Country Entrance

Buy Now

Canon 7D, 18-55mm Lens

Everytime I've driven past this driveway, I kept saying to myself i should stop and take a photo.  After three years I finally did.  The light was right - (nearly sunset), with the sun casting a golden glow over everything.  In winter, when there are no leaves, it is also an imposing sight, so I will try and take an image  in Winter as well.  To get this shot I lay the camera on the ground on top of a rock for stability.

Flautist

Buy Now

Canon 7D, 100mm Macro Lens, Textured overlay

Taken at today's opening of liz Davidson Square in our local Town. This very talented young girl musician was playing Baritone Sax, Sax and Flute.  I focused on her hand and managed to capture the essence of her musical genius.  I dedicate this image to Bronwyn and Lia who I know have been practising and learning flute all of 2012.

A Perfect Red Rose

Canon 7D, 100mm Macro Lens

Trying to keep the theme red leading up to Christmas.  Another beautiful Red Rose taken at Pollard Park in Marlborough a few days ago. Handheld Macro.  Been doing a lot of macro photography in the past week all enthused after taking a workshop for our beginners C grade group.  Their enthusiasm has rubbed off on me and now I'm finding all sorts of things in the macro world to photograph.

Camera Mad

Buy Now

Canon 7D, 100mm Lens

This is the source of my addiction.  The camera doesn't go anywhere without me.  It's always ready for anything interesting thing that might be thrown my way.  Without it, I would be lost.

Petals Red

Buy Now

Canon 7D, 100mm Macro Lens

Taken at Pollard Park Yesterday on a overcast day which is perfect for red flowers.  I loved the way the petals were unfolding in this image.  I did try several different crops but for a change, centred was the best way to present this image so I'm breaking the rule of thirds.  Then again, rules are made to be broken. I used a textured overlay to get the effect.

Summer Bee

Buy Now

Canon 7D, 100mm Macro Lens

Click on this image to see it in large form as the smaller form does not do it justice.  Busy bee this afternoon amongst the flowers at Pollard Park in Marlborough.  I should not have been there as I had just been diagnosed with a broken ankle, and I should have been winging my way home to put on a moonboot.  But it was a nice cloudy day and perfect windless conditions for macro photography so decided to do a quick detour to the park on the way home.   Glad I did!

Sunshiny Poppy

Canon 7D, 100mm Macro

I'm in a bright Poppy mood today, probably because of the overcast skies and humidity and the fact I need something to keep me awake after a broken nights sleep (Damn Cat wanted cuddles in the middle of the night! This is not the normal cuddle by curling up next to you, this is the cuddle where unless I put my arms round her she kept tapping my chin with her paw!)Back to the Flower - this was a handheld macro as I didn't have my tripod with me n the shores of Picton back in early spring.  Beautiful sunny day with no wind helped. I love how the petals are almost iridescent.  

The Tree in the Lake II

Buy Now

Canon 7D, 18-55mm Lens

Shooting images in the rain using long exposures.  Calm and hardly any wind.  Even the Shags in the tree didn't move.  Taken at Lake Wanaka last week.  Inclement weather doesn't stop the camera!

Lindis Pass Light

Buy Now

Canon 7D, 18-55mm Lens

We were driving through the Lindis Pass as the sun was going down and came across beautiful evening light and shadows. This is one of my favourite images of the area with the textures of the tussock grass, being almost green in the shade, but golden and yellow in the sunlight.  Not a cloud to be seen.  Beautiful evening albeit a bit cold.

Red Billed Gull Abstract

Canon 7D, 100mm Macro Lens

Abstract of a Red Billed Gull. These gull are the Red Billed Gulls and are  native to New Zealand. They can be found all over the country. It is a fairly small gull with an all red bill, red eye ring, red leg and feet, pale grey wings with black wingtips. Quite a striking bird. The rest of its body is white, which makes them hard to photography in sunny conditions as it's easy to overexpose the feathers. There is virtually no visual difference between the male and female birds. Immature gulls have a dark brown bill with only hints of red.

A Lake Wanaka Special

Canon 7D, 100mm Macro Lens, Hand held.

You know you're addicted to photography when you pay $14 to go and see Puzzling World in Wanaka, then get caught up in their garden outside the public toilets, taking photos of free growing roses, then have to TEAR yourself away to actually go and enjoy the exhibit!  The roses were exquisite here. The Climate at Lake Wanaka must suit them.

Fetch!

Canon 7D, 100mm Lens

I used the 100mm macro lens for these shots with the dog as it was getting dark and I wanted to be sure I had good quality.  This was taken at Lake Hawea on a really calm day so the water was crystal clear and you could see the stones easily on the bottom of the lake, even though it was quite deep.  The dog was bossy, always wanting a stick thrown in for him to chase it. I ended up taking a lot of action shots of the dog for about an hour.  Lots of fun!

Last Light on the Lindis Pass

Canon 7D, 18-55mm Lens

Lindis Pass climbs to an elevation of 971m, and is the main inland route between Omarama and Cromwell in the South Island of New Zealand.  We passed through last week at sunset and this gorgeous golden light on the tussock grass, as will as the shadows, made for interesting photography.  It almost felt like I was in a desert somewhere.

South Island Summer

Canon 7D, 18-55mm Lens

Taken somewhere between Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki while travelling towards Lake Hawea.  love the simplicity of this image ad the one white cloud.  The landscape sums up what this whole area is like.  Beauty, colourful, big skies, golden tussock grass.  I felt like a tiny ant in comparison.

The White Rose

Buy Now

Canon 7D, 100mm lens

Found a beautiful, perfect white rose.  Applied a textured overlay to give it a more creative look.  Handheld macro using a fast shutter speed as I didn't have my tripod with me at the time.  I slightly underexposed it to avoid blown out highlights.  One of my favourite flowers.

Pink

Buy Now

Canon 7D, 100mm Macro Lens

Found these on the side of the road. Tiny but beautiful.  Good thing come in small packages is what I was always told.  This is no exception.  Those are blades of grass behind to give you perspective on how big the flowers are. If anyone knows what they are please let me know.

All I Want for Christmas is Two Good Legs

Canon 7D, 100mm Macro lens

You don't know just how important feet are, until you injure one.  I injured my ankle on the 5th January 2010 after years of active life running, walking, and being outdoors.  These days you will mostly find me perched on my LazyBoy chair with the cat on my lap, with my foot in the UP position.  Any amount of walking renders my ankle swollen and sore.  As a passionate photographer, this is severely restrictive and frustrating.  So look after your feet and ankles - they are they only ones you'll ever get.

Rose Red

Buy Now

Canon 7D, 100mm Macro Lens

Beautiful Red rose found at Lake Wanaka.  Handheld Macro.  Roses seem to do really well in the South Isalnd away from the humidity.  This was a particularly beautiful variety.

Lupins at Lake Tekapo

Canon 7D, 18-55mm Lens

At this time of the year (December) the Lupins are in flower all along the side of the road everywhere you go from Burkes Pass just North of Lake Tekapo, right down to Lake Wanaka.  This is Lake Tekapo.  The lake really is that wonderful aqua colour due to the sediment coming down from the glaciers.

The Tree in the Lake

Buy Now

Canon 7D, 18-55mm Lens

Taken at Lake Wanaka last week.  It was pouring with rain and quite dark so used an aperture of 22 to slow down the shutter to get the milky look of the lake.  This is the most photographed tree in New Zealand.