The Road to Heaven

I had entitled this Image "Rod to Heaven". The symbolic nature of this scene struck me in an instant as I stood on top of a ridge line just outside Martinborough. There are times when during the present we look back on our past then inadvertently cast out eyes to the future.

Looking back, this was one of those moments. I was straddling this fence, and considering the vision stretched out before me when my phone rang. It was a close cousin asking me to be a god father to her new born son. Having no children of my own, I was elated and honored to be considered.

A new and bright future loomed before this youngster where as my existence on this earth was statistically half way through. The fence became my road in life, meandering its way through the highways and pathways of this world to stop at this point of time. The posts were me, my life, my future, the result of a full and varied life. Worn from time and experience.

We all consider our end, as mine stretched out before me, the light out before me, the body finding youth again as the fence posts right themselves when Heaven approaches. Its not a sad story by any means but one of joy and fufulment. A satisifaction of making the most of what I have, looking back and saying "Hell Yeah, what a ride".

Perfect Couple, Perfect Day

 The first wedding for 2012 is under my belt and I must admit to being overly keen to get stuck into this one.

Kat and Jason were married last weekend under a blanket of beautiful Tauranga sunshine and all I can say is WOW. Stunning bride, proud groom and an amazing day other couples would be envious of.

Many thanks to the happy couple for including us and making us feel so welcome.  

Medal Success.

2012 North Shore Salon of Photography sees a Silver medal and a highly commended come my way.

Many thanks to all involved including the model, Hannah.

It has been an eye opener placing my pictures under the eye of a judge and / or the general public to view, comment and critique. Photography for me involves burning the creative candle, pouring over ideas and concepts then mixing them with my own experiences with a view to capturing the completed image in my mind long before its actually made. There is a lot of me mixed into every image I create, maybe more than I realise so my work can be a deeply personal process and I do have a strong connection to each piece. Making the decision to put these pictures out there for the first time can be daunting for some, it certainly was for me.

Making the awards scene a source of self glorification is not what its all about for me (although to win is cool), I gain plenty from just mealy creating. Gaining an award is a not'only just a method by which I can  market myself but is also a way of measuring where I am in the big wide world of photography, seeing who's doing what and where.

Stop The Press

           

               A Print Press Room, a Model and a Camera. A great was to spend a Sunday I reckon.

                                           Many thanks to Casey (Model) and Alice (makeup).

Nga Haerenga “the journey’s”

I have recently been charged with the task of capturing some images for the Opotiki District Council with the aim to promote the areas as a mountain bikes paradise. Now this was and is an assignment close to my heart as I happen to love all things Mountain Bike. I began pounding the trails in the Tarawera back in the late 80s before some genius invented suspension which not only gave added traction and efficiency but softened the pounding the body took when flying down a mountain at speed. I have been well aware of the off road opportunities to be had in Opotiki so took this as a chance to see what all the fuss was about.

All this is part of the national cycle trail but the locals here are keen to let all who ride know that this is just the beginning. You can take a leisurely ride on the 19km scenic/beach trail or for the hardened trail beast theirs a 91km loop tail.

The scenery is breath taking, the trails well manicured so I can't wait to get down and dirty during my next assignment riding and photographing the Otipi track.

http://www.motutrails.co.nz/

And then there as three.

 I must admit to not receiving to many requests to photograph couples waiting for there first child which is unfortunate because I do enjoy photographing them. After all its the creation of life itself, the start of not just a new family but a personality, an individual waiting for new experiences, grow family's of there own and touch the lives they all who share.

Pre Wedding Bliss

 Brendon and Katie are counting down the days until their wedding in sunny Rarotonga but can think of a better place than Waiotahi beach for a few pre-wedding portraits.

FAB MAG

Its been a long time goal to feature in D-Photo so a five page spread in this issue is fantastic.

There are times when finding photographic subjects is near impossible but when you have stunning nieces at hands who certainly are not camera shy, it,s just all to easy.

So here is Nicola other wise known as Stix".

Ohope and the Confetti Rain

The sun shone and the confetti rained down on Ohope beach over the weekend as Sam and Andrew celebrated their wedding. The Wedding season may be all but over but this one was a blast.

Congrats to Sam and Andrew and cheers for a fantastic day.

King of Cuteness

Introducing Little Jack

You may remember 7 posts or so ago, I photographed a couple only weeks away from the birth of there first child. Well here he is and looking as cute as the best of them.

A Model, a Fish and 10.000 crabs.

Had fun with this battling mud crabs attacking at every opportunity. One the more unusual and unexpected things I have had to deal with on a shoot but was worth all the thrashing about trying to detach them.

Mark & Sisa II

A fine day for Mark & Sisa.

I believe its a photographers duty to put a couples mind at ease, for them to concentrate on the details of the day and not have to worry about what the photographer may do next or whether he looks flustered. This was a wedding where the couple made the photographer feel totally relaxed and a real part of the day so many thanks to Sisa and Mark for making us feel so welcome.

We wish you both the very best for the future.