Fog and Light

The magic of fog and light in Hawke's Bay

Light up the Peak - Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand (2021)

This image captures a magical sunrise from the summit of Te Mata Peak, overlooking the mist-shrouded Tukituki Valley. The scene showcases a momentary, yet perfect convergence of elements: a golden sun rising over the landscape, fog flowing gently through the valley, and birds in flight adding life to the scene. Enhancing the composition further, the sky, fog and the peak create natural leading lines that form an 'X,' guiding the viewer’s eye through the image. This harmonious interplay of light, texture, and life transformed the moment into a truly magical and visually captivating experience.
This harmonious interplay of light, texture, and life transformed the moment into a truly magical and visually captivating experience.

Golden Hour at the Pekapeka Wetlands - Hastings, Hawke's Bay (2021)

On a calm autumn day, mist drifts above the Pekapeka Wetlands, casting a subtle, mysterious ambiance over the scene. A tree, glowing in the soft light of the early morning sun, stands in golden contrast against the shadowed hillside, its reflection perfectly mirrored in the still waters below—a display of symmetrical harmony in nature.

Illuminated - Hawke's Bay (2022)

This panoramic photograph captures a solitary pine tree standing boldly silhouetted against an ethereal backdrop of illuminated fog flowing gracefully through the Tukutuki Valley.
Taken from the summit of Te Mata Peak, the image showcases the interplay of light and shadow, as the valley’s rolling contours are softened by the glowing mist. The pine’s sharp branches contrast with the fog's fluid movement, creating a visual balance. Subtle hues in the light infuse the scene with a dreamlike quality, making it a serene and captivating portrayal of nature's quiet drama.

Autumn's Awakening - Lake Tūtira, Hawke's Bay, NZ (2023)

In the tranquil stillness of early morning, the trees lining Lake Tūtira unfold into a breathtaking panorama of autumnal beauty.

Golden Mist in the Tukituki Valley - Hawke's Bay (2024)

Golden sunlight pierces through the early morning mist that is covering the Tukituki Valley, casting a magical glow over the landscape. Bare trees, stripped of their leaves by the cold season, emerge from the mist, their skeletal branches bathed in warm, golden hues, standing like sentinels above a misty carpet.

Twins of Solitude - Hawke's Bay, NZ (2024)

The early morning sun filters through a delicate veil of mist, casting a soft golden glow over the ochre-hued rolling hills. Amid this serene and ethereal landscape, two small green trees stand steadfast, their roots firmly anchored in the earth. Their vibrant foliage offers a striking contrast to the muted tones of the hills—twin symbols of solitude and resilience.

Land against Fog - Hawke's Bay (2022)

The photograph unveils a scene of fog weaving through the lush, undulating green hills as viewed from the summit of Te Mata Peak. Layers of hills cascade into the distance, their rich green tones softened by the mist that ebbs and flows like a living river. The fog clings to the valleys, creating a dynamic interplay between clarity and obscurity, while the sunlight filters through, casting a gentle, golden glow.
As I watched this spectacle repeat over several days, I thought it resembled nature's tug of war between land and fog. Usually the land wins, but the fog doesn't give up easily and tries again the next day.

Bare Essentials - Hawke's Bay (2022)

A moody close-up of the trees at the base of Te Mata Peak. The early morning fog obscures the land underneath and behind the trees, stripping the landscape back to a minimalist scene.

Lifting the Veil - Hawke's Bay (2024)

This image captures a cluster of trees in Hawke’s Bay where the dense veil of morning fog had lifted just enough to reveal them standing tall against the soft, rolling hills in the distance.
I treasure these misty mornings when the scene gradually transforms. As the sun rises, the light and fog dance in a mesmerising spectacle, with each passing minute revealing new layers of beauty and wonder. Capturing this dynamic interplay of light, shadow, and mist in a single image is one of my greatest joys—and, I’m sure, a driving force for many photographers to rise early.

Ethereal Valley - Tukituki Valley, Hawke's Bay (2024)

The early morning mist transforms the Tukituki Valley, as seen from Te Mata Peak, into an otherworldly landscape.
Amidst the trees, a glimpse of a tiny vehicle travelling along Waimarama Road introduces a quiet trace of human presence in the scene.

Lightshow - Hawke's Bay, New Zealand (2024)

The combination of treetops, mist, and sunlight creates an open-air light show, where raking light streaming through the trees casts elongated shadows that seem to dance as the mist recedes.
Every time I look at this photograph, I find it hard to believe it was taken in the Tukituki Valley. It feels more like a scene you’d encounter in the temperate rainforests of the South Island’s West Coast.

Tree and Morning Mist - Hawke's Bay (2020)

Mist and the early morning light add a touch of mystery to the hills and tree at the foot of Te Mata Peak.
This photograph marks one of my first attempts at capturing misty scenes from Te Mata Peak, and it’s safe to say I became hooked after that.

Mist-Clad Trees at Dawn - Pukehou, Hawke's Bay (2024)

This photograph captures the serene beauty of the rural fields around Pukehou in May, a time when mist and fog often grace the landscape. The soft interplay of early morning light and the gentle veil of mist creates an ideal setting for my style of photography. In this image, the lifting fog reveals scattered clusters of trees, adding depth and a sense of quiet mystery to the scene.

Trees on the Edge - Hawke's Bay (2021)

As is often the case with fog in this area, the trees at the base of Te Mata Peak emerge and vanish as the mist drifts through the Tukituki Valley, like ships rising and sinking with the undulating waves of the sea.

Pekapeka Calmnes - Hastings, Hawke's Bay (2024)

A calm, misty morning at the Pekapeka Wetlands in Hawke's Bay isolates a solitary tree—though, if you look closely, you'll spot two—against the backdrop of surrounding hills. The scene, minimalistic in both shape and colour, is perfectly mirrored on the tranquil water's surface.

Hues of Surprise - Te Mata Peak, Hawke's Bay (2024)

On a winter's morning when the forecast promised significant fog, I envisioned the valley completely shrouded, with only the tip of the peak breaking through. However, as I climbed toward the summit, it became clear that this dramatic scene would not unfold. Instead, waves of fog drifted intermittently above the ocean, with scattered patches appearing across the landscape. Despite this, I was rewarded with a colourful sunrise, as the sun briefly emerged to bathe the peak in a warm, golden glow.