Here’s a photo I took during the Autumn Workshop (which you should sign up for!) when we went up to the top of Coronet Peak. I have a list of like 10 of my favorite places to take the group… I usually wait till the very last minute to decide based on the weather. All the spots are good during any kind of weather, but some are better than others… It’s only taken me about 10 years to figure out all this stuff!

New Zealand during the Fall Workshop

Photo Information

---

• Date Taken2019-04-25 09:19:52
• CameraILCE-7RM3
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time1/800
• Aperture4
• ISO250
• Focal Length24.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramManual
• Exposure Bias

I took a road trip up to Picton with Ethan to get him in and out of Outward Bound. There are two ways to get up there, and I chose the one that was just about an hour longer so I could head up the west coast. It’s wild and raw and hardly anyone takes that path… It was my first time to notice this incredible area where the Tasman Sea is undercutting the forest. Amazing, eh?

Along the Coast Near Haast

Photo Information

---

• Date Taken2019-05-23 19:08:48
• CameraFC2204
• Camera MakeDJI
• Exposure Time1/320
• Aperture2.8
• ISO100
• Focal Length4.4 mm
• FlashNo Flash
• Exposure ProgramProgram AE
• Exposure Bias+0.3

I don’t think this area has an exact name, but it’s about 30 minutes north of Haast on the south island of New Zealand. This area was so cool and it makes me want to explore it a lot more! I loved how the ocean was undercutting this cliff face and the trees would just tumble into the water. It should go without saying that I took this with a drone! 🙂

Along the West Coast of New Zealand near Haast

Photo Information

---

• Date Taken2019-05-23 19:12:41
• CameraFC2204
• Camera MakeDJI
• Exposure Time1/120
• Aperture2.8
• ISO100
• Focal Length4.4 mm
• FlashNo Flash
• Exposure ProgramProgram AE
• Exposure Bias+0.3

Here’s a photo I took during a recent workshop in Queenstown. See that area down below in the valley with all the farm plots? That’s the area I live… I feel very lucky to have all these magical mountains around me!

The Remarkables in Queenstown

Photo Information

---

• Date Taken2019-04-25 08:09:46
• CameraFC2204
• Camera MakeDJI
• Exposure Time1/120
• Aperture3.8
• ISO100
• Focal Length8.6 mm
• FlashNo Flash
• Exposure ProgramManual
• Exposure Bias-1.3

I took this one beautiful morning at Lake Hayes, near Queenstown, New Zealand. I’ve always wanted to take a balloon ride here, but I haven’t carved out enough time to make it happen. I’ve never taken a balloon ride before, and I’m often confused about how you steer the thing around. I know there’s air currents and stuff, but how do you know? And what if you blow over the mountain into an area with no roads (which is most of New Zealand)? I don’t know… these are all the questions I will ask the balloonist (is that what they are called) when I finally get on a balloon.

Ballooning in New Zealand

Photo Information

---

• Date Taken2016-10-21 07:08:27
• CameraFC330
• Camera MakeDJI
• Exposure Time1/170
• Aperture2.8
• ISO100
• Focal Length3.6 mm
• FlashNo flash function
• Exposure ProgramUnknown (58655)
• Exposure Bias

It’s been a few years since I have been to Matamata on the North Island and seeing these photos make me want to return. The farmers that originally owned (and still manage) the Hobbiton Movie Set have always been very generous and kind to me, so I try to repay them with as many photos as possible. In a way, this is an easy task, since it’s impossible to take a bad photo there.

The Party Tree in Hobbiton

Photo Information

---

• Date Taken2016-05-25 09:12:46
• CameraFC330
• Camera MakeDJI
• Exposure Time1/400
• Aperture2.8
• ISO100
• Focal Length
• FlashNo flash function
• Exposure ProgramUnknown (58655)
• Exposure Bias+0.656

Here’s another photo from the workshop here in New Zealand. This one happened to be with the Pixel 3 phone. I am often quite amazed at how incredible the camera is on this phone. Maybe its most underrated feature (which seems a bit obvious when I point it out) is how convenient it is. Once you get into the world of photography, you are able to see nice scenes throughout the day. I don’t always have my big Sony with me, but I do always have my phone! This was exactly the case here when we were driving up to the Remarkables in our bus and I saw this scene. And yes, even though I had my Sony, I decided to take this one with the Pixel!

The Pixel 3 Phone

Photo Information

---

• Date Taken2019-04-25 16:57:13
• CameraPixel 3 XL
• Camera MakeGoogle
• Exposure Time1/1250
• Aperture1.8
• ISO62
• Focal Length4.4 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramProgram AE
• Exposure Bias

We had a wonderful time strolling around The Hills during our photo workshop. I really enjoy seeing how excited people are when they see the unique art and sculptures spread around the course. Here, you can see one of my new besties out with these incredible horses that were designed and built by Max Patte.

Max Patte’s Horses at The Hills

Photo Information

---

• Date Taken2019-04-23 16:14:44
• CameraILCE-7RM3
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time1/1000
• Aperture4
• ISO50
• Focal Length24.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramManual
• Exposure Bias

I should spend more time taking photos at The Hills! It’s such a great place and perfect tableau for creating art. There are all sorts of cool sculptures all over the place, and this one is Michael Hill’s son, Mark. He has his studio very close by. Whenever I wander around, I stop by his studio to have a look at his latest creations. He’s a very inspiring guy, like his dad!

Tree at The Hills

Photo Information

---

• Date Taken2013-01-14 22:32:09
• CameraNIKON D800
• Camera MakeNikon
• Exposure Time1/2000
• Aperture8
• ISO100
• Focal Length14.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
• Exposure Bias-2