Week 9/10 Photography Assignment - Landscape

These last two weeks have involved getting a landscape image. It sounds simple. However its not that easy as you may think. It takes planning, research, quick decisions making and an element of good fortune to be on your side.

These last two weeks I have been in three amazing places so this has allowed me to consider my options. It takes a while to warm up to the idea. Once you're in the swing then I start seeing great landscapes everywhere.

My first few images I struggled as I had little time and was busy teaching. I was lucky to be at Ti Point, North Auckland teaching climbing. So was quick to snap what I could. The below image uses the Pohutukawa as a frame, into the sun creating a sunburst and the climber as a subject. The image works. However, the sun is quite dominating so would look better if it was not so powerful.

Coastal Pohutukawas

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, f/20, 1/50sec, 16mm, ISO-100

 This image was taken Whangapoua Bay, Great Barrier Island, NZ. First time there I was struggling to find the right composition. I tried using the water as my features to lead the eye. It does not it to a certain level, yet it is not a strong image. I do like the colours though.

Great Barrier Island NZ with a Great sunrise to match!

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, f/11, 1/20sec, 16mm, ISO-10

 I was fortunate to spend time with some amazing staff at Great Barrier OPC. Time was more affluent and so I managed to steal time and positions to take images. We crossed Awana River and stopped there. Wow, what a cool place. I so wanted to jump. However getting images was a neat treat too. And I actually could do my job well as I observed the actions of another staff member.

Awana River

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, f/2.8, 1/500sec, 24mm, ISO-500

Fun to focus in on the waterfall. This required a tripod, open lock mirror, timer. What I was silly to forget was my polarizer filter to take the glare off the water.

Awana River

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, f/18, 1.6sec, 35mm, ISO-100

I was stuck on the Island due to no flying. You would not imagine it by the weather! I was up at 0600 and started to walk down, uncertain if I would be able to snap a nice image. Gemma eventually picked me up and we went to the same beach. This time I had thought about better compositions so managed to create this image. Am far more pleased as there are stronger leading lines and the sun worked well.

Whangapoua Bay, Great Barrier Island, NZ. Another Great Barrier Island, NZ sunrise.

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, f/18, 1/30sec, 16mm, ISO-100

 Back from Great Barrier Island finally I had a short 9 hours, repacked and headed for the Catlins for jo and I wedding mini-moon. That morning to catch the low tide we headed to Curio Bay. It was amazing to explore this little gem. Timing is everything and the tide was on its way in hence why we were there at 0700. Plant fossils are found throughout the Catlins but are more frequent in the south and west. This reflects the location of land in Gondwanaland times. Curio Bay is the location most well known for seeing the trunks of ancient trees as well as thin seams of coal and associated leaf impressions. Plant fossils are also common in the places where younger rocks are exposed. This is because the land with trees on it was slowly extending out into the sea over time. The youngest rocks (mid Jurassic) of the Catlins are to be found at Otara and in the Waikawa, Chaslands, Tahakopa and Catlins River valleys.

This image was quite the rush as an incoming wave was encroaching and I struggled to change lens. However, I am very pleased with the result.

Catlins - Petrified Forest

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, f/18, 1/30sec, 16mm, ISO-100

It`s a two-hour walk into the Waipohatu Stream. Well worth it and amazing bush to travel through. The native birdlife seems to be thriving, and bush looks healthy. It took me 7 shots to get this composition right.

 Waipohatu Stream, Catlins, NZ

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, f/11, 15sec, 23mm, ISO-100

Up the next day at 0515 hrs we were ready to go in fifteen minutes. Nugget point is so funny to visit as I had nine other people around me trying to get an image. I still have not got this place right - not quite what I was after yet. The sun is blown out, but the composition is better.

Nugget Point, Catlins NZ.

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, f/18, 1/40sec, 16mm, ISO-100

Back to the Petrified forest area and around the corner. I used a wide-angle 16mm to emphasise the water draining away and allow a wider perspective to lead the eye down the channel of water toward the horizon. The trip pod was propped on rocks as the sand was soft and gave way with movement. Camera settings required the mirror lock and 2 sec timer used to minimise movement. The timing of tides was essential. To be here at the correct time, I was up at 6 am to get to the location at the correct time. Positioning was key to get close to the water to create a dramatic composition, then time the 2sec so that the water was draining away. This was tricky as the tide was coming in fast, so there were a few evacuation movements to keep my feet dry. (Gumboots were in the car). To allow a longer exposure, I used an ND 16 filter.

I liked this one the most and have submitted it for assessment.

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, f/18, 1.3sec, 16mm, ISO-100