Fauna

Art Photography: A Visit to Orokonui

| Astrid

We’ve been meaning to visit Orokonui Ecosanctuary since we moved to Port Chalmers, and having The Mister’s mum visiting from Scotland finally meant we did. We were all just so thrilled with how many birds we saw, and it was awesome walking around being serenaded by all of the different birds as we went (another visit is definitely on the cards so that Mister can record the birdsong to use in his sound design!). It was awesome, and it will be great inspiration for my other little project: Plum Billy (original textile design & handmade creations).

Tui
Korimako (bellbird)
A Kākā showing off it’s bright under-feathers
Toutouwai (South Island robin)
Tui framed by a feeding station
Kākā
A takahē grazes
A pair of Takahē
Easter Orchid

> Order prints of these images

 

New Zealand Sea Lion

Image | | Astrid

Living in Dunedin we’re now treated to some amazing wildlife viewing opportunities, just this morning we went for a walk along Aramoana beach and came across several snoozing sea lions! Judging by the tracks in the sand if we’d been there a bit earlier then we’d have seen many more as well.

Look at those teeth!!!
New Zealand Sea Lion basking on the beach in the morning sun
Such a majestic creature
New Zealand Sea Lion yawning in the morning sun

 

>> order prints of any of these images

Kea

| Astrid

On a spontaneous road trip to Arthur’s Pass we met this friendly Kea, entertaining tourists in the rain. I was immediately inspired to get my camera out to capture the tones and pattern of the Kea’s feathers, in particular one tiny bit of bright orange down that was peeping out from under one wing.

Order prints

>> Prints can be purchased by filling out the print orders & print pricing enquiry form or selected images can be purchased in the Art Shop.

A day at the beach

| Astrid

A trip to the estuary & beach near Christchurch on a dull, flat, muddy day turned out to be quite a good photography day in the end.

The “Don’t Panic!!” sign still makes me giggle – it was painted on a boat that looked like it had been abandoned (but obviously hadn’t). I hope the owner found the mystery leak!

 

Order prints

>> Prints can be ordered by filling out the print orders & print pricing enquiry form or selected images can be purchased in the Art Shop.

Semi Wild Life

| Astrid

It’s amazing what you can achieve on a miserable day.

One drizzly, gray, horrible afternoon we went to visit the Willowbank Wildlife Reserve. It was such a bad photography day that I almost left my camera in the car. You know what I mean: awful flat light with no clarity to it. Disaster, for sure.

I’m so glad I didn’t listen to myself: the puddles and ponds made for interesting ripply reflections, all dark and moody and foreboding. And the naturally desaturated colours made for more subtle, delicate images – the Kea is my particular favourite.

Click to enlarge

Order prints

>> Prints can be ordered by filling out the print orders & print pricing enquiry form or selected images can be purchased in the Art Shop.

Loving the Bay

| Astrid

I love Golden Bay – sunshine, relaxing atmosphere, chilled out locals, amazing scenery and wildlife… what’s not to love?! We had our “summer” holiday in autumn this year, and made the trek up to the Bay in the hopes of summery weather. We were rewarded with blue skies 99% of the time, and t-shirt temperatures…. ahhhhhh, bliss.

This visit we did some adventuring: to the West Coast (via West Haven Inlet) to check out fishing potential, and then to Wharariki Beach (at the base of Farwell Spit, turn left at Puponga) because our daywalk guidebook promised a beautiful sandy beach and baby fur seals playing in the rockpools, and all of this only 20 minutes from the car park! Too good to be true, right? We assumed that we’d get the sandy beach, but thought the guarantee of baby fur seals was a bit optimistic. Well, we were pleasantly surprised (and rather enchanted) by the wee cuties that we found at the end of our walk.

West Coast

Coastline near the Anatori River Mouth, West Coast, New Zealand Coastline near the Anatori River Mouth, West Coast, New Zealand

Wharariki Beach

Why, Hello.
Whose nose?
Making An Appearance
Not Camera Shy
Kiss
Poser

Order prints

>> Prints can be ordered by filling out the print orders & print pricing enquiry form or selected images can be purchased in the Art Shop.

All in the Past (Part 2) – Paris & Chartres

| Astrid

Paris & Chartres

I spent the first 5 days of my trip in Paris, I could have stayed MUCH longer. Galleries, art, architecture, food, wine, people watching…. so much to see and do. I wish I had been a little more adventurous and seen more of France than just Paris, but I think I was still trying to find my feet. Next time I most definitely will!

All in the Past is a series of images that I took over a 5 week trip to Europe a few years ago. It was my first overseas trip, on my own, all alone. 
Well, mostly alone. I met up with friends whenever our paths crossed (in Paris and again in Rome) and spent a few days with relatives in Vienna and Munich.

The rest of the series can be found here:

Order prints

>> Prints can be ordered by filling out the print orders & print pricing enquiry form.

All in the Past (Part 1) – Singapore

| Astrid

All in the Past is a series of images that I took over a 5 week trip to Europe a few years ago. It was my first overseas trip, on my own, all alone.
Well, mostly alone. I met up with friends whenever our paths crossed (in Paris and again in Rome) and spent a few days with relatives in Vienna and Munich.

First stop

Singapore airport. I was totally enchanted by the carp in a pool, and the butterfly house.

The rest of the series can be found here:

Order prints

>> Prints can be ordered by filling out the print orders & print pricing enquiry form.