My New Zealand Story

Boy walking through the water on a New Zealand beach.

Straight from the camera on what must be the most dramatic, and most intense shooting conditions ever. A 20-minute window of opportunity as the mood intensified. Part of a documentary about me shooting the mountain with Medium Format digital equipment. Simply unbelievable. Not a painting!

Pauanui is a beautiful beach area on the North Island of New Zealand. You can catch a brilliant sunrise on almost any day. While trying to catch a sunrise, I was joined on the beach by a lone paddleboarder. Sometimes the action isn't where you think it will be. The sunrise was great. This was even better.

I had this picture in mind when I decided to go to Muriwai: the gannet colony, dead centre, and then the sea below, smoothed out by the long exposure. I was stoked to manage this shot, but still, I believe the scene deserves a better light, and I'll be back for sunrise or sunset, that's certain!

Kekenos fighting for the top sun spot at the Katiki Point Lighthouse. I was standing pretty close with my 35mm lens to take pictures of the left kekeno. Then suddenly the big one intruded the cliff to claim this top sun spot. I was amazed by how loud they can shout. The small kekeno then quickly gave way and climbed down the cliff to lie next to the others on the sand.

Walking inside a volcano’s crater is one of the best experiences in the wild, I guess. I felt connected to the heart of the planet. White island was one of my last trips before leaving New Zealand, and I was fortunate to hear about it from locals because I was going to miss the adventure! If you want to walk in an active moon like landscape, go for it on White island!

Lots of kea came to me that day at the summit of Avalanche Peak, what appeared to me as a reward for the midday of climbing. And they welcomed me well! I was lucky to take their picture with an epic alpine background which is their home. They are the only parrot species in the world to have mountains as their natural habitat. And this kind of encounter is possible only in New Zealand!

During our trip to Tasman glacier, one of the largest calving events in recent times had taken place. Towers of ice are formed when calving events sheer large portions of ice from glaciers, creating the iconic 'icebergs'. As snow accumulates and compresses over hundreds and thousands of years, countless bubbles form in the ice. These bubbles absorb the longer wavelengths of light (warmer colours) and only illuminate and reflect the beautiful blues and greens.

The most eastern point in the world. It was New Year's Eve 2017 when some friends and I took a road trip to East Cape, New Zealand to see the first light of the new year. We sat by the warmth of the fire on the beach and watched as the stars sparkled to life above us.

Nin's Bin has become a well-known part of New Zealand's coastal landscape. It started out as a simple converted caravan in 1977 selling crayfish to passersby on the beautiful Kaikoura Coast. Forty-one years later in 2018, it hasn't really changed much... just simple, tasty crayfish and a view that's hard to beat.

My friends just returned from their New Zealand honeymoon saying 'haere ra' to their homestay hosts. Listening to their warm and beautiful stories, I have started saving for my solo trip to this dream country. Hopefully next summer I will say 'kia ora' to my new friends.

It's the simple things in life we forget to appreciate as adults. How carefree the mind of a child can be, to find pleasure in a wayward sprinkler on a humid summer's day. This photo captured a moment which will always make me smile. How they play, and their innocence inspires me.

Incredible light on the southern Alps.

Two Maori gentlemen are happy and laughing out loud after a church service in Auckland.

A lonely boat and collapsed tree with fantastic aurora colour in Wilson Bay, New Zealand.

Giant mountain, giant tree; though I have been to Milford Sound so many times, it still surprised me every single time.