One thing (of many good things) that New Zealand does is create and well maintain walking tracks. They’re all over the place on the South Island and even from the middle of a town or city you’re often only a few minutes from the beginning of a trail that will take you into a beautiful, serene environment where you’ll barely see another human. The paths often cross little streams and regularly pass by lovely waterfalls like this one. Great for popping your shoes off and cooling down some tired feet on the way back.

The Many Falls

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2025-03-23 12:50:22
• CameraILCE-7CR
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time1/25
• Aperture16
• ISO320
• Focal Length24.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramManual
• Exposure Bias

Walking along the river in Milford Sound.

Along the River

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2025-04-28 09:37:45
• CameraILCE-7CR
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time1/400
• Aperture4
• ISO125
• Focal Length24.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramManual
• Exposure Bias

Milford Sound at Sunset…

One from Milford

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2025-04-28 17:03:41
• CameraILCE-7CR
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time1/1250
• Aperture4
• ISO500
• Focal Length24.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramManual
• Exposure Bias

Captured while out gathering images that may make it into my a7CR review…

Out Testing

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2024-05-14 12:40:39
• CameraILCE-7CR
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time1/2000
• Aperture4
• ISO100
• Focal Length105.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramManual
• Exposure Bias

You might remember this Castle Hill area of New Zealand from the Lord of the Rings movies. I think they were in the Hobbit too. It’s so funny that I’ve been having a lot of synchronicities in my life lately. While I was on the plane from NZ to Costa Rica, I was working on this photo, and I could see the screen of the lady that was near my on the plane. When I looked up, it was the scene with the Fellowship was fighting all the Wargs.

Synchronistic Wargs

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2024-05-15 14:55:42
• CameraILCE-7CR
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time1/500
• Aperture4
• ISO100
• Focal Length35.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramManual
• Exposure Bias

Here’s another photo from the recent road trip. It was one of those fairly rare days with almost no wind, and I passed about a dozen lakes that were as still as mirrors.

The Mirror Lakes

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2024-05-14 12:40:26
• CameraILCE-7CR
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time1/1600
• Aperture4
• ISO100
• Focal Length24.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramManual
• Exposure Bias

Here’s a scene from the incredible area just near Arthur’s Pass on the South Island of New Zealand called Castle Hill. I did a road trip here last week and had a great time. Lots of great hikes and meditations!

Castle Hill

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2024-05-15 15:35:10
• CameraILCE-7CR
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time1/1000
• Aperture4
• ISO100
• Focal Length24.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramManual
• Exposure Bias

Sometimes in New Zealand you need to trek for a while to find a great view, most of the time though you’ll find one just a few steps off the road. I’ve published a bunch of shots from up here over the years. It’s an area that never disappoints but as you can see, it’s like zero effort. (Not complaining!)

Simple Locations

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2024-05-20 16:37:23
• Camera
• Camera Make
• Exposure Time
• Aperture
• ISO
• Focal Length
• Flash
• Exposure Program
• Exposure Bias

While out with the workshop people, hunting for reflections.

Reflection Hunting

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2024-05-20 16:32:23
• Camera
• Camera Make
• Exposure Time
• Aperture
• ISO
• Focal Length
• Flash
• Exposure Program
• Exposure Bias

Late one evening near dusk we headed up towards the top of the Remarkables. It’s kind of a dangerous spot to take photos because there are steep drop-offs on both sides. The view up there is amazing, though. I think it’s cool to watch the planes land there at the airport from way above. I heard the pilots have to have special training to land here because they have to spiral down between the huge mountains for a unique approach vector.

The Queenstown Approach

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2024-07-21 07:26:57
• CameraILCE-7CR
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time0.8
• Aperture6.3
• ISO250
• Focal Length53.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramManual
• Exposure Bias