Friday, September 30, 2011

Pauatahanui Inlet

We often drive around the Pauatahanui Inlet on our travels North, and each time we go past there is something different to see. Sail boats can often be seen in the distance, people on wind sails are often there skipping over the surface of the water. Sometimes the water is incredibly chopping and other times it is still like a mirror reflecting everything around it. Of course most of the times I have seen this I haven't had a camera on me and have missed the shots.


Just recently we drove past and while the water was not totally still, there were reflections visible and I did have a camera in the car, so we took the time to stop and wander for a bit. Landscape photography has never been one of my strong points. I struggle to get what my eye sees, into the final picture. I do envy those who manage it well and often wonder if the difference is in the post processing but I suspect not.
So while I will have the odd attempt at landscapes, to date I don't have many that I am entirely happy with. I guess the passion just isn't there as much as it is when there is a bird or animal of some kind in the shot. Why is it that something that is for the most part just sitting there waiting to be photographed always end up being the hardest shot to obtain?
This bird was so busy feeding himself that he didn't notice me standing on the bank photographing him. I managed to get my mirror image though not of the landscape, and I am happy with the results.I really should stick to what I know :)

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Another day at Zealandia

Over the last few weeks there have been several really great images of the New Zealand falcon posted by Hutt Camera Club members on Facebook . Being a keen bird photographer I asked where the images were shot and promptly took myself there as soon as I could.  It turns out that the falcons are currently nesting at Zealandia and it is possible to get reasonably close to them. So a friend and I ventured off to have an attempt at getting our own great images of them.
New Zealand Falcon
The falcons share nesting duties and typically swap places on an hourly basis. Of course the first day we were there they were obviously unable to tell the time! We stood around and waited for the change over for about two hours before giving up. On our second trip the following week I managed to get these shots. The falcons have hatched one chick this year, I am keen to see it when it leaves the nest.
New Zealand Falcon


New Zealand Falcon
Further down the path the New Zealand robin (see previous post) was hoping about in the branches along the side of the path so we stopped and photographed that too. While we were with the robin a couple of saddlebacks played around in the bush beside us, staying just out of reach of the cameras. The saddlebacks are very hard to capture as they move about so fast and in areas where there is little light.
Saddleback
The feeding stations are great places to stop and photograph the birds. The kaka are particularly fun to watch as they prance about doing their thing. They are just so busy and boisterous, and you can see a very distinct pecking order of the birds around the feeding station. The smaller birds stayed back and waited their turn or scavenged off the ground, letting the kaka and tui have their fill first.
Bellbird

Bellbird
Kaka
I have been to Zealandia many times and never until this visit had I managed to see the tuatara out. I was definitely excited to see on the notice board that someone had spotted them just an hour before so hurried to the right number post and there it was. Unfortunately its position next to a plastic drainage pipe was not great for photography (see previous post) but I saw the tuatara!! On my next visit the same tuatara was out in the same spot still next to the plastic pipe!

Pied Shag
We also took the time to ride in the little electric boat they have there. This gave me the opportunity to photograph the pied shags without needing a huge piece of glass on my camera. The shags are quite used to the boat moving around and happily posed for the photos. We were also able to get almost underneath the tree they were nesting in. One doesn't want to get right underneath for obvious reasons...
Pied Shag

Pied Shag

Pied Shag

Pied Shags Nesting