The one area of photography which still continues to evolve at speed is mobile. One of the handsets which really made me start to think about when I wouldn’t need to carry a main camera most of the time was the Google Pixel. It couldn’t compete with my a7R but you could see where the market was going, especially with the computational work that was going on with the images and by the time we hit the Pixel 3 range I was able to drop an image into my a7R series review and have it not stand out amongst a range of full frame images. Here’s an image from my original Pixel…

Pixels Pt.1

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2017-03-28 12:03:54
• CameraPixel
• Camera MakeGoogle
• Exposure Time1/2200
• Aperture2
• ISO54
• Focal Length4.7 mm
• FlashAuto, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramProgram AE
• Exposure Bias

A cool, calm morning near Queenstown.

Reflective Morning

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2015-04-21 03:40:01
• CameraILCE-7R
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time1/20
• Aperture7.1
• ISO200
• Focal Length24.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
• Exposure Bias

The calmness of this scene from near here in Queenstown does not reflect the recent weather AT ALL. Landslides, floods… and a cryptosporidium outbreak to top it off (fortunately, I’ve not experienced that!). Hopefully normal awesome NZ life will resume soon. 🙂

The Opposite

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2013-06-23 02:28:14
• CameraNEX-7
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time1/4
• Aperture7.1
• ISO100
• Focal Length10.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
• Exposure Bias

Settling back into the studio after essentially being on the road since May is great but also filled with realisation of how stuff somehow needs to be attended to… Windows updates. Cleaning (somehow!), life admin… but then the fun creative stuff can begin again. Yay! Big plans are a cookin’.

Life Admin

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2013-12-28 12:13:57
• CameraILCE-7R
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time1/200
• Aperture11
• ISO100
• Focal Length14.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
• Exposure Bias

Queenstown, I am in you…

The Weary Traveller Returns Home

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2020-04-16 14:41:57
• CameraPixel 4
• Camera MakeGoogle
• Exposure Time1/900
• Aperture2.4
• ISO41
• Focal Length5.8 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramProgram AE
• Exposure Bias

In yesterday’s post I mentioned the changes in the landscape color as autumn rolls in here in Queenstown and that the sunsets can really start to go up a gear. That photo was taken one March and the greens there are pretty much replaced by the middle of April every year. It happens fast but it’s epic, especially in the trees around Arrowtown!

Speaking of Yesterday…

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2014-04-19 19:02:31
• CameraILCE-7R
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time1/350
• Aperture
• ISO160
• Focal Length0.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
• Exposure Bias

This was taken on the last day of summer a few years ago. I love it when things start to get properly moody in NZ weather wise. Autumn is a great time, not only for the colors but it starts to get back into aurora time darkness wise and the sunsets tend to go a bit wilder with the extra moisture coming into the air. Here you can see things starting to get a bit more mixed weather wise!

As the Season Changed

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2018-03-03 09:35:21
• CameraFC220
• Camera MakeDJI
• Exposure Time1/3200
• Aperture2.2
• ISO100
• Focal Length4.7 mm
• FlashNo flash function
• Exposure ProgramProgram AE
• Exposure Bias-1.34

I’d been awake for two days. It all started the day before after I put the kids to bed. I got a Facebook message from Stefan Haworth. It turns out that he and Eden Brackstone were headed out for a little viewing of the big solar storm that was hitting the atmosphere.

Down thisaway, it’s called the Aurora Australis (not Borealis). Back then I’d never before seen an aurora (despite countless attempts in Iceland), I was ready to suit up!

And it turns out that one of the best places we saw them was right near here in Queenstown! We drove down along Lake Wakatipu until we were just past Wye Creek. I got out of the car, let my eyes adjust, then saw colored shafts of light shooting up through the edge of our snow-globe. It wasn’t like I expected! It’s…. hard to explain.

Aurora over Queenstown

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2012-07-15 08:06:50
• CameraNIKON D800
• Camera MakeNikon
• Exposure Time15
• Aperture2.8
• ISO1600
• Focal Length14.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramManual
• Exposure Bias

As the seasons change the grassy fields around Queenstown and Arrowtown transform into a rainbow of hues, from soft yellows to vibrant greens you can even spot some fiery oranges and reds among the blades. It’s like a magic carpet of colors that invites you to explore and capture every nuance with your camera.

Walking Down to the Lake

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2013-02-10 11:36:40
• CameraNIKON D800
• Camera MakeNikon
• Exposure Time1/60
• Aperture11
• ISO200
• Focal Length20.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
• Exposure Bias