New Zealand | An Ongoing Pictorial

Been shooting quite a bit, so time for another update...

256. Due to school drop-off, I have a hard time catching any morning fog, but this one time it hung around until after 9am. So I stopped by where the Orewa River meets the Pacific for some calm scenes.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5710/...f79b33e0_c.jpg
Orewa fog by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

257. There is an abandoned cement factory nearby, and I made a visit with some friends from the local photography club. The ruins are fenced off for safety reasons, but we were able to enter through an opening (NZ is kind of lax in these areas!).
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/645/2...6139a5bc_c.jpg
Warkworth Cement Works by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

258. Some very cool structures in there.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/687/2...a6894d68_c.jpg
Leroy by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

259. We had a long stretch of very unsettled weather -- cloudy weather and intermittent rain. So it was time to focus on smaller parts of the landscape.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5633/...7ef69ac6_c.jpg
Swirls by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

260. Our local beach is not as well-known as the nearby Orewa Beach, but it was more interesting objects to photograph. Like this piece of driftwood that was positioned just perfectly.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/677/2...73e0c815_c.jpg
Incoming by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

261. Lots of marine life come along the waters by our area regularly, including whales and dolphins. I hadn't managed to see one until this one Saturday morning. We were walking along, taking in the sun, when suddenly...dolphins! Hope to get better views in the summer (when we'll be out on the beach more).
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/564/2...fb684c72_c.jpg
Dolphins in the bay by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

262. The unsettled weather did make for some great views. Caught this while killing time before an appointment.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/653/2...5b96bab2_c.jpg
Mood indigo by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

263. And saw this scene another day while driving back from the morning school drop-off, and just had to stop.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/707/2...67738dfb_c.jpg
Orewa Beach panorama by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

264. I'm starting a partnership with a local framing studio (for them to sell and print my stuff). I ended up doing a documentary-style shoot for them.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/597/2...0ae3fcda_c.jpg
Orewa Framing Studio by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

265. It was completely on-the-go, with all natural lighting and no posing.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5642/...b01c967a_c.jpg
Orewa Framing Studio by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

266. I joined a local photography meetup group. They organized a small steampunk shoot at Auckland Museum that I was fortunate enough to join (space for only 5 photographers). It was a lot of fun.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5730/...0c99e7e8_c.jpg
Steampunk focus by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

267. These people are serious "steampunk-ers" with seriously detailed costumes and props.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5664/...4783f711_c.jpg
Steampunk focus by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

268. The conditions inside the museum were quite tricky. Very low lighting and quite irregular roof and wall angles (making it tricky to bounce flash). Since the museum was open to the public as well, we had to shoot fast. And because I don't usually do portraiture, it was quite a quick learning experience for me!
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/590/2...74b686af_c.jpg
Steampunk focus by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

269. The other challenge was shooting without other people and obvious modern conveniences in the frame.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5788/...2aea151c_c.jpg
Steampunk focus by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

270. This was a very experimental shot. Put my flash inside the box and triggered it remotely.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5834/...fc81f1b3_c.jpg
Pandora's box by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

Thank you for these beautiful pictures and informative posts Fuzz, you have real talent !

I spent last November to February flyfishing, camping, and hiking on the South Island and your pictures are taking me back in my mind and spirit.
-I took a couple thousand pictures, even bought a realish camera, but actual skill must play a role...

Heading to Abel Tasman?

So many beautiful places, people, and wildlife!
-I thought it was like a mix of Oregon and Alaska, with a bit of jungle thrown in the mix

I have a car still for sale in Christchurch if you need a cheap one, haha !

"By Durin's beard, this is one fine thread!"

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Originally Posted by DeathVan

Thank you for these beautiful pictures and informative posts Fuzz, you have real talent !

I spent last November to February flyfishing, camping, and hiking on the South Island and your pictures are taking me back in my mind and spirit.
-I took a couple thousand pictures, even bought a realish camera, but actual skill must play a role...

Heading to Abel Tasman?

So many beautiful places, people, and wildlife!
-I thought it was like a mix of Oregon and Alaska, with a bit of jungle thrown in the mix

I have a car still for sale in Christchurch if you need a cheap one, haha !

"By Durin's beard, this is one fine thread!"

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^ Thanks, man. Not been to Abel Tasman yet. Yes, you're quite right about the mix of environments -- a great mix in a small area.

This is a good time as any to post some more shots because I've had to take a break from shooting for a little bit (more details below).

271. Spring is here. Cherry trees are blooming everywhere.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/758/2...d73611f6_c.jpg
Spring by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

272. I've been exploring our local beach more. When the tide goes out, a large part at the end of the beach becomes accessible, filled with little rocky coves, beaches, and caves. So I planned to go out this one morning when low tide and sunrise coincided. Found this pool of water there that was just the perfect natural infinity pool.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5622/...2de5657e_c.jpg
Purple pool by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

273. Went to an InstaMeet, my first, and met a lot of interesting photographers. Already got together with a few to go shooting. It's such a small place, many of us had met online before. In fact, I met three of my "followers" there.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5727/...b504cf22_c.jpg
Vroom! by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

274. While putting away the laundry one evening, I noticed the Spirit of New Zealand coming into our bay. That night, I looked up where it was moored and planned to shoot it against the rising sun in the morning. Woke up and drove 10 minutes to Orewa Beach. Just missed sunrise, but still got it before the sun went behind the clouds.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5738/...3f8040ef_c.jpg
Against the sun by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

275. And in fact, as the sun disappeared, rays of light burst through the clouds. And just to complete the picture, a paddle-boarder came out at just the right time.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/675/2...6d145664_c.jpg
Ship of gold by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

276. Went out shooting the city with one of the guys from the InstaMeet. Despite being relatively small, the Auckland skyline is quite pretty, especially against the water. Tried something a bit different.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/584/2...205b0de1_c.jpg
Auckland bokeh by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

277. Explored a new spot for traffic light trails.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/646/2...2dc65506_c.jpg
Auckland on the move by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

278. Parking garages are great spots for shooting in the city. Unfortunately, Auckland doesn't have many of them that are tall. We had to make do with this.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5700/...bc2f99e7_c.jpg
Auckland city shoot by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

279. And finally, we come to the reason for my forced hiatus from photography. I was out shooting at sunrise last weekend, and wanted to do something different. Held the camera really close to the sea (barely a couple of inches above the water) and shot. Moments after I took this shot, a wave rebounded off the shoreline behind me and dunked my camera and lens completely. Immediately took out the battery. Came home and rinsed it out (saltwater can be very corrosive to camera parts), dried in a bag of rice for several days. No dice. So my camera has been dead for almost a week. Starting to look at new bodies. Want a 5D3 but can't afford one. Maybe the 6D will have to be it. But it'll probably be a few days before I get one. This was practically the last shot with my 5D2.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/610/2...b74f0839_c.jpg
Liquid metal by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

280. Determined not to mope around after losing my camera, I decided to go out and shoot with my little point-and-shoot. After all, photographers are always taking credit for shots taken with multi-thousand dollar gear ("It's not the camera, it's the person behind the camera!"), so if I'm any good, I should be able to get something decent regardless of the gear, right? It was an interesting experience. What I learned is that with "lesser" gear, it's about compromise and careful planning. It was a constant balancing act -- if I got the focus exactly right, then maybe not the exposure; if I got the focus and exposure right, then maybe not the noise; and so on. And of course, I picked the worst day to shoot -- steady drizzle with subdued colours everywhere and absolutely nothing in the sky. At least the Spirit of New Zealand was still hanging around to make a nice subject.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5625/...c918b147_c.jpg
Keeping up Spirit in the rain by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

WOAH!

AWESOME

why you're not pro with this yet is beyond me, fuzz

FUZZ-
Dude, sorry to hear about your camera body...that is brutal.

You always seems to be in cool places around water, you may consider an outex housing.

http://www.outex.com/

They are super cheap compared to an actual hard cased water housing. They are also great for travel because they roll up into a tiny bag.

I've used one and they are really great for what they are.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Summit

WOAH!

AWESOME

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Thanks -- you guys should come visit!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by acinpdx

why you're not pro with this yet is beyond me, fuzz

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I know of at least two reasons. First, I suck at marketing and self-promotion. So I don't really know where/how to market my work. Photography is a tough business, especially landscape, travel, and the like. Who's going to buy them? Not many people want to spend a few hundred dollars to hang them on the wall (or at least not enough do). Businesses don't want to spend a lot of money on photography. And businesses that do want to spend money, require more time and dedication, which is my second reason -- with a young child and a full-time working wife, I don't have the luxury of going away for a week to do a shoot for a company or tourism agency. I'm sure if I weren't so lazy, I'd figure out a way to make it work, but I like shooting what and when I want.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by supermodel159

FUZZ-
Dude, sorry to hear about your camera body...that is brutal.

You always seems to be in cool places around water, you may consider an outex housing.

http://www.outex.com/

They are super cheap compared to an actual hard cased water housing. They are also great for travel because they roll up into a tiny bag.

I've used one and they are really great for what they are.

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Holy cow, that is awesome! I did indeed look at underwater housing for my DSLR, but they're so expensive. Outex looks way more convenient and a hell of a lot cheaper. This is definitely going on my list. I just bought a 6D as the replacement for my dead 5D2, so will have to save up for the Outex. Would be great to have it for the NZ summer in a couple of months. The $100 shipping to NZ is a bit steep, so I'll have to see if I can get someone in the US to ship it to me for cheaper.

^^I could ship from CA if it would help...

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Originally Posted by supermodel159

^^I could ship from CA if it would help...

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Damn, that would be awesome! I'll have to scrounge up the money -- will PM you if I can make it work.

Realized I hadn't posted any updates for a while. Been shooting quite a bit recently.

My 5D2 was completely ruined and non-functional after the dunking by the waves. Ended up getting a 6D as a replacement.

281. The West Coast of Auckland has several great beaches. Quite wild and empty. Most of them have black sand (from volcanic activity). Made my first trip to one of them, Bethells Beach on a very windy day.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5822/...3cdd7a96_c.jpg
Lines in the sand by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

282. Quite a stormy day it was too.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/737/2...25164fc7_c.jpg
Shelter from the storm by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

283. Unlike on the East Coast (where I live), the West Coast has no barrier islands, so the beaches are really wild. Huge waves.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5824/...ce929ce3_c.jpg
Bethells Beach by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

284. Lots of surfers on these beaches.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/588/2...a58d71a1_c.jpg
Bethells surfer by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

285. Since they're on the west, places like Maori Bay are great for beautiful sunsets.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/739/2...e0252a6f_c.jpg
Washing over by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

286. The beaches are pretty gradual, which means the waves roll in a long way, making for stunning reflections.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/740/2...4a5f67c5_c.jpg
Twilight calm by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

287. As the Milky Way's core was setting to the west, it made for a great place for some night photography as well. And I have to say, the Instagram community has been great in finding like-minded people who like to go out and shoot frequently.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/624/2...45c3b250_c.jpg
In search of a shooting star by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

288. On warm sunny days, the West Coast beaches are awesome. Huge waves to play around in. On this day we didn't go too far out (the water's still a bit cool), but the waves were coming in over my head.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5772/...1eb067f7_c.jpg
Fun at Muriwai by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

289. Cool marine life in the many nooks and crannies.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5731/...0578444f_c.jpg
Are you sure we're safe here? by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

290. The waves are strong and unpredictable. They were ankle-deep here, and then suddenly it came over the waist. Ruined my phone.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5664/...6ee6af42_c.jpg
Maori Bay mayhem by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

291. Back on the local east coast beaches, things are much calmer. Gentle and predictable waves. Stunning sunrises aplenty.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5683/...4bb83cdc_c.jpg
Golden dawn by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

292. I live on a peninsula, so there are about a dozen beaches within a 15-minute drive of home. Nice to have so much variation.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/625/2...339fdaba_c.jpg
Matakatia sunrise by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

293. One thing I love about where we live is that I can see the whole of our bay. And that comes in handy when the Spirit of New Zealand comes in for the night (quite often). So I can plan to get out the next morning to shot it against sunrise.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5662/...08e9bce5_c.jpg
Sunrise over Spirit by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

294. Been loving the stormy mornings at the local beaches as well. This beach is on the way back from my son's school, so depending on the weather, I often stop by after dropping him off to see if I can shoot anything.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5776/...e5eb94d3_c.jpg
Runner in the storm by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

295. It's a good time to capture many boarders as well.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5779/...effe30ce_c.jpg
Waiting for the waves by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

296. And when the weather's good, it is a gorgeous place.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/766/2...623bb7ec_c.jpg
Orewa sunshine by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

297. Brilliantly blue skies, almost like the ones in Colorado.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5698/...3828ff52_c.jpg
Orewa afternoon by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

298. Of course, it's not all beaches and waves. A walk in the bush and meadows is always a good time.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/634/2...2563853c_c.jpg
Storm on the horizon by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

299. The ferns are always fun to capture.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/609/2...07f8c5a6_c.jpg
Shakespear walk by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

300. With sunset getting later and later, it's now a lot easier for me to shoot it over the city. Despite being relatively small, Auckland is quite photogenic.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/753/2...2491765c_c.jpg
Auckland twilight by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

301. Lucked out at Spaghetti Junction -- the streetlamp right over this location, which produces a ton of ugly flare, was out the night I was there.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/683/2...4b66e9b3_c.jpg
Red line to the city by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

302. The city has some rolling terrain, allowing good views from some neighbourhoods.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/604/2...46c43f23_c.jpg
City views by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

303. Sunrise on this morning didn't turn out as expected, but it was still nice. This was the day after the Paris attacks, so Sky Tower was lit up in the French colours.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5831/...ff2bf0ff_c.jpg
Harbour View by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

304. Not that it's all pretty. Parts of NZ can be just as cookie-cutter as anywhere else. This is a new residential development near our town.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/616/2...0f01ce7f_c.jpg
Millwater walkabout by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

305. Caught the full moonrise back near home. Confession -- this is partly a Photoshop job. The light from the streetlamp wasn't on yet, so I painted the light ray in. :redface:
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5622/...f6e0f03e_c.jpg
Lighting up the moonrise by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

Stunning work.

Killer stuff Fuzz. Sounds like you need all waterproof electronics.

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Originally Posted by crashtestdummy

Stunning work.

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Thanks.

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Originally Posted by Ksyrium

Killer stuff Fuzz. Sounds like you need all waterproof electronics.

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Yes, looking at the Outex. Have some shots in mind but don't want to risk getting my gear wet again.

Photographically speaking, a big development has been my involvement in Instagram. Got started a few months ago, but have gotten to know several local Instagrammers in the area. Been getting together with many of them regularly to go out and shoot. It's been a blast shooting different things and learning from everyone.

306. Sunset over the city is always a good time. This is a 6-frame HDR composite -- first a 3-exposure HDR of the sky, cityscape, and sun, combined with another 3-exposure HDR of the city lights. The first set of frames was taken just at sunset, and the second set (the lights) was taken about 45 minutes after sunset.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/697/2...f208d69a_c.jpg
Sunset glow by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

307. On the way back from school drop-off, noticed a bunch of kiteboarders out on the water, so stopped by to shoot them. Looking forward to shooting more watersports as summer approaches.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/609/2...9281cca8_c.jpg
Kiteboarding Orewa by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

308. Haven't been doing much seascapes recently. Did go out to my local beach on morning to see if anything struck my fancy.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5785/...54f97671_c.jpg
Stanmore storm by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

309. I do love our local beach. It's not as big or as popular as the more touristy one nearby, but there are so many more interesting rock features -- always something interesting, no matter the tide, waves, or weather.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/690/2...51d95aa2_c.jpg
Stanmore storm by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

310. Did make it out for sunrise in the city one day -- it's a 30-minute drive into the city for me, so I usually do sunrises close by. But glad I went out this time.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/620/2...6468eb23_c.jpg
Blue magic by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

311. Met up with several other Instagrammers and went on a street outing. Lots of fun exploring many new areas.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5682/...026038c6_c.jpg
Street by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

312. Found some parking garages for different vantage points.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/761/2...a315a35e_c.jpg
Tattoo by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

313. Always like looking up in the city.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/743/2...661cc174_c.jpg
Urban nature by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

314. While exploring the new, very purple, cycleway, we came across a crew of longboarders. Had a blast shooting them as they were doing their runs back and forth.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5720/...8b349629_c.jpg
Longboarding Auckland by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

315. They even posed for us at the end. We left off with the possibility of doing future shoots.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5737/...8443c3e7_c.jpg
Longboard crew by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

316. Lots of festivals and performances as summer approaches. Caught some of them on a Sunday evening at the park.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5833/...27ebeb36_c.jpg
Looking into the crystal ball by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

317. One of the main sights from Auckland is Rangitoto, a volcanic island just off the coast. I planned to shoot the sun coming up right above the peak using The Photographer's Ephemeris. While the weather wasn't completely clear, it was still a good sunrise.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/678/2...df5bdcec_c.jpg
Blaze of glory by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

318. One of the features of a Kiwi spring are the pohutukawa trees blooming. Large trees thick with very vibrant red flowers. Also called the Kiwi Christmas Tree.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/651/2...cc2f92c8_c.jpg
Little Manly Beach by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

319. The red really goes well with the blue water and skies.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/754/2...56c13212_c.jpg
Little Manly Beach by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

320. And finally, went out to this church I'd seen in pictures. It was a wild outing. When I left with an Instagram friend, the weather looked quite stormy. We drove through heavy downpour and arrived to driving rain and howling winds at the site. We had to retreat to the car several times, but managed to get a good 20-minute window when the light was just surreal.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5696/...0a544194_c.jpg
Timeless by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

Really like the last one. Either perfectly timed the way the light radiates or you applied some creative post-processing. Either way, looks great.

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Originally Posted by huckbucket

Really like the last one. Either perfectly timed the way the light radiates or you applied some creative post-processing. Either way, looks great.

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Timing. We arrived to driving rain and howling winds. We were in and out of the car a couple of times as the rain came and went. Then for a 20-minute period, it cleared up slightly in the west, allowing the sunset to shine through. In fact, that dark cloud (just above the bright area) brought rain and drove us back to the car right a minute after this shot.

You guys on Instagram should follow Fuzz. Get a daily dose of this images.

Fuzz - Your astronomy work continues to blow my mind...keep it up.

So summer's been here and gone since I last posted...

321. Christmas in shorts and sandals feels weird. But nice -- I still remember the stinging sideways icicles during our trip to Chicago a few Christmases ago!
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1529/...3392a955_c.jpg
Christmas tower by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

322. Spent lots of time at the beaches. I have to say, after a summer here, I can get used to living by the beach.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1552/...fb9fa696_c.jpg
Summer fun by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

323. The sunrises are just amazing. Not sure if I never noticed them before (i.e. got up early enough), but stunning mornings are a frequent occurrence. This was the last sunrise of 2015 from one of our local beaches.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1636/...3cc320c9_c.jpg
Last sunrise of 2015 by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

324. We then went on a roadtrip to the southern tip of the North Island to the capital of Wellington. It rained a lot on the way. Like real, tropical, beating down with loud noise rain.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1668/...8e8145a7_c.jpg
Hard rain by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

325. Wellington is a really cool little city. Quite small and compact, but quite arty and "alternative".
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1474/...18b4189a_c.jpg
Wellington by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

326. The weather can turn in an instant though. It went from hot and sunny to freezing and windy in a matter of minutes.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1599/...e0f8a499_c.jpg
Wellington by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

327. It sits right on the southern coast of the North Island -- unlike Auckland, the coast there is quite rocky, but with quite expansive views.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1516/...6dfe18ed_c.jpg
Wellington by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

328. No trip to Wellington would be complete for us without a visit to the Weta Cave, for a tour of Weta Workshops. Super tour, and we got to see and handle a lot of cool props.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1444/...88cb23b8_c.jpg
Weta Cave by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

329. We then drop north to the Central Plateau, to Tongariro National Park, the site of several volcanoes and ski fields. The area is also known for frequent lenticular clouds, like these over Mt. Ruapehu.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1697/...383c64b5_c.jpg
Lenticular clouds over Ruapehu by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

330. We took the chairlift up Ruapehu. The views were impressive!
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1485/...52dc239f_c.jpg
Walk to Skyline by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

331. Once we got to the top and started our hike though, it cleared up a bit.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1596/...1f07b9c2_c.jpg
Walk to Skyline by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

332. Not for long though. As soon as we hit the summit ridge, the clouds came back in. Coming down the steep slope of loose volcanic rocks was interesting!
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1521/...a95700a3_c.jpg
Walk to Skyline by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

333. We did several walks down below -- there are many kilometers of tracks around the whole place, with the most famous being the day-long Tongariro Crossing. We did part of it.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1625/...006d3b07_c.jpg
Northern Tongariro Circuit by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

334. There were tons of waterfalls in the park. This is one of the many that we enjoyed.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1718/...d255bf6f_c.jpg
Tawhai Falls by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

335. Since the park is far from any major city, the night skies are fantastic. So I had to get out one evening. Mt. Ngauruhoe, which was the model for Mt. Doom the Lord of the Rings movies, was always shrouded in clouds, but they parted at sunset that one evening.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1713/...2a3d6f49_c.jpg
Sunset over Ngauruhoe by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

336. The stars came out nice a pretty.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1713/...b54d679e_c.jpg
Dusk over Ngauruhoe by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

337. The night sky was brilliant.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1616/...5f758478_c.jpg
Milky Way over Ruapehu by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

338. From where I live it is hard to see the Magellanic Clouds, because they're in the south, right above the light pollution of Auckland. But at Tongariro, I had no such problems. This was with a regular lens (50mm) on a static tripod.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1559/...e0608f8f_c.jpg
Large and Small Magellanic Clouds by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

339. After the trip we spent a lot of time in Auckland city. Lots of festivals and events going on throughout the summer.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1615/...af84f027_c.jpg
Waitangi weekend by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

340. Still managed to get up for some sunrises. This is at my local beach, a part that is accessible only at low tide, so I could get to this only on certain days. Fortunately, that day turned out to be a good one.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1613/...5a1e06f7_c.jpg
New beginning by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

341. Also went out to the West Coast beaches quite a bit, like Muriwai. Lacking any barrier islands like the East Coast, these beaches are much wilder, with huge waves. Great for playing around, surfing, and all manners of watersports.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1505/...446387b8_c.jpg
Day out at Muriwai by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

342. With the frequent strong winds, gliders are a common sight too.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1694/...91fb75ec_c.jpg
Day out at Muriwai by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

343. Sunsets on the West Coast almost never fail to deliver. This evening it looked like it would be a bust, with thick banks of clouds on the horizon. But the light still shone through.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1633/...0d15a146_c.jpg
Day out at Muriwai by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

344. And the very flat beach makes for great reflections.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1569/...a2460dba_c.jpg
Day out at Muriwai by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

345. Spent some time shooting in the city with friends as well. These skateboarders were very obliging, even setting some runs specifically for our benefit.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1502/...ccc07143_c.jpg
Skaters by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

346. From where we live, we get a view of the ocean. This is great because we can get great sunrise views like this without leaving the house. On the other hand, it sometimes makes me too lazy to walk down to the beach for better views.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1521/...a06d0a2e_c.jpg
Sunrise fire by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

347. One sign that we live in a beach town -- our son's primary school had a surf day, where all the 5th grade students go to learn surfing at the local beach. They all had an absolute blast. My son managed to stand up several times. Now I've gotten into it -- tried it once without much success, but that'll be our new sport to try now.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1549/...cfc81815_c.jpg
Surf lessons by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

348. Fall is now here, although it doesn't feel like it. The trees are all green, with only a token tree here and there changing leaves. It's just too warm here.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1587/...929e7b2f_c.jpg
Fall by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

349. Strolling around fields like this in shorts and sandals doesn't make it feel like autumn.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1713/...d6795feb_c.jpg
Autumn days by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

350. The sunrises are still just as spectacular. This is a 5-min walk from my house, last Sunday.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1576/...cd31f328_c.jpg
Return to the sun by Faisal Syed, on Flickr

This is going to sound strange, yet hopefully comes across in a flattering tone. Your photos make me sad that I haven't shown my growing daughters such an amazing part of the world. Not sure how else to put it. They're intrinsically beautiful though. Great stuff.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by huckbucket

This is going to sound strange, yet hopefully comes across in a flattering tone. Your photos make me sad that I haven't shown my growing daughters such an amazing part of the world. Not sure how else to put it. They're intrinsically beautiful though. Great stuff.

---

I understand. I also never knew much about NZ, other than the Lord of the Rings scenery. There's a whole lot of beautiful scenery here and it seems even more because it's packed in so tightly.

Fuzz, you still shooting?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Doughnuts

Fuzz, you still shooting?

---

Yeah, still shooting. Just haven't gotten around to posting here, so thanks for the reminder...

351. Went shooting the Milky Way, but too cloudy + moonlight.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7597/2...87d8f39d_c.jpg
Pierce the veil by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

352. Went to Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast of Australia in April for holiday. Great views from the apartment we stayed at. Did some surfing too.
https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7080/2...b3613b86_c.jpg
Gold Coast by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

353. Back home, the moon was still quite bright, so had some friends do some steel wool spinning at our local beach.
https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7311/2...6721a293_c.jpg
Spinning under the stars by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

354. Fall came soon enough. There's not much change in the color of the leaves here in Auckland, but you can find some every now and then.
https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7769/2...2477b702_c.jpg
Auckland autumn by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

355. Did manage to get a clear night with no moon. Drove down to Hunua Falls (about an hour and a half from my place) with a couple of friends for some superb dark skies.
https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7383/2...6228bf98_z.jpg
Hunua Falls stars by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

356. Finally got a chance to shoot the Rho Ophiuchi Complex. This is a 77-frame stack shot with a 50mm lens on a static tripod. So wish I had kept my tracking mount!
https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7611/2...94b0ba9f_c.jpg
Galactic core and Rho Ophiuchi Complex by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

357. While I do miss snow and skiing, it is nice to live in a place with such mild weather. On July 1, the Southern equivalent of January 1, I went for a walk in shorts and sandals around town.
https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7759/2...08242e18_c.jpg
Hibiscus Coast by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

358. Seeing the variety of greenery in the middle of winter is quite captivating.
https://c2.staticflickr.com/9/8714/2...46091b66_c.jpg
Leaves in light by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

359. Shot some skateboarders at the local skate park. Have plans to set up a proper shoot later on.
https://c6.staticflickr.com/9/8541/2...b3ff2d2c_c.jpg
Skater up! by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

360. Shot some more stars.
https://c6.staticflickr.com/9/8680/2...69b5b369_c.jpg
Flax under the #stars by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

361. Some more steel wool.
https://c2.staticflickr.com/9/8810/2...4d948a8d_c.jpg
Steel on the beach by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

362. And played around with some "EL" wires -- basically electric/LED wires.
https://c4.staticflickr.com/9/8358/2...91070a59_c.jpg
Blue ripples by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

363. Went to Australia again early July, this time to Hamilton Island.
https://c8.staticflickr.com/9/8636/2...04e9c329_c.jpg
Fleeting #shade by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

364. Got some great sunrises.
https://c2.staticflickr.com/9/8781/2...790003a2_c.jpg
Blaze of glory by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

365. The snorkeling wasn't too bad either -- saw tons of amazing marine life, including a giant sea turtle.
https://c7.staticflickr.com/9/8789/2...9e1d6362_c.jpg
Pacific blues by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

366. Back home in NZ, been having a lot of stormy weather. But still got out -- makes for some dramatic scenes. This is one of our local parks (about a 20-min drive), a sanctuary for local wildlife.
https://c7.staticflickr.com/9/8717/2...c8b44053_c.jpg
Stand tall by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

367. Also went to the beach. Love my local beach because there are always interesting rocks even at high tide.
https://c4.staticflickr.com/9/8732/2...8b25cd1f_c.jpg
In the corner by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

368. Went to the city for a sunrise shoot with a friend a few weekends ago. The colours weren't great, but still wasn't too bad.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7473/2...84853a3c_c.jpg
Before the sun by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

369. We were not the only ones up early.
https://c6.staticflickr.com/9/8562/2...dd2a4533_c.jpg
Serenity by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

370. Some nice early morning colours and shadows.
https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8494/2...9d626dce_c.jpg
Dive in by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

371. Stopped by the fish market.
https://c4.staticflickr.com/9/8598/2...336c7778_c.jpg
Auckland Fish Market by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

372. It was a really bright morning -- a rare clear day.
https://c5.staticflickr.com/9/8672/2...6bbccd4d_z.jpg
White hall by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

373. Got a rare clear night, but the full moon was out. So went to the beach with some friends and looked for something other than just the stars.
https://c7.staticflickr.com/9/8456/2...b4a6ec9c_c.jpg
Far, far away by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

374. Played around some more with the EL wires (plus some Photoshop for the "spotlight").
https://c4.staticflickr.com/9/8439/2...c9faef4e_c.jpg
Beam me up, Scotty! by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

375. Despite several days of rain straight, still went out a few evenings ago. No sunset colours, but at least found an interesting rock.
https://c7.staticflickr.com/9/8401/2...5bf579ce_c.jpg
Last look by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

Thanks Fuzz. Loving the images!

Still shooting that 6d?

WOAH!!!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Doughnuts

Still shooting that 6d?

---

Yup, still with the 6D. Can't afford anything more right now!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Summit

WOAH!!!!

---

Are you guys still thinking of coming down here in January?

I have to say... as a big 6D fan, it's my favorite landscape/portrait camera ever. I just love the way it renders images- I can't see getting rid of it anytime soon.

People usually say they're jealous of the way I live... but damn, I'm jealous of what you're doing. Nice work, man.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by smmokan

I have to say... as a big 6D fan, it's my favorite landscape/portrait camera ever. I just love the way it renders images- I can't see getting rid of it anytime soon.

---

Yes, the 6D does get a bit of a bad rap, but I'm not sure why. With these high-end cameras, there's really not much difference -- it's the person behind the camera that's almost always the limiting factor, and rarely the gear. When I had to replace my 5D2, I was a bit wary of "downgrading" to the 6D, since it was supposed to be more of an "amateur" model (compared to the 5D series). But honestly, I've never ever thought "Oh, my 5D2 would have made this shot look better."

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by smmokan

People usually say they're jealous of the way I live... but damn, I'm jealous of what you're doing. Nice work, man.

---

Thanks. Yes, I've been incredibly lucky to live like I do.

I've also become more interested in shooting people. Practicing on friends and family for now.

Selfie:
https://c6.staticflickr.com/9/8081/2...a150d53b_z.jpg
What can brown do for you? by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

A friend during an astro outing:
https://c4.staticflickr.com/9/8310/2...2b62ac69_z.jpg
Grantis under the planets by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

The Mrs:
https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8839/2...62d0ab4d_z.jpg
Walk in the park by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

And a few NSFW:
1
2
3
4
5

Great stuff Fuzz.

Forever Enn Zed !

It's a beautiful life
Glad you live it too

Thank you for sharing

Where the hell is the thumbs up on this forum? THUMBS WAY UP! Thanks again for sharing.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ksyrium

Great stuff Fuzz.

---

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DeathVan

Forever Enn Zed !

It's a beautiful life
Glad you live it too

Thank you for sharing

---

Quote:

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Originally Posted by huckbucket

Where the hell is the thumbs up on this forum? THUMBS WAY UP! Thanks again for sharing.

---

Thanks guys. I'm truly lucky to have married a woman who has allowed me to live this life.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Selfie:
https://c6.staticflickr.com/9/8081/2...a150d53b_z.jpg[URL="https://flic.kr/p/KGU37R"]

---

What a bad ass. Your wife has some killer eyes too. Thanks as always. I love my 6D as well...even though I don't have the time or knowledge to use it effectively.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by uglymoney

What a bad ass. Your wife has some killer eyes too. Thanks as always. I love my 6D as well...even though I don't have the time or knowledge to use it effectively.

---

Thanks dude.

A few more from recent days...

376. Shooting for the MPC:
https://c2.staticflickr.com/9/8723/2...54f82d1d_c.jpg
Bokeh monster by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

377. When we lived on the South Island, NZ seemed quite foreign. Living in Auckland, there are many aspects of life that are quite indistinguishable from the US. Highway driving, including the traffic, being one of them.
https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8205/2...0e868a60_c.jpg
Little red car by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

378. Fortunately, within a 45-min drive, I can be at a place like this. This is Bethells Beach on the West Coast of NZ/Auckland.
https://c5.staticflickr.com/9/8403/2...ac24fa5d_c.jpg
This dark brightness by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

379. Went out to a local park this morning. There's a clothing-optional beach at one end of this park where we planned to do a nude shoot, but unfortunately the trail was closed due to tree felling. So had to make do with some more traditional shots.
https://c2.staticflickr.com/9/8379/2...415f0774_c.jpg
Long Bay shoot by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

380. Practiced with fill-flash a lot.
https://c2.staticflickr.com/9/8745/2...fed11115_c.jpg
Long Bay shoot by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

Did sneak in an NSFW shot or two though. :)

Spent a week at Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. My third visit there and still stunning as always. We were all feeling a bit under the weather, so took it easy. I tried to get away from shooting the usual "postcard shots", but wasn't always successful.

First stopped by the small town of Ashburton, our first home in NZ for the first year to visit some friends.

381. Although small, they do their gardens right. The central town park/garden (called a "domain") was full of spring flowers.
https://c8.staticflickr.com/6/5536/2...92a7a87e_c.jpg
Spring in Ashburton by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

382. The cherry trees were blooming.
https://c8.staticflickr.com/9/8417/2...c964e71c_z.jpg
Spring in Ashburton by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

383. Stopped at the Lake Pukaki overlook on our drive to Aoraki Mount Cook. This is usually a stunning view with the brilliant blue of the glacial lake and the backdrop of Aoraki and the mountains. Not on this day. Nothing but clouds. The blues were quite pretty though.
https://c4.staticflickr.com/9/8620/2...9160497d_c.jpg
Shades of blue by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

384. The weather forecast called for mostly clouds and rain for most of the week. And so it proved the next morning.
https://c8.staticflickr.com/9/8269/2...ba2f32ef_c.jpg
Tasman Valley by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

385. I picked Tasman Valley instead of the more popular Hooker Valley because on a cloudy day, Hooker Valley doesn't afford great views. Tasman Lake on the other hand, always has something to offer. Like chunks of ice floating along the shore.
https://c8.staticflickr.com/6/5584/3...6fd51d89_c.jpg
Tasman Valley by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

386. On the plus side, we had a room with a view of Aoraki. On the other hand, most mornings we woke up to views like this -- the peaks all wreathed in clouds.
https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5443/2...fb7d09ba_c.jpg
#Morning #light by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

387. The wet weather did make for some nice dew drops.
https://c4.staticflickr.com/6/5456/3...03458f93_c.jpg
#Raindrops keep falling on my leaf by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

388. On a somewhat clear day we headed up Hooker Valley. The swinging bridges are always fun.
https://c8.staticflickr.com/9/8551/2...a6d52156_c.jpg
Hooker Valley | Aoraki Mount Cook by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

389. A little off the path lies Hooker River. Carefully making way across the boulders provides access to some nice views.
https://c4.staticflickr.com/6/5644/2...7f5082a4_c.jpg
Hooker River by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

390. Every few minutes we'd hear rumbles like thunder - it'd be a quick mission to check the surrounding mountains to see if we could spot the avalanche. Like this one (you can see the avy coming down on the left).
https://c7.staticflickr.com/6/5329/3...102af644_c.jpg
Hooker Valley | Aoraki Mount Cook by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

391. The walk to Hooker Lake is quite easy.
https://c4.staticflickr.com/9/8547/3...1f89d380_c.jpg
Hooker Valley | Aoraki Mount Cook by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

392. Great views all along the way.
https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5783/3...38225bd9_c.jpg
My #hiker #boy by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

393. The reward is Hooker Lake, the terminus of Hooker Glacier, at the base of Aoraki Mount Cook. It's hard to resist the postcard shot at this place.
https://c4.staticflickr.com/6/5619/3...b10ccb44_c.jpg
Just one more? by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

394. Perfect reflections on the lake.
https://c6.staticflickr.com/6/5739/3...34009a48_c.jpg
Hooker Valley | Aoraki Mount Cook by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

395. We had the same "problem" with sunset as sunrise -- no clear views of the peaks.
https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8273/3...f3c07731_c.jpg
Sunset at Aoraki Mount Cook by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

396. Returned to Tasman Lake on another foggy morning -- the fog was really close to the ground, making for a very surreal atmosphere.
https://c7.staticflickr.com/9/8550/3...058c185d_c.jpg
Into the #storm by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

397. It was like walking in a minimalist painting.
https://c7.staticflickr.com/6/5702/2...60d7ef52_c.jpg
Tasman Valley by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

398. Did a walk up the Sealy Tarns staircase another day. Unfortunately, clouds rolled in once again, obscuring the peaks.
https://c2.staticflickr.com/9/8130/3...723df146_c.jpg
Sealy Tarns | Aoraki Mount Cook by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

399. Then finally, on our last morning there, we got a clear view of the peaks at sunrise. And it was a good one too, as the pink light hit the peaks and ridges.
https://c6.staticflickr.com/6/5494/2...a9547583_c.jpg
First #light by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

400. It was good to see Aoraki Mount Cook in all its glory. And all from the comfort of the room too!
https://c6.staticflickr.com/6/5578/2...0f294b8d_c.jpg
Sunrise over Aoraki Mount Cook by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

Been a while since my last update. Not been shooting much landscapes/scenery recently -- been drawn to portraiture more. Harder for me to get consistent results, hence more of a challenge = more fun.

401. Practiced portraiture at a steampunk event.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5755/3...862dd1b5_c.jpg
Steampunk Express 2016 by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

402. Wife has Tuesdays off, so explored the city a lot.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/519/31...32f6ecdb_c.jpg
Urban portrait by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

403. Got inked.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/455/31...663f913c_c.jpg
World ink by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

404. Went to my ancestral home of Dhaka (even though I was born and raised there, it's not really my home any more, in any practical sense of the word).
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/687/32...b1499ba4_c.jpg
Dhaka sights by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

405. Went on a river cruise.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/567/32...b5d4742c_c.jpg
River cruise by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

406. But main reason for the trip was my cousin's wedding, where we danced a lot...
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/545/32...eca62728_c.jpg
Wedding celebrations by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

407. ...and had a lot of fun in general.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/638/32...7a88a954_c.jpg
Wedding celebrations by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

408. Summer finally came to NZ.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/286/32...668a7f9c_c.jpg
Kiwi summer by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

409. Hung out with friends.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/720/31...7692a709_c.jpg
Street portraits by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

410. Caught some BMX'ers.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/291/31...7d1eb748_c.jpg
Viaduct BMX by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

411. And some great haka performances at an annual Maori festival.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/395/31...6e1c1481_c.jpg
Haka at Tamaki Herenga Waka Festival by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

412. If you ever have the opportunity to see a real live haka, take it. You don't just see or hear a haka - you FEEL it. Very powerful.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/555/32...96f1af91_c.jpg
Haka at Tamaki Herenga Waka Festival by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

413. Attended the Auckland Symphony Orchestra concert commemorating Auckland's "birthday" -- movie theme music, finished off with lasers and fireworks.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/314/32...f79b4c4f_c.jpg
Seeport Symphony by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

414. Been hanging out at the beach a lot.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/620/32...343540fe_c.jpg
Kiwi summer by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

415. Only got up once for sunrise, but at least it was a good one.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/627/32...85d5347a_c.jpg
Spirit at dawn by Fuzz Photography, on Flickr

Love it when this thread gets bumped!