Kora Kora Kora

I loved this shot of Brad Kora, taken with nothing more than two remotely triggered flash guns. Kora is a name usually associated with music here is Whakatane with most of the family seemingly all blessed with the musical gene but music is not the only talent the Koras are recognised for. Brad runs a growing mixed martial arts Dojo and the cage (as per pic) is a new addition.




I am often surprised at how great and eye catching images can be created when we take the time to remove the flash from the camera. So if your looking to take your photography to the next level, spend some time trolling the net for some of the numerous strobist sites and then take your flash off the camera and play.

For those who want to know, there were two Nikon SB800s, 2m either side of brad just above eye height and against the cage shooting manual at 1/8th power. The camera used spot for the metering duties, 1/250ths, ISO 200, f3.2. The 50mm 1.8 lens was used here, a great little lens.

Just One Paige In The Album

Little page was the reluctant star on a stunning day at Ohope beach. Kids do provide you with some great photo opportunities as they are so natural in front of a camera. It just takes a little patience and the realisation that attempting to set up shots is a pointless exercise. Simply let them go and get ready for the magic of youth to show itself.







What a Cutie.

Only One Worried Owner

It was all excitement and suspense at the Whakatane Heads as storms and high river water levels caused a boat to drag and eventually break its moorings and head out (backwards) over the river bar. There it spent the nest few hours being thrown around in the surf with an ever growing crowd waiting and watching for the seemingly inevitable moment when it would be smashed against the rocks. By some miracle this wasn't to be and two keen men braved the wild surf to swim out and rescue to stricken vessel.

I would say there was a lot of sweat on the forehead of who ever owned this boat as the sea had its way with it. There was no apparent damage except some damp carpet and debris to clean up.

Bat Splat

In other countries this may be a regular feature but here in little old NZ having a bat splat on the windscreen would be considered an unusual occurrence. Well that's what happened to Queree (below). She managed to retrieve the little fella who lived for a little while but eventually succumb to his injuries. The bat is now in the hands of D.O.C and is most likely stuffed and mounted by now.

When $10.00 is not Enough.

Ones childhood is full of stories about dragons, trolls waiting under bridges to snatch the unwary, witches attempting to fatten up there captives to eat and ginger bread men roaming the countryside. Then we grow up and "hey, there just fairy tails", so as adults we carry on our merry way passing these stories on the younger generations with a degree on amusement.

UNTIL ONE DAY while out working, I come across this. Now even though every sense and experience tells you its there for someones amusement, everyone who approached this still stopped in there tracks, eyes betraying a fleeting moment of nervousness and a sideways glance under the bridge. Each step is lightly taken as we venture to the other side all the time reminding ourselves how stupid we are to be thinking like this.



I guess those fairy tails fed to us as children will always reside somewhere deep within us.
Sure was a laugh watching other grown adults letting there inner child pop to the surface just long enough for all seriously realise $10.00 is a joke. Surely there's a few zeros missing.

Breaking News, Reaching new Heights

Motivation is an important tool we all use to keep focused, goals we all can aim for and be proud of achieving when we in fact finally do obtain them. But I must say that getting one of my photos in space was a goal I have never contemplated.

So it was a rather pleasant surprise to be told I in fact did actually have a photo in space, a feat I will admit I had nothing to do with (well directly anyway). The final launch for the aging shuttle fleet had an unusual cargo on board, a collection of items selected from around the world for a once in a life time flight.





This is the image which has now taken me to dizzying heights, taken around three years ago at the Whakatane observatory. I will admit to still coming to grips with a few technical issues surrounding the use of flash in situations like this so was rather happy with my efforts at the time.


I would like to think this image was selected due to its relevant subject matter and the fact it captured the story of a mans life long desire to watch the stars, rather than the possibility of it being so bad, NASA thought it necessary to get it off the planet in a hurry. Whatever the reason, this is going to look great in a resume.

Intrepid Journey

I had heard the tales of the old power station in the Manawahae hills that utilised the flow of the Karaponga stream the supply power to the Whakatane township and a past attempt to discovering this piece of history had yielded nothing. So following a call from local councilor,

Bill Clark we headed off. I think the idea of a guided tour was a good one as there was no way in hell I was going to find the old turbine on my own.

Built in 1928 there's not much left of one of the turbines. Its amazing how nature will always have the last say as the last remaining turbine is slowly disappearing under a blanket of moss and vines.

Pictured below is the original dam used to hold water ready for its flight down the valley to the turbines. The old pipes have long rusted away but the dam remains. I was unable to find any images of this dam on the net so am glad to have one to share. I was a little nervous about exposing my camera to the large amounts of spray the water was kicking up so didn't muck around taking this shot.

Ok, so at this point things sound like a rather lazy stroll, that was until Bill thought it would be a good idea to photograph the waterfall not to far below the dam. Here is where things to hairy. Now, scaling a steeeeep rock face, coated in moss and slime covered rocks while negotiating a raging torrent, and doing this while trying to keep several grands worth of camera gear in a backpack "dry" ???. That Little orange dot is my partner Mandy Hague who wisely refused to go any further.



The camera certainly survived, largely due to my ability to stay upright but I was soaked through. Looking back over the shots, it was worth it.