How beautiful is Hobbiton? It feels like a movie set, and it actually is! Of course, it’s in New Zealand, and everything feels like a movie set anyway, so that adds to the luster. If I’m not mistaken, this area was in the first movie when Gandalf is riding into Hobbiton to make Frodo his tiny bitch and go do all the hard work while he just smokes a pipe and philosophizes.

Meandering through Hobbiton

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2016-05-25 06:19:55
• CameraILCE-7RM2
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time1/60
• Aperture8
• ISO125
• Focal Length16.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
• Exposure Bias

I often walk over here around sunset to this little peaceful pond in Dalefield. You can’t tell from this angle, but it’s actually in the shape of a heart, which fits many of my Disney romantic fantasies. Speaking of which, I think Disney has messed up a lot of people! A friend came over about a week ago and she studied Women’s Issues or something in college… she went on a long diatribe about sexism and stuff. I mostly was tuning her out because she was a woman, but she did have a few good points.

The Little Pond Near my Home

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2017-03-21 08:02:06
• CameraX1D-50c
• Camera MakeHasselblad
• Exposure Time0.5
• Aperture11
• ISO100
• Focal Length30.0 mm
• FlashNo Flash
• Exposure ProgramManual
• Exposure Bias

One early and a rather cold morning, I jumped on a snowmobile and headed up the backside of the Remarkables to get a view. I was not disappointed, but I was rather cold. It really was worth it though. I’ve got these pretty snazzy photographer’s gloves where the fingers still have access but there is a mitten cover that comes over the top to keep them warm. It’s a simple invention, but a welcome one!

The Backside of the Remarkables before Sunrise

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2016-06-30 03:26:46
• CameraILCE-7RM2
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time13
• Aperture
• ISO200
• Focal Length0.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramManual
• Exposure Bias

Back before the Apocalypse, I used to have Autumn photography workshops here in Queenstown, New Zealand. On the very first day, we do about a 2km hike from the lake to Queenstown Gardens here. It’s all timed pretty well so we can both see the sunrise over the Remarkables followed by a beautiful photo-stroll through these gardens. Here you can see a couple of my slavish apprentices doing exactly what the benevolent dictator says.

The First Morning of the Workshop

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2016-04-18 21:38:01
• CameraH5D
• Camera MakeHasselblad
• Exposure Time1/160
• Aperture8
• ISO100
• Focal Length35.0 mm
• Flash
• Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
• Exposure Bias

A few years ago, I went to Wellington to take some photos and I messaged Sir Richard Taylor to see if I could come visit him at Weta. I was not disappointed! He gave me an epic tour and I was like a kid in a candy store. He’s very inspirational!

Sir Richard Taylor

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2016-05-17 06:11:45
• CameraILCE-7RM2
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time1/100
• Aperture4
• ISO1250
• Focal Length18.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
• Exposure Bias

Man, New Zealand has about 100,000 of these perfect hills with nice reflections. It’s so overwhelming that sometimes you don’t know where to aim your camera. But that makes it kinda cool too… a challenge to find the best of the best.

The Rolling Hills of Gisborne

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2020-07-24 07:42:38
• CameraILCE-7RM3
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time1/1600
• Aperture4
• ISO100
• Focal Length46.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramManual
• Exposure Bias

Here’s one of my rare textured photos. When I look at these, I always think I should do this even more. The Remarkables can be a little tricky to shoot in the morning because the sun comes up kind of behind them. It’s great for silhouettes but if you really want a better shot of the Remarks, it’s best to wait till sunset.

The Remarkables at Sunrise

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2016-04-18 20:18:54
• CameraH5D
• Camera MakeHasselblad
• Exposure Time0.8
• Aperture16
• ISO100
• Focal Length35.0 mm
• Flash
• Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
• Exposure Bias

I was lucky enough to spend about two weeks out there taking photos for a commissioned work. I don’t do a lot of commissions, but this one was pretty epic. I took about 1,000 photos and whittled it down to my favorite 10 to present. This one, in particular, was my favorite one, but it’s not the one they chose. It’s very interesting how people have slightly different tastes, and that’s all good.

Along the coast in Gisborne

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2020-07-21 16:15:10
• CameraILCE-7RM3
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time1/250
• Aperture4
• ISO250
• Focal Length76.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramManual
• Exposure Bias+2

It’s always a bit frightening to fly a quadcopter out over the ocean. I don’t know why. If it’s gonna fall out of the sky, it will be ruined anyway from this height. Anyway, whenever I am out over the ocean and shooting back towards the land, I’m on an even higher-alert.

The Lagoons in Gisborne

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2020-07-23 21:59:12
• CameraFC2204
• Camera MakeDJI
• Exposure Time1/200
• Aperture2.8
• ISO100
• Focal Length4.4 mm
• FlashNo Flash
• Exposure ProgramProgram AE
• Exposure Bias+0.3