Nature – New Zealand images

Springtime in the Garden

3 daffodils in a blue setting

Daffodils

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Four spring daffodils in a complimentary color setting. Looking like golden yellow flying angels.

Daffodil in the Dunedin Botanic Gardens, Dunedin, New Zealand.

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Various common names include daffodil, narcissus and jonquil.

Fiordland New Zealand

Waterfall, Fiordland National Park New Zealand

Waterfall, Fiordland National Park New Zealand.

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Note the tannin coloured water typical of the area. 7 metres of rain annually With over an average of appox. 200 rain-days/year.

Sunset Milford Sound New Zealand.

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Sunset side lighting on storm clouds in Long Sound in Preservation Inlet, Fiordland National Park, New Zealand

Fiordland. Sunset outlined clouds in Long Sound

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Sunset side lighting on storm clouds in Long Sound in Preservation Inlet, Fiordland National Park, New Zealand

The Clutha River Area, Otago, New Zealand

Aerial view of intensive agriculture, the Upper Clutha, New Zealand

The Upper Clutha Basin, and the Clutha River.

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The Cardrona, Hawea, Makarora and Matukituki rivers all feed into the Clutha Mata-Au (formerly Molyneaux). The longest river in the South Island of New Zealand. Wanaka airport is to the left, and Wanaka township, out of sight to the right.

Hawea Flat, New Zealand aerial photo.

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Tangential winter lighting reveals the ancient fluvial processes associated with rivers and streams. And now overlaid by relentless Europeanisation in the name of agriculture.

The Dart River and Kinloch

Dawn at Kinloch, at the head of Lake Wakatipu. Lake Wakatipu is an inland lake in the South Island of New Zealand. Many perhaps relate more to the name Queenstown. On the eastern shore. Kinloch is at the head of the lake to the west, right beside where the Dart River, the primary tributary, feeds it. Kinloch can be reached by road via the township of Glenorchy The name Wakatipu comes from the original Māori name, Whakatipu wai-māori

Dawn at Kinloch, at the head of Lake Wakatipu.

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Lake Wakatipu is an inland lake in the South Island of New Zealand. Many perhaps relate more to the name Queenstown. On the eastern shore. Kinloch is at the head of the lake to the west, right beside where the Dart River, the primary tributary, feeds it. Kinloch can be reached by road via the township of Glenorchy.

Morning and evening views of Lake Wanaka

Pastel sunset glow on Lake Wanaka Lake Wanaka's Roys Bay in the evening. With Black Peak in the distance

An early morning springtime view of Lake Wanaka

A springtime morning view of Lake Wanaka.

The Buchanan Mountains from Roys Bay, Lake Wanaka, New Zealand.

A similar view in black and white.

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Black Peak in the center is often mistaken for Mt Aspiring.

Pastel sunset glow on Lake Wanaka.

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Lake Wanaka’s Roys Bay in the evening. With Black Peak in the distance.

Lake Wanaka from Beacon Point.

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Beacon Point is simply a very large and shallow area on Lake Wanaka’s shore. There is a permanent red light hundreds of meters from the point to warn boaties.

Glendhu Bay, Lake Wanaka.

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Glendhu Bay is a short drive west from Wānaka, Otago, New Zealand. It is on the road to Treble Cone ski field and Mount Aspiring National Park. The bay has a motor camp that is popular with New Zealand locals over the New Year holiday period. Patronage numbers in the many thousands.

Canadian Canoe on the Clutha River

Paddling the now submerged Cromwell Gorge, Clutha River, New Zealand

Paddling the Cromwell Gorge, Clutha River, New Zealand. Circa 1985.

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This wild river was no more when Lake Dunstan was formed, beginning in April 1992. It is a man-made lake and reservoir and was formed on the Clutha River as a result of the construction of the Clyde Dam.

Moke Lake, Queenstown

Moke Lake, Queenstown, New Zealand

Dawn. Moke Lake is a small lake just a 15 minute drive from Queenstown, in the South Island of New Zealand.

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There is a Dept. of Conservation camping area on the northern shores. And the short Moke Lake Loop Track is popular with walkers and cyclists.

Early Autumn Photography

Green leaves turning to the typical gold of autumn — Green turning to the typical gold of autumn.
Note the softness. In camera, which gives a sharper look in this case, of segments of background – bit like pieces of a jigsaw

Green leaves turning to the typical gold of autumn, in Wanaka — Soft, out of camera, and then applied again in software

Green leaves turning to the typical gold of autumn, in Wanaka. High key filter — High key filter, post processing

Not every moment of Easter weekend 2021 was spent in the woods…

An un-seasonal nor wester on Lake Wanaka, and a dog with a stick — An unseasonal nor-wester on Lake Wanaka.
But every dog has it’s day

A moody clouds as prelude to the official autumn season on Lake Wanaka — A moody prelude to the official autumn season on Lake Wanaka

Hand stand in the wind, Lake Wanaka — Hand stand in the wind – gusts of 120 km/hr!

Focus stack of two images combined. Autumn colors — Two images combined

Claret colored tree in autumn, with lichen on the trunk — Lichen with claret!

dead birch tree leaves — Perhaps more dead than an “alive autumn look

Pink rose in the rain, with rain drops — Be prepared to get wet in the quest for soft light

White peonei — Source image for the mandala style one below

Bright red autumn foliage — Non distracting background known as bokeh.
More easily achieved if the background is someway behind the subject.
Plus lens wide open

Pink rose close up with raindrops — Roses in certain light are not always as they seem

And lastly some odds and ends for the week

University of Otago Campus. Post processing involved some playing with infra red

Computer manipulated image of a white peonei — Once was a peonei

Decorative blue piano in Cromwell Mall — Nothing to do with autumn, but seen in Cromwell town

None of these blog page images are listed in our shop. Nor are they likely to be. But if you’re interested in purchasing, please note which image and email Donald so I can advise you with a price and options.

A year of photography – 2019

Autumn at Glendhu Bay, Wanaka, New Zealand

There were various reasons for lots of local NZ travel in 2019, and fortunately I had the time often to not rush trips across the likes of Central Otago, e.g. Wanaka to Dunedin and return.

The images below are very roughly in chronological order, but being lots of them I’ve uploaded with speed in mind – life in 2020 is nice and full, and sitting at a keyboard is best kept to a minimum. Enjoy!

Silver Peaks, Dunedin — *Silver Peaks range behind Dunedin on a day tramp in the damp, which helps engender a sense of mystery*

Sheep on a Southland Road — On various days I’d help an old friend Wayne survey road upgrades in Southland, and so I got to see lots more of rural NZ than I knew existed, as usually the surfaces that needed to be marked out for upgrades were on anything but main roads.

These were long days with lots of water needed to keep hydrated.

Cook Strait looking back at the South Island — An evening on Cook Strait heading to Wellington on a roadie with an old and dear friend. This is looking back at the South Island

Rowing on Wellington harbour — Wellington harbour

A relocated railway station in Central Otago now serving as a musterer's farming hut — A relocated railway station in Central Otago now serving as a musterer’s farming hut. Bordering the Oteake Conservation Area

Lan Yuan, Dunedin Chinese Garden — Lan Yuan, **Dunedin Chinese Garden**, in Dunedin. The garden commemorates the contribution of Chinese people to the history and culture of the city.

I met my cousin and husband down there so it was a delightful family outing looking at some strong history, with them both and my son

On the Rock and Pillar Range looking west — A side trip and camp out in my Land Cruiser camper, to altitude on the Rock and Pillar Range – the last of the block mountains between the Cardrona Valley, Wanaka and Dunedin. A very windy area.

Camping on the Rock and Pillar Range — Luxury with a cold beer out of the vehicle fridge, *on the Rock and Pillar Range* watching the sunset.

It got very windy in the wee hours though, and despite turning the truck around so it faced into the wind, to get a good sleep I drove a few km and parked up in a gully out of it, and woke to heavy rain.

Another evening camp out – this time at old gold diggings on the Hawkdun Range, Oteake Conservation Area.

I’d climbed up to here in very cold winds to get some photos, and then descended in the dark back to my welcome little mountain hut on wheels, aka Cafe Toyota.

Mt Aspiring in the background

Lower Rock and Pillar Range – Butterfly country once experienced and now imagined

awning on Land Cruiser. camper — My new awning on the camper – should have made one years ago for the simple reason that in rain the end of the bed would get wet.

Note no poles and my 100 year old industrial sewing machine got an airing

Sunset from the Hawkduns.

Just myself, my three legged tripod and some nearby cattle to enjoy a perfect evening while on my way to Dunedin

The now empty Cadburys chocolate factory in Dunedin.

Site of a new hospital coming up.

Classic car in Wanaka — During the year I finished off a new tire related web site in Wanaka, and so was delighted one day to spot this beauty outside the new building

Frog at Glendhu Bay, Wanaka — Best image from a sunset photoshoot at Glendhu Bay, Wanaka

University of Otago clock tower — University of Otago where my son has studied for several years. A truly beautiful campus

Christchurch cathedral statue — I had to visit Christchurch a few times during the year and since I’d never seen the city post earthquake I predictably ended up visiting the Cathedral ruins in the Square

Christchurch public toilets near the Square at night

Christchurch Art Gallery — *Christchurch* Public Art Gallery

Historic gold reserve cottage at Macraes Otago — Historic gold reserve at Macraes Otago

Luna Light Festival fairies - midwinter, Queenstown — Luna Light Festival fairies – midwinter, Queenstown

The smog of winter in the Manuherikia River Valley, Central Otago

Mt Tutoko, Fiordland National Park – photo from the jet service into Queenstown from CHC

Wintery tarn and Hawkdun Mountains, Oteake Conservation Park, on the edge of the *Maniototo*

World Loppet Merino Muster race 2019 — The front runners at the annual World Loppet Merino Muster race, the Snow Farm, Cardrona Valley, Wanaka.

These world class athletes on cross country skis are well into their 42 km race, and typically average speeds of up to 22kph over that distance

During the year I was appointed onto the Otago Conservation Board where we represent the public and advise the Dept of Conservation on select matters and strategic decision making.

As such I get to do field trips, and here is a native kaka at Orokonui Sanctuary near Dunedin.

Young lovers in the sunset, near the mouth of the Catlins River, Coastal Otago — My son and girlfriend near the mouth of the Catlins River, Coastal Otago.

I had a large print done for him of this image as a Christmas present, and it was well received.

Nevis Valley gold dredge pond tree — Yet another visit to a certain tree in the Nevis Valley – it’s my photo nemesis I think: satisfaction eludes me capturing the cold emotion of this old historic gold dredging pond, but I’m getting closer.

This visit represented the coldest I’d been in 2019.

Nevis Valley gold miners cottage — *Nevis Valley* gold miners cottage

Lake Hawea from a day trip up Isthmus Peak

Otago Conservation Board field trip Matukituki Valley 2019 — Otago Conservation Board field trip Matukituki Valley – me on the right

Proposed conservation land on Glenaray Station Otago/Southland. An inspection visit by helicopter pre submission.

One huge area – one hour flying only covered a fifth of the farm.

Lake Wanaka flood Dec 2019.

Last event 1999, and thankfully this one stopped short of the shops, just!

Glendhu Bay autumn ripples — My favourite capture for the year – there I was all set up at Glendhu Bay for a more sedate shot and a jet ski came by causing some ripples I did not think I’d benefit from, however they made for something much better.

Dunedin Gardens rose — Wishing you all the very best for you and yours for 2020 – may you always have time to smell the roses

The Dunedin Botanic Garden

I often go to Dunedin for many varied reasons, and one of the delights of every trip is a visit or two to the oldest botanical garden in New Zealand, which was established in 1863.

There are two parts of the Dunedin Botanic Garden, linked indiscernibly, known as the upper gardens and the lower gardens which merge nicely with the University of Otago campus. View Google Map

The initial garden was established on a site now occupied by the University but due to extensive flooding in 1868, the gardens were moved to their current site in 1869.

White rhododendron at the Dunedin Botanic Garden — **A *rhododendron* typical of the more naturalistic upper garden, where there is an arboretum, rhododendron dell, native plant and geographic collections.**

Dunedin Botanic Gardens — **There are over 6,800 plant species**

Dunedin Botanic Garden — *The Garden is a preferred location for serious botanical studies as it is* home to a significant number of plant collections

Garden worker at Dunedin Botanic Garden — **The resources dedicated to the Gardens are significant, yet unlike many similar gardens in large cities overseas such as in Vancouver, entry to the Dunedin Botanic Gardens is free**

Dunedin Botanic Garden, the roof of the Winter Garden Glasshouse — **The roof of the Winter Garden Glasshouse – open 10am to 4pm, with nearby alpine house and toilets 9am to 4pm, and the cafe 9.30am to 4.30pm**

Students studying in the Dunedin Botanic Gardens — Each University year Dunedin city hosts 40,000 plus students and with the Gardens in close proximity scenes like this are common place. In short they offer an immense and peaceful place for relaxation and study, while also providing pathways to North Dunedin where there are lots of student accomodation flats

Dunedin Botanic Garden - Peter Pan statue — **Peter Pan and is that Wendy whispering in his ear?**

Dunedin Botanic Garden decorative hedges

Dunedin Botanic Garden -Japanese shelter — **A feature of the flat lower Garden**

Fantails ofter frequent the Dunedin Botanic Gardens — **Fantails often frequent the Dunedin Botanic Gardens**

South African section of the upper Dunedin Botanic Gardens — **South African section of the upper Gardens**

The formal rose garden and camellia collection in the lower Dunedin Botanic Gardens — **The formal rose garden and camellia collection in the lower Gardens**

The story of an astute kereru (NZ wood pigeon) and a myopic photographer

Last week I came across the above fantail /piwakawaka and as my camera was in my hand, I started stalking him/her with my lens, knowing full-well, like we all do, that these sweeties move about almost too fast for us limited humans.

But I got a good enough shot, and then I had the oddest feeling I was not alone and was being watched, so I took half a breath and realised the kereru was less than a meter from my nose.

The rest was history as they say, but look at the expression. It’s said these beautiful birds are dumb, but that was not what I saw…

Eventually my kereru friend decided to turn away prior to departure, but could not resist looking back for sometime with an air of indecision, or maybe even reluctance…

Back view of a NZ kereru / wood pigeon at Dunedin Botanical Gardens

One of favourite piwakawaka photos taken in red beech forest in Mt Aspiring National Park…

Piwakawaka / fantail in red beech forest in Mt Aspiring National Park

None of these blog page images are listed in our shop yet, but if you happen to be interested please note which image and email Donald so he can process the various options, and advise you with a link when completed

That Wanaka Tree

I’ve been around this now famous tree in more ways than one, e.g. swimming, and simply took it for granted for a few decades.

In snow, flood, or times of drought this tree that used to be a fence post earlier than 1939, endures with a determination to not just live, but to be a rock star of the Internet

However before it became famous a few of us had been there with cameras in sunshine and storm, simply because it was nice subject matter for landscape photographers.

But even then we had no idea how social media would change all that – now days getting an image of it with no people is the ultimate challenge.