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.

One year old Rocket

Photographing kids can be a real challenge event at the best of times but little Regan here was a true gem. She managed to keep still long enough for some great shot to be captured.






I would like to hope these pics may pop up at her 21st birthday one day.

Confetti & Champers

It takes good people to make a great wedding, be it the couple, family or the quests. That laid back atmosphere with no tension or nervousness, great weather matched with radiant smiles where all are relaxed and the day flows with seemingly little effort. Yep these are the best and the wedding below had all the ingredients necessary to ensure a fantastic day for those luck enough to be there and that includes me.

Great day with great people and its was a whole lot of fun being involved.

I would like to wish Philippa and Keiran all the best for the future. If the start of there married life is anything to go by, it should be rather bright.

The Perfect Day

Saturday was abound with couples left right and center making the most of the diminishing summer sun to exchange vows and start off on a new beginning. Amanda and Dean were one such couple who's lives are now forever intertwined and enjoyed not just the suns warmth but the company of there friends and loved ones on a perfect day.

The scene was set at the Ohope Golf Club and although the light was challenging at times, the clouds rolled in late in the afternoon which was sure to result in some dramatic shots.

The wedding season is drawing to a close and next weekend will see the last wedding shot by this photographer until later on this year. I only shoot a small amount of weddings per year and really do enjoy each and every one of them so I would like to thank Amanda and Dean for including me on such a special occasion. It was fantastic.

A Day At The Movies.

I do feel I must apologise for the length of time between posts but I have been soaking up the sun with a month off work which has been fantastic. Anyway, I'm back have am re-establishing my relationship with my camera.



I used to love spending time watching movies on the big screen (I don't seem to do that much anymore). It was always a chance to transport myself self into another world and escape an ordinary and seemingly mundane life. This was great until leaving the theatre thinking how exciting it was and then, buggar, I had to leave that behind and continue on with my comparatively boring existence.


I love creating and making photographs which portray a world far removed from the normal life me and my models enjoy. It gives us both a chance to be somewhere else and I find myself re-visiting those places every time I view the pictures.

This is a style of portraiture I employ every opportunity I can. No straight on closeup forced smiles here.

The series above contains the images of two beautiful sisters, Zara and Tasha. My camera just loves these two and I thank them both for giving me there time.

For Love For Life. A Wedding.

The end 2010 saw the beginning of a new life for a great couple and a perfect day for a wedding.
We certainly were treated to fantastic weather and a very relaxed and photogenic wedding party who were a pleasure to work with.

Many thanks to Dana and Paul and we wish you all the best.

A Touch of Man, A Touch of Woman, A Touch of Time.

Photography is nothing without an idea, without light, without contrasts, journeys and experiences. It brings together the ages, defines beauty and times lost.

I love being able to bring together all those elements into one concept, even one photograph.

I am not to sure which era this old house originates from but it drew me in like a magnet. Even the stories relayed to me about ghosts seen through the windows from time to time did not prevent me from venturing inside to explore and capture a little piece of its soul to take away with me.

These images have that touch of contrast. The old with the young, Man and Women combining in an attempt to bring together two different eras into one simple series of images.

Many thanks to Tasha and Giani for not running when ghosts were mentioned.

Model Mayhem

Well a fair bit of time has past since I photographed Tasha and she has been under the ever watch full eye of modeling professionals teaching her a few trick of the trade. I was rather surprised at how photographing her such a fantastic experience as she flowed and performed for the camera. It left me with much more time to shoot actually leaving me trying to keep up with her.