A Wild Garden

I am fortunate to have plants growing naturally right on the doorstep here in our garden.  Although the original Marlborough daisies were planted here, they now seed readily and new plants grow.  They often germinate in a crack in a rock, and the tap root burrows down through almost impenetrable substrate to source water an nutrients.

The Marlborough daisy (Pachystegia insignis) grows naturally on dry, exposed cliffs and rocky outcrops in the northeast of the South Island.  I converted this image to monochrome to emphasise the lightness of the seed heads.

Photographing where you live

I have heard several photographers say that the best photographs are often obtained not in exotic locations, but close to home, in the area where you live, that you know well.  I am fortunate to live on the edge of the city, on the hills, and with a large garden.  So there are ample opportunities for exercising my camera.  Today I am posting just two images, different interpretations of windy weather that we've experienced recently.

Banksia and Eucalyptus growing in a garden on the Port Hills, Christchurch.

I took the first photograph in our garden on a slow shutter speed to show movement in the wind.  The second is also from the garden, and shows the approach of a southerly front, and the clouds are moving rapidly.  The cabbage trees in the foreground are being blown violently by the wind. 

Southerly front approaching, Port Hills, Christchurch

I am not pretending that these are high quality images, but being on the spot enables me to try out different techniques when the weather cooperates.  In this way I hope to improve so that when I am travelling I am able to take advantage of opportunities that offer themselves.

New Zealand Nature

Valley mist, from Amuri skifield

I am posting some images from nearer home this week.  Ten days ago, I went with a group of Nature Photography Society of New Zealand members to the Amuri ski field lodge, near Hanmer Springs, for a weekend of photography.  The conditions were excellent for sunrise shots on both Saturday and Sunday mornings; nor’west winds brought broken high cloud and great colour.

Sunrise from Amuri skifield

Sunrise from Amuri skifield

On Saturday, after shooting the sunrise from a ridge just by the lodge, we walked to the summit of Mt St Patrick.  The views and the alpine flowers were superb.  In the wind, mat plants (vegetable sheep as they are known locally) were the most suitable photographic subjects.

Haastia 

Raoulia and Haastia

I woke before dawn on Sunday morning to a dull, red glow outside the window.  So in spite of the strong wind that had battered the lodge all night, keeping most of us awake for much of the time, I got up to head outside.  My intention had been to grab a few quick shots and retreat indoors again, but the light was too good to ignore, so with camera on tripod I returned to the ridge where I had been the day before.  Fortunately I knew the way this time, so it wasn’t hard to negotiate the route in the half-dark.  The clouds were moving fast, and this was the last shot I took before the sun rose above the horizon.  At 1/20 sec exposure, those little red clouds must be moving in the frame, but fortunately it isn’t obvious.  The articulated screen on my camera was blowing in the wind, so I had to lock it down and almost lie on the ground to see what was happening.  The camera was low to the ground, and rock solid on the tripod, so the image is sharp.

Second sunrise from Amuri skifield

As the wind continued to strengthen, we decided after breakfast to clear up and head straight down the road.  It was calmer in the valley, although still windy.  We stopped to explore an old woodshed.  Also, at the beginning of the St James cycle way, we found an incredible field of gentians, in perfect condition.  Of course they were blowing violently in the wind, and I’m looking forward to seeing images from one of our members who, living locally, intended to return the next morning.

Changing weather, looking down to the Clarence River

Introducing Pol

I live in the South Island of New Zealand, an area with a small human population compared to its landmass.  I enjoy photography, but don’t call myself a photographer, as by training and profession I am an entomologist, with a former life as a secondary school physics teacher.  I have had a camera since I was a child, taking photographs mainly on trips and holidays.  Joining the Nature Photography Society of New Zealand (NPSNZ) in 2005 gave me the impetus to take photography more seriously.  Then just over a year ago I began posting daily images on Blipfoto, and this has helped me further develop my photography. 

My favourite shooting locations are mountains and deserts.  I am especially attracted to the national parks and other natural areas of western North America, where a camping and hiking lifestyle lends itself to my kind of photography.  At home in New Zealand I like to camp up high to take advantage of the morning and evening light without having to drive to places in the dark. 

I like to photograph landscapes, rocks, trees, flowers, mammals more than birds, lizards and occasionally insects.  My preferred approach is fast and light. To capture the moment during fast-changing lighting conditions, a moving animal, or plant blowing in the wind, I want to be instantly in the right place, ready to click the shutter, so I handhold my camera whenever possible.

The North American publication, ‘Outdoor Photographer’ is my favourite magazine, and the late Galen Rowell, one of its former columnists, was my early inspiration.  I still enjoy his work in the Mountain Light Gallery in Bishop, California.  I also appreciate many other photographers, but don’t have any particular favourites.