"Tutira Dusk"

A beautiful dusk settles over a stand of Cordyline australis at Lake Tutira, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. Photo details: Canon 350D, 1/200th second exposure with a Sigma 18-125mm lens, ISO 800 @ f-9.

Image taken December 27th 2006

"Cicada Summer"

 New Zealand has 40 species of cicada, all of which emerge as adults during the hot summer months. The mating chirps of the males can almost be deafening as they mass in their hundreds. This mating pair seemed to be totally oblivious of me as I took this shot. Once the green female lays her eggs in the warm soil, the larvae will live there for about five years before they too, add to the summer chorus. Photo details: Canon 350D, ISO 200, 1/500th second exposure with a Canon EF 35mm lens @ f-10.

Image taken December 15th 2007

"Solstice Stone"

The sun glides to its southern most point of the year on or around the 21st of December. The southern summer solstice marks the true start of warmer weather. On that evening, the sun will set directly on top of the solstice stone. Photo details: Canon 350D, ISO 400, 1/250th second exposure with a Sigma 18-125mm DC lens @ f-11.

 Image taken December 15th 2006

"NGC 253"

NGC 253 is a beautiful galaxy in the southern constellation of Sculptor. This image was shot from Possum Observatory, Gisborne. Thanks must go to John Drummond & John Burt for their equipment and expertise. Photo details: Canon 350D, ISO 800 7 x 5 minute exposures at prime focus through a 16" telescope.

Image taken October 6th 2007

"Pastel Reflections"

Sunset across the Pandora wetlands, Napier. Photo details: Canon 350D, ISO 400, 1/60th second exposure with a Canon EF-S 18-55mm lens @ f-5.

Image taken September 29th 2006

"End Of The Day"

A winter sunset filters through an interesting grove of trees. Photo details: Canon 350D, 1/400th second exposure with a Sigma 18-200mm lens, ISO 400 @ f-10.

Image taken June 27th 2007

"Airborne"

A competitor takes the high road during the NZ Motocross champs held at Valley Road, south of Hastings in November 2007. Photo details: Canon 350D, ISO 800, 1/2000th second exposure with a Sigma 18-200mm lens @ f-7.1.

Image taken November 10th 2007

"Night Flowers"

Resembling a giant bloom of flowers, Napier's annual Guy Fawks celebration fills the sky with colours and shapes. Photo details: Canon 350D, ISO 400, 1 second exposure with a Sigma 18-200mm DC lens @ f-3.5.

Image taken November 4th 2007

"Hope"

One symbol of hope is joined by another on the Napier foreshore. The 'Aurora Dawn' or Golden Lady as it commonly known, stands in wait for the promise of each new day. Photo details: Canon 350D, ISO 400, 1/500th second exposure with a Canon EF-S 18-55mm lens @ f-16.

Image taken July 1st 2006

"Golden Path"

The sun lights the way across the port of Napier. Photo details: Minolta camera, 1 second exposure with a 175mm zoom lens and a 2 times converter @ f-6, Kodak Elitechrome 200 slide film.

Image taken November 19th 2003

"Serenity"

 First light on the 31st of January 2007. Comet McNaught floats above the lagoon at Clive, Hawke's Bay. The scene was so peaceful, only being disturbed by the occasional splash of fish jumping in the mirror-like waters. The lights in the distance are the townships of Clive, Haumoana, Te Awanga and Clifton. The faint 'smudge' at upper right is the SMC. Photo details: Canon 350D, 46 second exposure with a Sigma 18-125mm lens, ISO 800 @ f-3.5.

  Image taken January 31st 2007

"Southern Jewels"

This image shows some of the southern sky's most recognizable features. At left are the two-pointers, the brighter of which (Alpha Centauri) is the closest star to our solar system. At centre is the Southern Cross (Crux) and a dark nebula, known as the Coal Sack. At right is the Carina nebula, containing the massive binary stars of Eta Carina. All this is set within the southern milky way. Photo details: Canon 350D, 60 second exposure with a 35mm lens, ISO 800 @ f-2.8.

Image taken March 16th 2007

"Funnel Cloud"

Spring is often a time of unsettled weather. This was definitely the case on the evening of October 3rd, 2006 in Hastings, New Zealand. As I drove home from work I saw two funnel clouds and a tornado over farmland, but had no camera to catch the action. Once home, and with camera in hand, I went hunting for more, and bagged a beauty! This funnel came from a wall cloud over town and lasted just long enough for this shot. All that action in just 45 minutes! Photo details: Canon 350D, 1/80th second exposure with an EF-S 18-55mm lens, ISO 400 @ f-6.3.

Image taken October 3rd 2006

"Over The Moon"

 This image incorporates two of my favourite hobbies: Gazing at the moon and soaring high in a beautiful glider. Photo details: Canon 350D, 1/400th second exposure with an EF 80-200mm lens, ISO 400 @ f-8.

Image taken July 9th 2006

"Rho Ophiuchus Star Clouds"

On the border between Scorpio and Ophiuchus, is a wonderfully colourful and exotic part of our galaxy; the Rho Ophiuchus star clouds. This region is rich in heavy elements produced inside massive stars similar to the red giant, Antares. The colours come from a mixture of reflection and emission nebula. Usually Emission nebulae are red, due to hydrogen, but here there are such high levels of heavy elements that the clouds glow like a celestial rainbow. Antares is further adding to the mix by producing massive amounts of carbon. The very bright 'star' at bottom right is the Planet Jupiter. Photo details: Canon 350D, 5 minute exposure with a Canon EF 85mm lens, ISO 800 @ f-2.8.

Image taken May 18th 2007

"Cheeky Parrot"

 The Kaka (Nestor meridionalis) is one of several parrot species endemic to New Zealand. They are strong flyers and have a very cheeky nature, often approaching trampers looking to scavenge food. They are a handsome bird and are even more impressive while in flight, displaying their scarlet red wings. Photo details: Canon 350D, ISO 400, 1/30th second exposure with a Canon EF-S 18-55mm lens @ f-5.6.

Image taken July 29th 2006

"Tree Beard"

 This gnarled old tree reminded me of Tolkien's bark-covered character from the LOTR. The way it clings to the boulder is more like a gripping hand than tree roots. Shot near Maraetotora Falls, Hawke's Bay. Photo details: Canon 350D, 1/80th second exposure with a Canon EFS 18-55mm lens, ISO 400 @ f-5.6.

Image taken April 23rd 2006

"Golden Eclipse"

August 28, 2007 was the first total lunar eclipse seen from New Zealand for more than seven years. It was a beautiful event with clean, golden colours and was well worth the wait. Photo details: Canon 350D @ ISO 800, through an 8" telescope. The exposures ranged from 1/3200th to 1.3 seconds.

Image taken August 28th 2007

"Eclipse Montage"

This series of images were taken on July 16, 2000. Starting at 10:47 UTC and lasting until 17:04 UTC. This was dubbed as the "thousand year eclipse" because it was the longest lunar eclipse for a thousand years... Totality, when the entire moon was in shadow, lasted 1 hour and 47 minutes. During this time, the moon turned an eerie copper colour and looked more like Mars than our usual lunar neighbour... The eclipse was also accompanied by a beautiful display of meteors from three showers. Truly a night to remember. Photo details: The pics were taken east of Palmerton North, New Zealand, with a Minolta SLR camera @ prime focus through a home built 6" telescope. The exposures ranged from 1/250th to 1 second.

"Rainbow Cloud"

On the morning of January 14th, 2007, I was hunting for a daylight glimpse of comet McNaught. I was using a street light to block the sun, when along came a small scrap of cloud. As it got close to the sun, it came alive with vivid rainbow colours and I took this shot. It was forgotten about shortly after when the comet came into view, but now has its chance to shine again. Photo details: Canon 350D, 1/1000th second exposure with an EF 75-300mm lens, ISO 200 @ f-13.

Image taken January 14th 2007

"Lovers' Moon"

 The busy port-city of Napier bathes under its own light on April 8, 2007. Not to be out-done, the moon casts a river of light across the peaceful Hawke Bay to Westshore, where onlookers relax and enjoy the romantic view. Photo details: Canon 350D, 2.5 second exposure with a Sigma 18-125mm lens, ISO 800 @ f-4.

Image taken April 8th 2007