Fisherman At Muriwai

Fishermen at Muriwai. This picture was taken on a rainy afternoon. Saying that the waves are responsible for most of the wet ground you see in the picture. This is a dangerous place to fish at times and many people have lost their lives in pursuit of the sport they love. Some days the waves are so strong they can be responsible for not only claiming the rods on display, but also the fishermen themselves ! This particular day was relatively calm and the fish were in plentiful supply !

Pōhutukawa Flower

As mentioned in a previous listing, Pōhutukawa trees are know as New Zealands Christmas tree. It's timber is remarkably strong and was used for ship building in the past. The leaves and bark of the tree were utilized for a variety of medicinal purposes by Maori. The striking red flower of the Pōhutukawa come to life in the Summer months. This picture was taken at Muriwai on the way to the Gannet Colony.

Night View

This photograph was taken from the balcony of an apartment I was staying in near the centre of Auckland in December 2006. I was on the 15th floor so managed to get a reasonable view of the North Shore (see the lights in the distance) and Rangitoto (extinct volcano). This shot was taken without a flash. I left the shutter open to capture as much natural light as possible, that's why the moon has such a glow around it. It was a beautiful night (not too many clouds) and as such I'm pretty pleased with the way the picture turned out.

Vista - Karekare Beach

Another sweeping vista from Karekare beach. Two friends in the distance walk barefoot across the virgin black sand beneath there feet. The 2 flags in the distance dictate the area where it's safe to swim - a patrolled spot - looked after by a trained Karekare lifesaver. I like the fact this picture captures (in a small way) how expansive the beach actually is, something that's very hard to capture on film.

Paratahi Island - Karekare Beach

A calm afternoon at Karekare beach with Paratahi Island in view. Paratahi Island is a resting ground for New Zealand fur seals. It's a good idea to take a pair of binoculars with you when viewing this site. The island has such presence it can be hard to steer your camera in a different angle ! While late afternoon cloud was building in the distance, I wanted to capture the waves as they rolled into shore.

Gannet At Muriwai

There are a number of gannet colonies around New Zealand, 3 of them on the mainland: Muriwai, Cape Kidnappers (near Napier), and Farewell Spit (northern end of South Island). Cape Kidnappers is the largest, where visitors can come extremely close to the birds, whilst Muriwai is the most accessible site (especially if you live in Auckland!). Over the last 12 years I have made many visits to the Muriwai gannet colony: to enjoy the rugged scenery, to take photographs of the birds, and to let the wind blow the cobwebs away. Though I've been to Murawi and the surrounding area many times, I've only seen the gannets get this close up once in the past. The gannet in question seemed oblivious to my presence and it was special to get this close to such a magnificent creature.

Surf Club

Karekare surf club as seen at the start of New Zealands summer. The guys and gals who volunteer as lifesavers have a tough job. Karekare is one of the most dangerous places to swim in New Zealand. This has lead to the KKSLSP being awarded the most meritorious rescue awards of any Lifesaving Club in New Zealand. The 'Surf Lifesaving Patrol' at Karekare started in 1935 after a dramatic sea plane rescue.

Anyone For Fish ?

A Soho Hong Kong fish seller awaiting the early morning rush. Like much of Hong Kong this place (Soho) walks a thin line between preserving the Chinese and colonial culture that shaped it, and recent modern developments. The escalator that carries people up to this mid level spot (in the city) seems out of place to me, though it must make things easier for those who need to transport goods to the area and for people who have walking difficulties.

Life Saver At Karekare

So you fancy yourself as a lifesaver? Well your responsibilities would include beach management and public relations (i.e., ensuring the flags are correctly located, watching the beach and warning people of dangers), carrying out rescues (i.e., swimming, driving boats, paddling boards), Incident management (i.e., coordinating emergency situations), first aid and resuscitation, radio operation, club management and administration, and organisation of social events and competitions.

大澳

Tai-O is a fishing village on the Western side of Lantau Island, Hong Kong. This is where I spent Christmas Day 2007. You can't help but feel you've stepped back in time when walking the narrow paths of this place. Traditional stilt houses and huts adorn the walkways. For a small fee, residents will take 'tourists' out on their boats along the river and for short jaunts to the sea. Many people come to Tai O specifically to see Chinese white dolphins. It's also a good place to see the sunset (See forthcoming picture).

Te-Henga (Bethals Beach)

Another picture taken at this magnificent beach. Many artists and musicians live locally. No doubt inspiration is readily accessible given such sweeping vistas. This picture was taken early evening as the the sun was about to set - hence the red tinge of the clouds. I recall getting a good soaking pretty soon after this picture was taken. It's no wonder the rain forest that surrounds this beautiful spot looks so green and vibrant.

Victoria Harbour

Hong Kong Island waterfront as seen from Victoria Harbour - the Southernmost point of Kowloon Peninsula. The tallest building you can see in the photograph (The International Finance Centre) played a large part in the recent New Year celebrations. Fireworks exploded both sides of the building. Each night at 8pm a light and laser show can been seen from this spot. The show (called 'A Symphony Of Lights) is an orchestration of music, decoration and laser lights. The multimedia light and sound show lasts for about 14 minutes and is definitely worth viewing !

Soho

A Picture from the street markets of Soho on Hong Kong Island. This photograph was taken early morning at the entrance/exit to it. As you can see the market was busy even first thing. So many stalls to explore ! Hong Kong is famous for the dangling signage on it's streets and Soho didn't disappoint ! Restaurants are plentiful in the area. Good quality cheap food stalls and discreet bars buzz with chatter till the wee hours.

St Kilda / Boardwalk

This shot was taken in 2006. I recall visiting this spot for the first time almost 10 years earlier. It's a special place ! All forms of life can be seen walking the boardwalk. It's a great spot to people watch, not that you'd know looking at this picture ! A rare moment, just me, my camera and the chance to capture the boardwalk people free.

Sunset At Tai-O

Sunset at Tai-O. This fishing village is known as the "Venice of Hong Kong". History dictates that Tai-O has a somewhat similar past to Cornwall. It's not hard to imagine this being the case. A number of narrow inlets and a sheltered position means it would have been a prime spot for less honourable types (pirates and smugglers).

Fishy

Avert your eyes if fish blood does nothing for you - haha. This picture was taken at one of the market stalls in Soho, Hong Kong Island. I still can't get over the fact that gills and internal organs move and spasm 10 minutes after being sliced to bits ! A large percentage of fish are kept fresh by storing them alive in the kind of tanks you see in the picture. Freshness is guaranteed !

Stanley

This photograph was taken at Stanley which is a peninsula on the Southeastern part of Hong Kong Island. This is a popular tourist spot and is famous for it's boardwalk (right of the pic) and market. The market place has become well known for its bargains in clothing - particularly silk garments and traditional Chinese dress - as well as toys, ornaments, luggage, souvenirs, and Chinese arts and crafts. It is a popular destination for both tourists and locals alike. People are drawn here by the cheap goods that would usually fetch a much higher price elsewhere.

Trams

The trams of Hong Kong Island are colourful and usually rammed full of workers in the early hours. These trams take you to the heart of the city and run between Shau Kei Wan and Kennedy Town. Opened in 1904, the trams were one of the earliest forms of transport in Hong Kong. Apparently some 240,000 residents use this mode of transport on a daily basis. Being double decker's they are very unusual and one of only three sets operating in the world today (the others being in Blackpool, England and Alexandria in Egypt).

Soho Fish Stall

The street markets in Soho (Hong Kong Island) are worth a visit. Good priced presents and a plethora of food stalls make this an ideal choice if you're on a budget. Photo opportunities abound and this place seems permanently busy. This fish stall was interesting. The old time scales in the picture were used to weigh each purchase. This stall was a hive of activity and the woman in the shot was constantly kept on her toes. The sights and smells of Soho will stay with me for a long time.

Great Ocean Road - 12 Apostles

One of Australia's greatest views, looking out from the Great Ocean Road. Really liked the moody sky on this particular day. I'm so used to seeing the '12 Apostles' on brochures and postcards bathed in sunlight. I really like the fact this photograph was captured when things were a lot less 'bright' ! The scenic drive to this spot is a joy, though it's not recommended for those who suffer with travel sickness. Winding roads are the name of the game. The views that await those who venture this way are simply stunning !