NZPhotographer Issue 61, November 2022

Cathedral Cove
Fuji GFX100S, Fuji GF 23mm F.4 lens with ND Filter @ F9, 120s, ISO200
Cathedral Cove was on my ‘NZ priority shot’ list. I’d
researched the location and was disappointed to
think the tides wouldn’t be right during my 2-day visit
and might prevent access to get the best sunrise
and sunset shots. However, during the first afternoon,
I was relieved to see that the tide would be fine at
sunset after all. The weather was the next issue; heavy
squalls! Fortunately, I still managed some shots as the
wind abated between rain showers; some late cloud
colour was very welcome.
This two-minute exposure was a gamble as I kept
thinking the wind would pick up and completely blur
the overhanging trees. Luckily it remained relatively
light, so there is only fractional movement – if you look
closely enough! The next evening the sky colours were
vivid, but I actually prefer the softer colours seen in this
shot.
The images of stunning New Zealand landscapes I saw
in this magazine actually inspired me to put a New
Zealand Photography Workshops Tour at the forefront
of my travel wish-list. And, after a few Covid restrictions
related false starts, I travelled to Queenstown in
September for a six-day tour along the West Coast of
the South Island followed by a tour of the South Island,
with my family who joined me in Nelson.
TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR RECENT TRIP TO
THE SOUTH ISLAND…
I was prepared for extremely wet weather each day,
but the weather was great the entire time. That said,
the change in light was incredibly fast and nothing
like I’d experienced before. You had to be ready and
keep a 360-degree watch at all times so as not to miss
a unique opportunity.
Not knowing the locations, I found my preconceived
ideas were often wrong in terms of the best focal
length lens to utilise for the scene. The vista in front of
me regularly suited a longer lens. For myself, it certainly
wasn’t a case of ‘shoot widest’ for landscape. Oh,
and the sandflies were definitely an unwanted hassle!
I picked up a lot of very useful technical information
and advice on the workshop but the most important
aspect that I believe will help me in future was the
process our tour leaders, Ken Wright and Glen Howey,
employed with their set-ups and their composition.
Their attention to detail was remarkable, yet done at
a fast pace - years of experience, no doubt! I should
also add that their professionalism, and especially
their passion for their craft, was both infectious and
inspiring.
24 November 2022 NZPhotographer