A lone surfer contemplates the waves at Piha, as Lion Rock silently looks on. I too was wondering what I was doing out there on such a grey overcast day. I was standing out on the rock taking some pictures on a rather dismal day, when this guy came along and stood looking at the waves before heading in. A lone surfer at Piha … [Read more...] about A lone surfer at Piha
New Zealand
Meteors over the Southern Alps of New Zealand
There was a post I put up on social media right at the end of 2023. It was taken in May of that year after an evening spent astro photographing at Lake Tekapo, I had zoomed across to Lake Pukaki to capture the sunrise over the Southern Alps via timelapse... Unbeknownst to me there was a meteor shower going on (as I later discovered). I do remember thinking at Lake Tekapo … [Read more...] about Meteors over the Southern Alps of New Zealand
Meteor Shower (Comet 46P / Wirtanen)
There was a meteor shower last night and New Zealand was in prime spot to observe it. Comet 46P / Wirtanen had gone too close to Jupiter in 1972 and the debris from that event was hitting Earth last night - having taken 51 years to get here! It had been a windy and cloudy day, but the skies had opened enough at night for me to 'generally' see the sky in the central North … [Read more...] about Meteor Shower (Comet 46P / Wirtanen)
Hydroplane Boats at Lake Maraetai
I caught wind that there was going to be a boat regatta on at Lake Maraetai over the weekend - and I was in the neighbourhood. Not only that, but there were going to be hydroplane boats there too! If you've never seen them before (like me), think 'top fuel dragster'. These things are fast, very fast - and very LOUD! … [Read more...] about Hydroplane Boats at Lake Maraetai
A Frozen Adventure
With the greatest of intention I set off up North again to do some astrophotography and to capture Mt Cook / Aoraki in all its glory. That was the plan anyway. I left Wānaka and was shortly into glorious sunshine, all was warm & good. Over the Lindis Pass and while there was some snow about, but it was all still looking good. Approaching Omarama I noticed some fog in … [Read more...] about A Frozen Adventure