Favourite Images

Below follows a selection of my favourite images. Choosing favourite photographs is a difficult task. The images that seem to resonate for me the most are the ones where all of the elements such as light, colour, composition and timing come together. And often, the experience I had leading up or after the photo was taken affects my choice as well.

I tend to change my favourites over time, as I re-visit locations with better conditions, improve my post-processing skills, or I simply change my preference.

If you have a favourite image from any of the galleries please feel free to contact me and let me know about them.

Tree and Morning Mist

Mist and the early morning light add a touch of mystery to the hills and trees at the foot of Te Mata Peak.

This image was selected by Flickr as one of the top 25 photos of 2020.

Morning fog climbing up the Peak

The view from Te Mata Peak usually features the Tukituki river flowing towards the bay. On the day this photo was taken, the morning fog was obscuring the river. In fact, a few minutes before this photo was taken, even the peak wasn't visible.

Trees and Green Hills

and a few sheep because we're in NZ

Golden Tree Reflection

I took this photo of a couple of trees catching the first light of the day from the Pekapeka Wetlands boardwalk. It was a clear, cold winter’s morning and the frost in the hollow around the trees combined with the warm glow of the early sunlight adds a little extra to the mood.

I like the natural symmetry of the scene, and I definitely broke the rule of thirds in this composition.

Hills above the early morning mist

Taken while I was out to take a sunrise photo of Te Mata Peak. I took a look behind me to check if I had put the car on the handbrake (because I forget such things when I am on a mission to take photos), and saw the mist climbing up the hills with the first bit a light on them. A great start to the morning.

Whatawhata Morning Fog

The layers of blue, white and green in this photo of morning fog in the Waikato always make me think of a national flag.

A little research revealed that the national flag of Lesotho, a kingdom encircled by South Africa has such a flag. Also, someone suggested this as the new flag for New Zealand back in the days that we were debating replacing our current flag. The Blue represents the sky, the lakes and rivers, and the Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea. White represents the long white cloud, the crests of waves and snow-capped mountain peaks. And Green represents the earth and the beautiful islands of New Zealand.

Manaia Road Saddle and Lookout

I took this photo at the end of the blue hour while on a short trip to the west coast of the Coromandel. I particularly like the layers of rich colours that add something special to this otherwise classic composition with the lone tree in the foreground and the islands in the background.

Tapeka Point Beach

Crater Rim towards Mt. Ngauruhoe

This photo was taken at the Red Crater and looks down on the rim of the South Crater featuring the prominent Mount Ngauruhoe. The tiny people in the foreground put the enormousness of the crater and Mount Doom into perspective.

Hooker River and Mt. Cook

The milky blue Hooker River winds itself down from Hooker Glacier which is one of several glaciers close to the slopes of Aoraki / Mount Cook in the Southern Alps of New Zealand. The milky blue water flowing from glacial melt is the result of finely ground rock called "rock flour" that pigments the water.

First light on the Apostles

More favourites

Click on one of the images below to find out more about the images above, or to have a look at more of my favourite images.

Tree and Morning Mist
Mist and the early morning light add a touch of mystery to the hills and trees at the foot of Te Mata Peak. This image was selected by Flickr as one of the top 25 photos of 2020.
Kareaara Stream Cascade, Tangoio Falls Reserve
The first part of the track towards the Te Ana Falls and the Tangoio Falls in nothern Hawke's Bay follows a stream that meanders through the native forest . In some areas, the stream makes its way through moss-covered rocks and boulders, creating beautiful cascades of water.
Te Mata Peak Sunburst Panorama
I forget how many times I have seen the sun rise from Te Mata Peak. It always feels good to have made the climb up and the view is usually majestic. And because it's Hawke's Bay the sun usually shows itself. This is one of the first photos I took with the Canon EOS R5, and I was (and still am!) very impressed with its dynamic range and the sharpness of the RF lens. And the resolution is great for supersize prints...
Golden Tree Reflection
I took this photo of a couple of trees catching the first light of the day from the Pekapeka Wetlands boardwalk. It was a clear, cold winter’s morning and the frost in the hollow around the trees combined with the warm glow of the early sunlight adds a little extra to the mood. I like the natural symmetry of the scene, and I definitely broke the rule of thirds in this composition.
Whatawhata Morning Fog
The layers of blue, white and green in this photo of morning fog in the Waikato always make me think of a national flag. A little research revealed that the national flag of Lesotho, a kingdom encircled by South Africa has such a flag. Also, someone suggested this as the new flag for New Zealand back in the days that we were debating replacing our current flag. The Blue represents the sky, the lakes and rivers, and the Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea. White represents the long white cloud, the crests of waves and snow-capped mountain peaks. And Green represents the earth and the beautiful islands of New Zealand.
Manaia Road Saddle and Lookout
I took this photo at the end of the blue hour while on a short trip to the west coast of the Coromandel. I particularly like the layers of rich colours that add something special to this otherwise classic composition with the lone tree in the foreground and the islands in the background.
Tapeka Point Beach
Morning fog climbing up the Peak
The view from Te Mata Peak usually features the Tukituki river flowing towards the bay. On the day this photo was taken, the morning fog was obscuring the river. In fact, a few minutes before this photo was taken, even the peak wasn't visible.
Crater Rim towards Mt. Ngauruhoe
This photo was taken at the Red Crater and looks down on the rim of the South Crater featuring the prominent Mount Ngauruhoe. The tiny people in the foreground put the enormousness of the crater and Mount Doom into perspective.
Hooker River and Mt. Cook
The milky blue Hooker River winds itself down from Hooker Glacier which is one of several glaciers close to the slopes of Aoraki / Mount Cook in the Southern Alps of New Zealand. The milky blue water flowing from glacial melt is the result of finely ground rock called "rock flour" that pigments the water.
First light on the Apostles
Trees and Green Hills
and a few sheep because we're in NZ
Hills above the early morning mist
Taken while I was out to take a sunrise photo of Te Mata Peak. I took a look behind me to check if I had put the car on the handbrake (because I forget such things when I am on a mission to take photos), and saw the mist climbing up the hills with the first bit a light on them. A great start to the morning.