IS YOUR FIRST<br />

THOUGHT WHEN YOU HEAR<br />

#PHOTOGRAPHYFORGOOD?<br />

Many people associate it with<br />

photographers doing charity work,<br />

giving their photos away for free, or<br />

donating a percentage of their print<br />

sales to a charity. Although helping<br />

others and giving photos or prints<br />

away for free when you know it is<br />

needed and appreciated is truly<br />

great, the #PhotographyForGood<br />

movement is different. It is a much<br />

broader term we use that involves<br />

making good to the society, to<br />

yourself (the photographer) and to<br />

those who see your photos.<br />

As a result of our collective<br />

efforts to encourage<br />

#PhotographyForGood we see<br />

photographs emerging that<br />

have a deeper meaning and our<br />

members having better intentions<br />

when pressing the shutter button<br />

rather than just taking photos of<br />

what is popular right now.<br />

Over the last few weeks while<br />

we were all staying at home,<br />

it was great to see increased<br />

activity in the Excio community<br />

with more photos and collections<br />

uploaded, more people joining us,<br />

and members taking part in our<br />

mystery challenges which you can<br />

find out more about on our Blog<br />

and Facebook page. We have<br />

also seen some amazing examples<br />

from Excio members that embody<br />

the #PhotographyForGood<br />

philosophy - The following pages<br />

showing just a tiny fragment of the<br />

stories our members are sharing<br />

across the Excio platform.<br />

Each image and description shows<br />

that since we are all different<br />

so are our goals, intentions and<br />

motivations behind taking photos,<br />

but as you will also see that every<br />

photo has helped or has the<br />

potential to help photographers,<br />

viewers, and society as a whole.<br />

#PhotographyForGood has<br />

power, it can transform lives,<br />

brings inspiration and raises<br />

awareness. This is our ultimate<br />

mission at Excio - to join forces and<br />

spread the #PhotographyForGood<br />

movement, proving to the world<br />

that photography is not about<br />

selfies, likes or influencers.<br />

Have a look at the recently<br />

featured photos on the Excio<br />

app if you haven’t yet and<br />

don’t forget to read through the<br />

stories behind the photographs<br />

and photographers’ profiles.<br />

You will definitely find something<br />

interesting, learn something new<br />

and I’m sure will feel the power of<br />

#PhotographyforGood.<br />

We have an exciting array of<br />

events planned for <strong>May</strong> as well<br />

as some important deadlines and<br />

activities, so don’t forget to check<br />

our events calendar or subscribe<br />

to our free newsletter. Let’s do<br />

good together.<br />

Ana Lyubich<br />

Co-founder of Excio,<br />

Ana's photography<br />

journey started many<br />

years ago with one of the<br />

first Kodak film cameras.<br />

She loves exploring the<br />

unseen macro world<br />

and capturing people's<br />

genuine emotions.<br />

@excionz<br />

www.excio.io<br />

<strong>May</strong> <strong>2020</strong><br />

39


Excio Top 10<br />

CAROLE GARSIDE<br />

CHIMPANZEE<br />

“A chimpanzee watching me, watching him.<br />

He's got such a beautiful face.”<br />

excio.io/yorkshirekiwi<br />

ISAAC KHASAWNEH<br />

DROP WATER PHOTOGRAPHY<br />

"I decided to have a go at water drop<br />

photography and am very happy with the<br />

outcome."<br />

excio.io/isaac<br />

40 <strong>NZPhotographer</strong>


ROY CERNOHORSKY<br />

MOSS SEED<br />

“Another in the moss series taken over the years<br />

from a large collection.”<br />

excio.io/heiny<br />

FAIRLIE ATKINSON<br />

PORTRAIT OF A GIRL<br />

“Based on Gortzius Geldorp’s Portrait of a Lady but<br />

set in the time of the Covid 19 lockdown.”<br />

excio.io/fairlie<br />

<strong>May</strong> <strong>2020</strong><br />

41


VICKI FINLAY<br />

LOOKING UP<br />

“A recent visit to Austalia<br />

Zoo found us stranded on<br />

Bindi's Island in the middle<br />

of a downpour. We shared<br />

our shelter with a couple of<br />

the lemurs who roam free<br />

over the island. This one<br />

wasn't too keen to share<br />

with the human species,<br />

and spent most of its time<br />

looking skyward for a<br />

break in the weather when<br />

hopefully it could escape<br />

being in such close quarters.<br />

Luckily for me, I had my 100-<br />

400mm lens that allowed an<br />

appropriate distance so as<br />

not to cause any stress to<br />

the lemur.”<br />

excio.io/vickifinz<br />

HELEN KNIGHT<br />

MOONLIGHT SONATA<br />

“As night descends and the<br />

moon rises the waves crash<br />

gently on the shore. The sound<br />

of crickets and the cry of a<br />

morepork can be heard from<br />

behind. As a cold soft wind<br />

wafts across your face you sit<br />

and wait as the tide comes in,<br />

its gentle breeze guiding the<br />

waves as they lap against the<br />

shoreline. Insects scuttle in the<br />

sand, the sound of mosquitoes<br />

buzz around your face as you<br />

slap them away. Nighttime<br />

quiet, and serene not another<br />

soul around, no need to fear no<br />

need to hide.”<br />

excio.io/knightfire<br />

42 <strong>NZPhotographer</strong>


HAYDN PARKES<br />

SUNRISE<br />

“Lensball shot, taken down in the morning at<br />

the end of a sunrise catching the final few<br />

rays of orange glow in the sky.”<br />

excio.io/wanderingwolf<br />

KELLY PETTITT<br />

SCOOBY<br />

“Scooby is my 16.5 year old<br />

miniature fox terrier. She lives<br />

with Casey and Fury, ex racing<br />

greyhounds.”<br />

excio.io/kelly<br />

<strong>May</strong> <strong>2020</strong><br />

43


CHARLOTTE E. JOHNSON<br />

THE DEVIL’S ROSE<br />

“Collaboration with model, makeup artist and<br />

costume designer. Inspired by the work of the<br />

artist 'Brom'.”<br />

excio.io/cejphoto<br />

DAMON JOHN MARSHALL<br />

DAY EIGHTEEN: WACKY WORLD<br />

“The world is looking a bit whacked during the<br />

COVID-19 lockdown <strong>2020</strong>, don't you think??”<br />

excio.io/damojo<br />

44 <strong>NZPhotographer</strong>


BACKYARD<br />

BEAUTY<br />

READERS' SUBMISSIONS<br />

Submit your photos by 15 <strong>May</strong><br />

for a chance to be featured in the<br />

next issue of <strong>NZPhotographer</strong>.


Journeying Home - The Quest to<br />

Capture Dunedin<br />

by Brendon Gilchrist<br />

SAINT CLAIR<br />

F11, 1s, ISO 64<br />

Dunedin is an amazing city, if I do say so myself,<br />

having been born here and still having a close<br />

connection to what I’m proud to call my<br />

home city.<br />

It’s a base for many different outdoor activities, most<br />

of which are free to enjoy, whether you seek the<br />

rugged beaches, the calm of the harbor, the wildlife,<br />

or some of New Zealand’s top surfing spots. This city is<br />

a place where you could spend a few weeks and still<br />

not cover all of the iconic locations that are within its<br />

proximity.<br />

Last year I took myself on a personal self-guided<br />

holiday hoping to get some picture postcard images<br />

of the iconic locations around the South Island. I was<br />

mostly successful with my quest, only at a few places<br />

was I unlucky in not getting the shots I wanted (whilst<br />

also breaking my favourite circular polarizer!) but at<br />

other places I was completely blessed beyond words.<br />

I’ll be writing about Dunedin more in other issues but<br />

for now, let me take you around some of the most<br />

iconic beaches...<br />

The easiest beach in Dunedin to reach is also the<br />

most famous surfing beach, Saint Clair. It’s your classic<br />

Dunedin beach – In one direction it has sand dunes,<br />

in the other direction a massive seawall with cafe’s<br />

located along the esplanade. The famous Hot Salt<br />

Water Pool is found here, on the Southern end of the<br />

beach, along with access to Second Beach (the other<br />

Saint Clair beach) and the iconic Saint Clair Poles.<br />

This iconic photo location is a very short 3 minute walk<br />

from either Forbury Road or the Esplanade – Just keep<br />

walking, you can’t miss them. The jetty, which was<br />

actually a groyne, was first installed in 1903. It was<br />

designed to capture sand to stop erosion on the sand<br />

dunes but it soon became clear that the ocean was<br />

more powerful than humans and the battle of the<br />

ocean power could not be won with residents and<br />

the surf club argued that the groins were a hazard by<br />

the 1930’s.<br />

There are not many of the poles left now so if you are<br />

wanting to capture something of this iconic location<br />

(including lining up White Island in the frame) it is<br />

better to go sooner then later before they are all<br />

gone. I remember as a child there being rows and<br />

rows of them but now there are around 10, some are<br />

still the same height, albeit some a bit bent, whilst<br />

others are broken.<br />

Moving along on my trip, I visited Tunnel Beach ready<br />

for some sunrise shots. Having awoken at 5am, I made<br />

the 9 minute drive to Tunnel Beach car park. I could<br />

see the sky starting to erupt with hints of red and<br />

orange and I felt good, like something spectacular<br />

was going to happen, that my Tunnel Beach bucket<br />

list image was going to get ticked off my list.<br />

I parked up, jumped out of the car, threw on my<br />

camera bag, grabbed my tripod, and headed<br />

down the steep hill to this iconic location. The walk<br />

down only took me 10 minutes as I was in a hurry, not<br />

46<br />

<strong>NZPhotographer</strong>


wanting to miss any of what was shaping up to be an<br />

amazing sunrise. Once I got into position, I noticed<br />

that I’d forgotten my filters - all I needed was my grad<br />

filter which helps balance the skylight, enhancing the<br />

colour while making it a tad darker but it was too late<br />

now and I had to work with what I’d got (or in this<br />

case not got!). I was shooting for at least 20 minutes<br />

as the colour kept coming and the clouds kept<br />

changing. I waited as each set of waves smashed<br />

up against the walls of the tunnel so that I could get<br />

something that was rugged to go with the amazing<br />

sky.<br />

I knew I had my bucket list photo before the sun came<br />

over the horizon yet I also knew that without my grad<br />

filter I was not getting the same image as I would have<br />

captured with it, having to shoot a short long exposure<br />

to blur the waters crashing into the wall. Anyhow, I was<br />

not disappointed, the sky was on fire, and the images I<br />

had on my camera were epic, the day starting with a<br />

bucket list image ticked off my list.<br />

Walking back to the car, I was in no hurry, if you know<br />

this beach at all you know it’s a steep walk back up to<br />

the car - the track descends sharply from 150 meters<br />

above sea level to where I stood at roughly 60 meters<br />

above sea level.<br />

Sitting in my car I wondered what I should do for the<br />

rest of the day since the sun sets in the other direction<br />

so sunset shots weren’t an option and I wasn’t likely to<br />

ever beat the sunrise photo I’d just captured. I thought<br />

the Catlins were calling but first up, I deserved a treat<br />

– a McDonald’s breakfast!<br />

Little was I to know at that moment in time that later in<br />

the day my roof rack would fail causing my kayak to<br />

fall off and damage my car, delaying my journey.<br />

3 TIPS FOR SEASCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY<br />

• A wide-angle lens is recommended for the 2<br />

locations I have talked about here. Anything from<br />

14mm up to 35mm would be a good range to<br />

have.<br />

• I’m not usually a fan of sticking to the rule of thirds<br />

but for seascapes, it works – Make sure you have<br />

a third water, third land or subject, and a third<br />

sky. Even a 50/50 rule works well as long as your<br />

subject is known.<br />

• Capturing movement with seascapes is not the<br />

easiest, having a shorter 1 second to 1/4 of a<br />

second can add a sense of art as well as a sense<br />

of movement.<br />

TUNNEL BEACH<br />

F16, 1.3s, IS064<br />

<strong>May</strong> <strong>2020</strong> 47


From the Road: Hong Kong<br />

BY SUSAN BLICK<br />

STORMY NIGHT FROM VICTORIA PEAK<br />

F2.8, 1/50s, ISO2500, 70mm<br />

48<br />

<strong>NZPhotographer</strong>


<strong>May</strong> <strong>2020</strong> 49


Hong Kong is surely one of the world’s most exciting<br />

cities! From the moment you land you get the<br />

feeling you’re in for something special.<br />

Hong Kong became a British colony at the end of the<br />

First Opium War in 1842 when the Qing Empire ceded<br />

Hong Kong Island on a 99 year lease. That lease expired<br />

in 1997 and Hong Kong was formally returned to China.<br />

However, as a gesture of goodwill China allowed Hong<br />

Kong to remain mostly autonomous calling it a special<br />

administrative zone “one country, two systems” until 2047<br />

to ease it back into the China-fold.<br />

There is lots to discover in Hong Kong, and no shortage of<br />

photographic opportunities. Besides fabulous cityscapes,<br />

some of the best photography hot spots are found in the<br />

many differing neighbourhoods.<br />

Take for example, Mong Kok which has the highest<br />

population density in the world, lots of street traffic<br />

24 hours a day, and neon signs lit brightly after dark.<br />

Slow your shutter speed down here to emphasise the<br />

movement of the crowds along the streets and through<br />

the intersections. If you’re unsure about your camera’s<br />

settings, try putting your camera on shutter priority and<br />

dial in a shutter speed of around 1/15th of a second, this<br />

will give you some creative license and will permit your<br />

camera to decide on the appropriate aperture setting to<br />

expose your image correctly. By trying your hand at some<br />

impressionism you will allow the blur of your image to tell<br />

the story.<br />

Next, if you’re after that most famous Instagram location<br />

in Honkers, jump on the MRT to Quarry Bay; alight at<br />

Tai Koo Station, use exit B, and head West along Kings<br />

Road until you reach Yick Cheong Building. It can take<br />

a little searching to find it, but you’ll know once you<br />

have as the queue to take pictures can get quite long<br />

later in the day. Here you can wonder in amazement at<br />

the residential compactness of thousands of ten metre<br />

square apartments reaching skyward all around you.<br />

Probably the most famous of all Hong Kong photography<br />

locations is Victoria Peak. There are two popular ways of<br />

getting to the Peak. If you want to ride the 100 year-old<br />

tram up the mountainside I suggest taking a taxi to the<br />

Lower Peak Terminus; otherwise it’s a reasonable walk<br />

from Central MRT using exit J2. However, it’s much easier<br />

and quicker to take a taxi all the way to the top of the<br />

Peak. Ask your driver for Victoria Peak Garden on Mount<br />

Austin Road, the car park is beside the lookout. Making<br />

a time-lapse of the city over golden hour into blue hour<br />

is something to try your hand at. The Peak is a fantastic<br />

location to do this from as the view is stupendous. Once<br />

you’ve finished shooting your cityscapes, walk some of<br />

the trails along the mountain top and consider walking<br />

back down. It is a long walk, but it’s all downhill and there<br />

are many fabulous photo spots that will give you unique<br />

images of the city’s skyline.<br />

50<br />

<strong>NZPhotographer</strong>


INSIDER’S PHOTO TIP LOCATION:<br />

Hong Kong is blessed with markets galore catering to<br />

all kinds of tastes, usually categorised by the items<br />

they sell - a fish market, a meat market, fruit and<br />

vegetable markets, houseware markets, and so on.<br />

If crowded markets aren’t usually your thing, but<br />

you go to just one, make it the Temple Street Market<br />

which is situated in Kowloon, a short walk from Jordan<br />

Road Station (use exit A). Once the sun starts to go<br />

down stall owners lay out their wares for the coming<br />

shoppers. Every counterfeit designer product you<br />

can think of can be found on Temple Street. Lots of<br />

souvenirs, t-shirts, and other knickknacks that tourists<br />

often buy are also available.<br />

Now here’s the tip - for the best photo location head<br />

to the northern end of the market across Kansu<br />

Road, there you’ll find a car park. Enter the building,<br />

remembering to smile nicely at the security guard,<br />

and take the lift to the upper floors. From here you’ll<br />

have a great view looking down the length of the<br />

market. It’s best shot at blue hour just as the city’s<br />

lights come on - don’t forget your tripod for better<br />

low-light results.<br />

GEAR GUIDE:<br />

Hong Kong screams street photography so any lens<br />

that gets you in close yet pushes back for wider shots<br />

in markets will suit you well. When I’m not sure what<br />

I’ll find on the streets I take my 24-105mm F/4, it allows<br />

me to shoot tight when needed and to get the whole<br />

story in the frame if I’m in a more crowded part of the<br />

city.<br />

Lenses with better low-light capabilities can also be<br />

incredibly handy, for instance F/2.8 can work really<br />

well, adding some nice bokeh when trying to make<br />

something in your frame stand out against a busy<br />

background. A low-light lens can also save your<br />

image if you’re in a fairly dark and crowded location<br />

like an MRT station. Naturally, for cityscapes a wide<br />

angle lens is king. Always travel with a tripod and pack<br />

a few filters, a 6 and/or 10 stop for any long exposures,<br />

and a soft-graduated 4 stop for sunset shots.<br />

Photo's: Top to bottom page 42:<br />

Mong Kok Buzz Of The Streets - F2.8, 1/15s, ISO160, 16mm| Mong Kok Buzz Of The Streets - F2.8, 1/15s, ISO160, 16mm|MongKok Street -<br />

F3.2, 1/160s, ISO500, 25mm|Yick Cheong Building - F2.8, 1/100s, ISO100, 21mm<br />

Page 43:<br />

Vegetable Market Quarry Bay - F2.8, 1/160s, ISO1000, 35mm


Introduction to Style and Vision<br />

by Richard Young<br />

“How do we find our unique expression of the world, and how can we convey this<br />

to the viewer?”


Achieving competence in photography is<br />

easy enough; with some basic technical<br />

understanding, almost anybody can create<br />

a good photograph. In the age of digital<br />

photography and smartphones, this is truer than<br />

ever. However, this ease of accessibility also makes<br />

photography one of the most difficult art forms in<br />

terms of developing a signature style and clear<br />

personal vision.<br />

Style and vision are personal: reflections of our unique<br />

expression of the world and how we wish to convey<br />

this to the viewer. Copying a favourite photographer’s<br />

style (using the same locations and the same<br />

approach) does not constitute a personal vision.<br />

While we can, of course, learn from the way others<br />

approach image-making, our style must emerge from<br />

our own creativity. Creating an original body of work,<br />

one that is consistent with one’s own vision and stands<br />

out from that of other photographers, is the most<br />

difficult challenge facing any photographer.<br />

Working with a subject you understand (one that<br />

excites you) will lead to work that is most true to your<br />

view of the world. This is what we call your vision.<br />

To be a great visual storyteller, you must know your<br />

subject. You may decide the photography you enjoy<br />

most is wildlife, street, or wedding photography.<br />

Perhaps you’re thinking of a location from your past,<br />

a story you have to tell, or a subject you have great<br />

knowledge about. Just be careful not to let outside<br />

influences guide your journey; be true to yourself and<br />

your vision, and let this decide your path. Above all,<br />

remember one thing: photography should be fun!<br />

Why spend time (and money!) pursuing this passion if<br />

you are not enjoying yourself?<br />

54<br />

<strong>NZPhotographer</strong>


Before we can approach the individual subjects<br />

of style and vision, we must understand what<br />

differentiates the two.<br />

Vision refers to how we see the world and the<br />

message we wish to express through all our images.<br />

Style emerges from the choices we make or the<br />

tools we use to express our vision, giving our work<br />

consistency when viewed as a collection.<br />

ESTABLISHING A STYLE<br />

“Style is a product of the choices we make or the<br />

tools we use to express our vision. It gives our work<br />

consistency when viewed together as a collection.”<br />

Keeping consistency of style throughout all stages<br />

of work (capture, selection and processing) will give<br />

your photography a signature look. A photographer’s<br />

style should not be static. It should evolve as you grow<br />

as a photographer and as a person, your expression<br />

informed by new technical expertise and inspiration.<br />

While establishing your own style is important, it is<br />

equally important to remain open to new ways of<br />

expressing yourself. Without experimentation, there<br />

can be no growth. There is so much joy to be found<br />

in the learning and mastering of new equipment and<br />

techniques and along the way, you may discover a<br />

strategy to incorporate into your style, or a new tool to<br />

help express your vision.<br />

There are many elements that make up a<br />

photographer’s style. Some elements will be<br />

consistent across all images, while others may be<br />

used selectively; we don’t want each image to look<br />

exactly the same. Throughout the process of creating<br />

a photograph, we must view it through multiple lenses:<br />

as an individual piece in its own regard, as a part<br />

of its collection, and as an expression of our overall<br />

vision. Although the choices we make for an individual<br />

photograph may not carry over to the others, we must<br />

take care that these choices do not subtract from<br />

what we are trying to achieve within the collection or<br />

from our overall style.<br />

FINDING YOUR VISION<br />

“Vision refers to how we see the world and the<br />

message we wish to express through all our images.”<br />

Our artistic vision is the message we strive to express<br />

through our photography. Between vision and<br />

style, vision is the more difficult concept to grasp,<br />

as it cannot simply be broken down to a number of<br />

elements. Vision is also the more elusive of the two:<br />

we could consider it the “holy grail” of photography<br />

– a goal we continue to seek throughout our entire<br />

journey as a photographer.<br />

Attempting to copy another artist’s vision will lead<br />

to weak and ingenuine work; your vision must come<br />

from within. Because it is a reflection of how you see<br />

the world, your vision will evolve naturally over time,<br />

shaped by your own personal growth and experience.<br />

This evolution often takes place alongside stylistic<br />

evolution, as we learn and adapt our approach to<br />

the image-making process to fit our changing vision.<br />

In following your vision, be prepared for the possibility<br />

that your work may not always be understood or<br />

appreciated by your viewers. Photography that is very<br />

personal and full of meaning to the creator might not<br />

express that to the viewer, but this in no way equates<br />

to failure. It is all part of the artistic experience, as<br />

many famous artists throughout history would tell you.<br />

For beginning photographers, those still experimenting<br />

with style and working to master the camera,<br />

developing an artistic vision can be a particularly<br />

daunting task. It’s natural to be strongly influenced<br />

by the images of others during the early stages of<br />

your photography journey, but this makes it difficult<br />

to approach the subject with a truly open mind<br />

and express a personal vision. If you feel you are at<br />

this stage, don’t rush; continue to master the basics<br />

first. There will be plenty of time to build your vision<br />

once your artistic energies are freed up. After all, the<br />

process is a marathon, not a sprint.<br />

Ultimately, developing your vision will give purpose<br />

to your image-making. It will present a goal you can<br />

constantly work towards. It will keep you engaged<br />

with your own photography. Your vision will help guide<br />

you to create works that are original and meaningful.<br />

Once it starts to unfold, your vision will also help you<br />

to define your style, as style is the voice through<br />

which your vision speaks. If you feel your vision is still<br />

a mystery, don’t worry: many photographers feel the<br />

same, and finding your vision is more of a journey than<br />

a destination.<br />

ONLINE PORTFOLIO & PROCESSING MASTERCLASS - THIS ONLINE COURSE GUIDES YOU THROUGH<br />

THE PROCESS OF CREATING A PHOTOGRAPHY PORTFOLIO WHICH SHOWCASES YOUR UNIQUE STYLE<br />

AND VISION. IT IS A COMPREHENSIVE AND COHESIVE COURSE WITH EACH MODULE BUILDING ON<br />

THE LAST TO HONE AND DEVELOP YOUR SKILLS AND EXPAND YOUR CREATIVITY AND PHOTOGRAPHIC<br />

KNOWLEDGE. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND JOIN.<br />

<strong>May</strong> <strong>2020</strong> 55


56<br />

<strong>NZPhotographer</strong>


NZ Landscapes Competition<br />

Winners & Best Entries<br />

1ST PLACE<br />

MATTHEW DAVEY "OHAU PEACE"<br />

2ND PLACE<br />

SARAH SMITH "MITRE MAJESTY"<br />

3RD PLACE<br />

LYNNE ROBERTS "WINTER SUNRISE"<br />

HIGHLY COMMENDED:<br />

Matthew Davey with "Sunset Lake Benmore"<br />

Kim Free with "Castle Hill"<br />

Ainsley Watson with "A Leap of Faith"<br />

Youn Ja Kim with "Blue Lake"<br />

COMPETITION SPONSORS:


OHAU PEACE<br />

While walking around Lake Ohau I was looking at capturing a shot of Ben Ohau<br />

however, I was practicing some ICM photography and found the combination of<br />

the colors and the movement in this photo gave it a peaceful vibe.<br />

Matthew Davey<br />

58<br />

<strong>NZPhotographer</strong>


1st Place<br />

<strong>May</strong> <strong>2020</strong> 59


2ND PLACE<br />

MITRE MAJESTY<br />

With the devastation to the tracks and Milford Road in Fiordland earlier this year due to rain events,<br />

I had adjusted my hopes of visiting Milford Sound on our trip south. However, I thought a drive down<br />

the road as far as Marians Corner would still be worth it. Setting off in the afternoon, we were surprised<br />

when we didn’t encounter any road barriers and by 6pm found ourselves in a quiet and desolate<br />

Milford Sound. The sun was beginning to dip behind the mountains in the west and Mitre Peak stood<br />

proud over the fiord. A well-photographed peak, I tried to create an image with a little bit of a<br />

difference.<br />

Sarah K Smith<br />

60<br />

<strong>NZPhotographer</strong>


3RD PLACE<br />

WINTER SUNRISE<br />

F16, 20s, ISO50 with ND filters<br />

A group of 4 of us arrived at Tunnel Beach just south of Dunedin, for sunrise, on a freezing cold morning<br />

in June. Arriving in the dark, it was so cold and windy we were reluctant to get out of the car. I had<br />

never been there before and was amazed by the rugged landscape and formations.<br />

Lynne Roberts<br />

<strong>May</strong> <strong>2020</strong> 61


HIGHLY<br />

COMMENDED<br />

SUNSET LAKE BENMORE<br />

F11, 1/125s, ISO200<br />

I had planned to capture a sunset shot from the Lake Benmore lookout for several<br />

weeks. Once I arrived I had a wide composition set up but as I was watching the<br />

sun drop I saw a more intimate composition and captured this image.<br />

Matthew Davey<br />

62<br />

<strong>NZPhotographer</strong>


HIGHLY<br />

COMMENDED<br />

CASTLE HILL<br />

F11, 1/160s, 35mm<br />

“A spiritual centre of the universe” is what the Dalai Lama named Castle Hill when he visited this beautiful<br />

place here in New Zealand. If anyone has been here themselves, they know why he called it this.<br />

Homeward bound after a weekend road trip, we drove up to Castle Hill and I was immediately struck<br />

by the beauty of the scene before me. The overcast sky creating perfect lighting and really highlighting<br />

the colour of the grass, the recent snowfall adding interest to the impressiveness of the ancient limestone<br />

rocks with the sheep grazing in the distance and the fence dividing the paddocks all adding together<br />

to create a scene of New Zealand that I wanted to capture to show just how beautiful this country is.<br />

Photographers come here and make their way to the rocks to photograph them up close, but I wanted<br />

to shoot something different so used them as the backdrop for this photo instead of making them the<br />

main subject.<br />

Kim Free<br />

<strong>May</strong> <strong>2020</strong> 63


HIGHLY<br />

COMMENDED<br />

A LEAP OF FAITH<br />

F16, 50s, ISO200, 14mm<br />

The firmness of the diving board allows us to<br />

leap into the unknown with a safer certainty<br />

Ainsley Watson<br />

64<br />

<strong>NZPhotographer</strong>


HIGHLY<br />

COMMENDED<br />

BLUE LAKE<br />

On my fifth visit, I caught this miraculous reflection of the Blue Lake.<br />

Youn Ja Kim<br />

<strong>May</strong> <strong>2020</strong> 65


SUNSET SYMPHONY<br />

To me this is one of the best views New Zealand has to offer, the beautiful town of Mount Maunganui<br />

located in the Bay of Plenty. The 'Mount' to us locals is consistently voted one of New Zealand best<br />

beaches known for its sun, surf and iconic mountain. I'm fortunate enough to call the Mount home so<br />

my vision was to create an image that show cases these key elements from a unique perspective. After<br />

weeks of failed attempts to get good light, one summer evening my persistence paid off and I was finally<br />

rewarded with the conditions I had envisioned.<br />

Getting far off the beaten track I rock hopped to a secluded spot along the opposing island and<br />

was instantly drawn to an area where large waves were crashing against the rocks. I perched myself<br />

precariously on a rock getting as close to the waves as I safely could. Once satisfied with my composition<br />

I took what seemed like hundreds of shots to capture the wave movement in the foreground. I wanted<br />

to find the perfect shutter speed where I could create a calming effect to the image but still maintain<br />

texture in the water to convey the power of the waves. For a time it seemed like the light wasn't going to<br />

develop but just as the sun set below the horizon a stream of golden light cast through the image bringing<br />

interest to the rock structures and waves guiding the viewers eye through the frame. I frantically continued<br />

to shoot as the sky erupted in colour, desperately trying to protect my camera from each wave that<br />

threatened to drown my equipment. What was a chaotic moment in time became a symphony of visual<br />

elements creating an image that I feel perfectly represents the landscape New Zealand is so blessed with.<br />

Brennan Barnett-Mullan<br />

66<br />

<strong>NZPhotographer</strong>


BATTLING THE POLLUTION<br />

With this single shot image I just don't know where to start... when I went out to the end<br />

of my garden I didn't think a shot like this would be possible so close to home. I thought<br />

the light pollution would be too strong, but I thought with this lockdown I needed to<br />

make the best of a bad situation and to be honest it came out better than I could<br />

ever have imagined.<br />

Haydn Parkes<br />

<strong>May</strong> <strong>2020</strong> 67


LAKE HAWEA PANORAMA<br />

F22, 1/40s, ISO64, 35mm<br />

In the NZ Summer we drove from Queenstown to Haast as part of a South<br />

Island road trip experiencing beautiful, hot, sunny days until we got closer<br />

to the West Coast. This photograph was taken at one of the stopping points<br />

along the way. One has to be patient and share the spot with bus loads<br />

of tourists and other photographers. As kiwis I think we tend to forget how<br />

special our landscape is.<br />

Ann Kilpatrick<br />

68<br />

<strong>NZPhotographer</strong>


<strong>May</strong> <strong>2020</strong> 69


REFLECTION<br />

The perfect reflection of Maori Lake on a fine Winter's day.<br />

Youn Ja Kim<br />

70<br />

<strong>NZPhotographer</strong>


SUNRISE, HAUMOANA<br />

F3, 1/125s, 23mm<br />

This was taken on a walk along Haumoana beach just as the sun<br />

was rising. The light and colours are always changing so quickly<br />

at this time of day.<br />

Gail Orgias<br />

<strong>May</strong> <strong>2020</strong> 71


A FENCE DIVIDES WARM AND COLD<br />

F16, 0.4s, ISO100, 18mm<br />

As the day takes over from the night, so does the sun brighten what has<br />

been dark and cold. Taken at South Ridge Road off the Pahiatua Track.<br />

Ainsley Watson<br />

72<br />

<strong>NZPhotographer</strong>


MUD HUT, SOUTHLAND<br />

I stayed in this sod hut back in 2011, located on a friends farm just outside<br />

Garston. Originally built by the Chinese Gold Miners during the construction<br />

of the water race in the 1890's and reconstructed in 1990, The Mud Hut is the<br />

only building of its type that may be stayed in overnight.<br />

Aaron Bryant<br />

<strong>May</strong> <strong>2020</strong> 73


MACKENZIE WELCOME<br />

F11, 1/100s, ISO400, 105mm<br />

Welcome to Mackenzie Country. This is the scene that greets visitors as they crest the<br />

hill above Fairlie in New Zealand's South Island - beautiful colours and layers of the<br />

countryside, the green of pastures, the yellow of fields of canola flowers, the hills of the<br />

Albury Range and snows on the Two Thumb Range in the back. The panoramic format<br />

conveys the expansiveness of the landscape.<br />

Peter Haworth<br />

74<br />

<strong>NZPhotographer</strong>


<strong>May</strong> <strong>2020</strong> 75


CALM BEFORE THE STORM<br />

F6.3, 1/60s, ISO125, 24mm<br />

Dusk photography while camping beside Ariels Tarn (1,350m), near<br />

Harman Pass with Whitehorn Pass left of centre. A stitch of 5 portrait shots.<br />

Peter Laurenson<br />

76<br />

<strong>NZPhotographer</strong>


MOTURIKI SPLASH<br />

F10, 1/3s, ISO200, 19mm<br />

Taken from Moturiki Island in Mt Maunganui. After I found the leading lines from<br />

the pattern in the rocks, I wanted to show movement in the wave along with<br />

the trails cause by the splash of the water over the rocks.<br />

Rob Gale<br />

<strong>May</strong> <strong>2020</strong> 77


"BUT OUT OF<br />

LIMITATIONS<br />

COMES<br />

CREATIVITY."<br />

DEBBIE ALLEN<br />

78<br />

<strong>NZPhotographer</strong>

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!