My Favourites of 2023

This article presents my favourite photos of 2023. It was an interesting year from many angles. First, a catastrophic event happened at home when Cyclone Gabrielle hit New Zealand and caused major flooding and destruction in Hawke’s Bay, which had a huge impact on people’s lives. I don’t like to capture scenes that invoke negative emotions, but I did find some scenes that inspired calmness and balance during this catastrophic time.

Flooded.

Even in the midst of disaster and tragedy, there can be moments of unexpected beauty.

This image shows a remnant of the flooding that was caused by Cyclone Gabrielle in the fields near Pukehou, a small farming community in between Hastings and Waipawa. The flooded corn fields, while undoubtedly causing significant disruption to the community, have also created a unique environment that became home to water birds and fish. The reflection of the green hill and the trees shrouded in low cloud add a sense of atmosphere and depth to the scene, and perhaps even a sense of calm or serenity in the midst of the chaos caused by the cyclone.

Serene Resilience.

This row of trees close to Pukehou is a regular subject of my photography. The fields here, as well as other parts of New Zealand, were flooded by Cyclone Gabrielle. Seeing these trees still standing amongst the flooded fields and the misty fog that was covering the hills in the background enabled me to find a sense of balance and calm in the midst of uncertainty and change.

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In autumn, we spent four weeks exploring the colourful scenery of the South Island of New Zealand. Although we had perfect blue skies for many days, not the best weather for landscape photographers, I came home with many photos that have become my favourites.

Autumn at Lake Ohau.

Ben Ohau framed by autumn leaves of a willow tree growing on the shore of Lake Ohau.

The sunny, calm weather in combination with the lakes in Otago and Canterbury brought out the orderly person in me and it inspired me to create a number of symmetrically balanced photos.

Calm Obscurity.

The setting is Moke Lake, a hidden gem nestled amidst mountain peaks, not far from Queenstown.

At sunrise, it was cold, the fog was thick, and the visibility was very limited, with no mountains in sight. As the early morning mist slowly retreated, a sense of peacefulness and stillness settled over the scene. The mirror-like surface of the lake acted as a flawless canvas, mirroring the surrounding beauty. Meanwhile, the remaining traces of mist, which still partially blocked the view of the surrounding mountains, added an element of intrigue.

A few minutes later, the mist had completely faded away, giving way to a beautiful clear day.

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And then it was time for the highlight of the year; a trip to Iceland, which had been on my list of dream destinations for a long time. It is the land of fire and ice; a land shaped by volcanic activity and glaciers. And its distinctly-shaped mountains, moss-covered lava, iconic waterfalls, accessible glaciers and iceberg-occupied lagoons are a landscape photographer’s paradise. The prospect of witnessing the ethereal Aurora added even more attraction. In the forthcoming in-depth article I’ll describe the details, but this trip was a dream come true. Although perhaps not my best photographic work, I am very pleased with the photos I took in Iceland.

Kirkjufell's Temptation.

Resisting the urge to photograph Kirkjufell mountain is like trying to turn down a glass of Syrah at the end of the day, a temptation that's nearly impossible to resist. Even though I had told myself that I wouldn't succumb to capturing an image that countless others had already taken, I found myself standing in awe of this iconic mountain, its unique silhouette framed by the cascading waterfall in the foreground.

As the golden hour bathed the landscape in its enchanting glow, I experimented with different angles and compositions, searching for that one shot that would add a personal touch to this timeless vista. As I worked my way down to the lower tier of the waterfall, I found a view that encapsulated the magic of Kirkjufell during this beautiful time of day.

Cerulean Cascade.

Is nature flawless? Of course not. However, this waterfall, Brúarfoss in Iceland, appears close to perfection, at least in my eyes.

Hvítserkur Aurora.

We were lucky to see the northern lights, or the aurora borealis, while we were in Iceland.  In fact, that was one of the reasons why we went in autumn, because that’s when these waves of light become visible. And I was lucky that we had a clear night at Hvitserkur, which is a famous sea stack in the northern reaches of Iceland.

I am still processing the photos I took in Iceland, and I am planning to publish the full visual story about my Iceland trip soon.

The major reason for the delay of this visual story, is probably the most exciting news of the year. I decided to make photography my full-time occupation and I have been busy setting up my landscape photography business!

I am now offering online and in-the-field landscape photography tuition services in the Hawke’s Bay. Visit my 1-2-1 tuition page for more details.

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