This year was my first full year of being a full-time photographer. And I loved it.

Each one of you has been a contributor to my photography business this year, and I thank you very much for being a part of it and making my dream come true.

To the participants of my workshops, I loved showing you the sights and helping you enhance your photography. I hope you’re doing well on your journey.

To my customers who purchased an image, I love seeing my work printed, and I trust the print or canvas is looking great on your wall.

To my subscribers, I truly appreciate having such a wonderful audience, and I hope you've found my stories and tutorials both enjoyable and insightful.

Photographing the landscape of Hawke’s Bay

I am very happy with the photos I took this year in my home ground, Hawke’s Bay. Especially, the misty scenes have been fantastic, so much so that I have enough good photos for an exhibition (see below). It was great to share some of these magic mornings with my workshop participants.

*Golden Mist in the Tukituki Valley - Hawke's Bay (2024)*

Memorable Travel Trips

Northland Trip

Although we had visited Northland before, this was the first time my wife and I truly took the time to explore the far north of New Zealand. Travelling along the Twin Coast Highway, we thoroughly enjoyed walking through the majestic Kauri forests and discovering the region’s stunning beaches.

*Cape Maria van Diemen - Northland, New Zealand (2024)*

*Waiotemarama Falls - Northland, NZ (2024)*

Alaska and the Pacific Northwest of the USA

From August to October 2024, we explored Alaska and the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Visiting Alaska had been a long-held dream, and we finally experienced it with friends on a memorable cruise. The trip exceeded our expectations, allowing us to get up close to incredible wildlife, including whales, eagles, and bears. The highlight of our Alaskan adventure was arguably the breathtaking sight of the Hubbard Glacier, which is growing, unlike most other glaciers in the world.

*Glacial Blues and Misty Peaks - Alaska, USA (2024)*

For the second part of our trip, Monique and I rented a motorhome—an RV, as it’s called in the States—to explore Washington, Oregon, and a small portion of California. Traveling this way, with the convenience of having your kitchen and bed always nearby, is my favourite method of exploring and photographing. We journeyed down the coast, enjoying spectacular coastal scenery, and then returned via an inland route. Along the way, we visited Crater Lake National Park, Mount Rainier National Park, Olympic National Park, and several other stunning forests and mountainous regions, making the most of the diverse landscapes.

*Golden Glow at Ruby Beach - Washington, USA (2024)*

*Golden Hour at Smith Rock - Oregon, USA*

From a photographer’s perspective, I aimed to strike a balance between capturing holiday snapshots and producing portfolio-worthy images of the USA. And that creates a challenge when you come home, because there are so many photos to process! Although I have published some of the photos I took, I am still processing a fair number of them.

Next year, I’ll be publishing the full stories of these trips on my website.

Looking forward to 2025

I am looking forward to 2025. The year starts with my first exhibition that I am very excited about! It’s called the Magic of Fog and Light and it features various landscape photos I have taken in Hawke’s Bay. It will be held at Creative Arts Napier from 31st January to 13th February 2025.

I encourage you to check it out if you’re around. You can find more details here.

I am also looking forward to travelling the South Island again in autumn and revisit some known spots and explore some new areas.

Writing more photography articles and sharing more of my travels on my blog is also on my to-do list as an alternative to the often shallow and attention-seeking posts you find on social media. Please subscribe now to my newsletter so that you receive the latest updates, tutorials, and stories.

If you have any ideas or topics you'd like me to cover—such as a specific photography technique—I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to reach out by simply commenting below.

I wish you all a fantastic remainder of this year and a great photographic new year.

All the best and talk soon,
Jos.

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Thank you for your business in 2024!