The Light Moves On — From Cape Farewell to Taranaki
Peak Light Newsletter October 2025
Reflections on Fotofest
It was inspiring to see such a diverse range of photography at Fotofest this year — from intimate community stories to expansive landscapes, and from traditional framed prints to experimental displays. Events like this remind me how many different ways there are to interpret the world through a lens.
Thank you to everyone who stopped by for a chat — it’s always a pleasure to connect in person and share ideas.
With the festival wrapped up, I’m now clearing some space in the studio to make room for new work for my next exhibition. A selection of my Hawke’s Bay landscapes, beautifully printed, framed, and ready to hang, are now available at special prices — 25% off while stock lasts.
If there’s a piece you’ve had your eye on, now’s a great time to give it a place on your wall.
A travelling photographer story: Exploring Cape Farewell
Earlier in the year, I visited the Cape Farewell area — a place of shifting light and unpredictable weather. Iconic beaches, sea mist rising from the Tasman, strong coastal winds, and sudden bursts of colour made for challenging but deeply rewarding conditions. I’ve added a few new images from this trip to my collection, along with short notes on the experience.
The journey also reminded me how much more there is to photographing an unfamiliar place than simply taking the camera out of the bag and pressing the shutter. Some of the things that made the biggest difference were:
Doing the research and scouting in advance — to anticipate the light and conditions.
Slowing down to really see — allowing the landscape to reveal itself.
Adapting to the weather — I was caught by surprise in a beautiful storm.
Keeping a journal — to preserve the story behind the photographs.
I’m currently writing more about these lessons and will share them in one of my next articles.
Looking Ahead: Taranaki
Next week I’ll be heading to Taranaki to explore the mountain region and surrounding coastline. I’ll be running a few workshops with aspiring photographers and, finding time for a few hikes with my camera.
There’s something magnetic about Taranaki — that beautiful, perfectly cone-shaped mountain seems to centre you no matter where you stand. On my last visit, I spent an evening at Lake Mangamahoe, where the calm water mirrored the mountain in the soft light of sunset — a moment of perfect stillness.
I look forward to returning and sharing new field notes and images in the next newsletter.
Until Next Time
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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