Hawke’s Bay: Pekapeka Wetlands

Images of the Hawke’s Bay Wetland Reserve

Pekapeka Boardwalk - Hastings, Hawke's Bay (2020)

  • A 'traditional' shot of the Pekapeka Wetlands featuring the boardwalk that leads through the swamp.

    The winter season has quite an impact on the colours on display at this park; the reeds that are green in summer turn light brown in winter, while the lower temperatures and higher rainfall enable the colour of the surrounding hills to revert to a vibrant green again.

Pekapeka Boardwalk Sunrise - Hastings, Hawke's Bay (2020)

  • This photo was taken in the early morning as the sun was just below the horizon. The magenta sky was beautifully reflected in the water and the light brown reeds took on the sky colour.

    I decided on a long exposure to create a smooth surface with a sheen of light on the water.

Pekapeka Walkway to the Sun - Hastings, Hawke's Bay (2021)

  • The thin mist in between the boardwalk and the rising sun creates an interplay of cool and warm tones at the Pekapeka wetlands.

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

  • The mist floating above the Pekapeka Wetlands on a calm, autumn day creates a moody atmosphere with a golden reflection of a tree lit up by the early morning sun.

Golden Tree Reflection - Pekapeka Wetlands, Hawke's Bay (2020)

  • I took this photo of a couple of trees catching the first light of the day from the Pekapeka Wetlands boardwalk. It was a clear, cold winter’s morning and the frost in the hollow around the trees combined with the warm glow of the early sunlight adds a little extra to the mood.

    Note for photographers: I decided to emphasize the natural symmetry of the scene by placing the tree right in the middle of the frame, breaking the rule of thirds, and creating a symmetrically balanced composition.

All photos from this series are available for licensing and as gallery-quality fine art prints.

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