Fotofest Exhibition, Mastering Lightroom and some Fog
Peak Light Newsletter September 2025
The other day, during one of my workshops, an aspiring photographer leaned in and confessed:
“My biggest struggle? I just can’t figure out how to organise my photos in Lightroom. I want a simple structure so I can actually find things again.”
I had to smile, because I remember those days well — back when my biggest dilemma was whether “Trees” belonged in a folder called Forests or Nature.
Fast forward to now, and my worries feel like they live in a completely different universe. These days, I find myself lying awake at night thinking:
Am I still creating images that feel unmistakably like me?
Will my next series resonate enough to keep my business thriving?
How do I protect my creative voice while also keeping things commercially viable?
It’s almost comical — the contrast between their fog and mine. They’re standing at the edge, peering into the mist, unsure of what lies ahead. I’m deeper in the fog, feeling my way through, wondering if I’m on the right path and whether the light will change before I capture it.
But here’s the truth: both kinds of worry matter. Photography evolves as you do. Lightroom folders eventually give way to exhibition deadlines. One sharp frame becomes an entire cohesive portfolio. And yet, we all climb the same way — one small step (or one carefully named folder) at a time.
In this issue, I want to share a little of both worlds: news about my upcoming Fotofest exhibition, a practical guide to mastering Lightroom’s Tone Controls, and a new favourite photo with its backstory.
Fotofest 2025
FOTOFEST Hawke’s Bay returns this September for its 4th year — bringing together more than 60 exhibitions from local, national, and international photographers.
From street and window displays to outdoor installations, competitions, workshops, and more, FOTOFEST celebrates photography in all its forms while supporting local creatives and businesses. It’s a vibrant event that gives both locals and visitors countless reasons to explore and enjoy our creative city.
This year, running from 19 September – 2 October, I’m excited to be part of the festival, exhibiting a selection of my Hawke’s Bay landscapes at Creative Arts Napier (CAN).
I am offering 15% discount off my workshops from now until the end of Fotofest. Just mention Fotofest when you book.
Master Lightroom’s Tone Controls
Lightroom’s Tone controls might look simple, but they’re some of the most powerful tools for transforming a good photo into a truly stunning image. With just five sliders — Exposure, Highlights, Shadows, Whites, and Blacks — you can shape light, depth, and mood to give your photos a polished, professional feel.
In this new guide, I break down what each slider does, how they interact with the histogram, and how to use them both to fix common problems and to get creative. From recovering detail in bright skies to adding depth and contrast without losing texture, these techniques will help you edit with confidence and intention.
Keen to learn more? Click the button below for full details.
Behind the Image
The images below, captured a few weeks ago, reveal the quiet magic of a foggy morning in Te Mata Park, Hawke’s Bay — the kind that makes pre-dawn walks completely worthwhile. Arriving at the summit just as the sun began to rise, I watched golden light spill across the landscape, turning the familiar into something almost otherworldly.
A stand of trees caught the first rays, their bare branches glowing warmly as drifting veils of fog wove between them. The mist softened the scene, transforming it into a serene, dreamlike vision that felt fleeting and precious — the kind of moment that reminds you why you get up before the world does.
Golden Crowns in Fog - Hawke's Bay, NZ (2025)
Layers of Stillness - Hawke's Bay, NZ (2025)
If you’re into these kinds of foggy images, I’ll have assembled them into a Trees in Mist collection that you can find on my website.
Thank you for reading the Peak Light newsletter!
Thank you for following along. Photography is a continuous journey — of light, weather, and perspective — and I’m grateful to share a bit of that with you.
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