Photoshoot: Dunedin City Grunge

A few images from a fun photoshoot with Rachel in Dunedin city. I had scouted out 2 locations for us to shoot and both worked really well.

Here I used the Distinction hotel carpark wall to create a really interesting background for the shot. I placed a Godox ad200pro at about 40 degrees to Rachel camera right.

This stairwell is located down an alley on Rattray street. The colours of the wall art worked really well with Rachel’s blue top.

Same scene as above but different perspective. Rachel definitely looks more ‘street’ in this image.

Same scene as above but different perspective. Rachel definitely looks more ‘street’ in this image.

I loved the whole scene here with the hire bin and unwanted mattress on the wall.

Just opposite where we were just shooting is a large wall of street art. Rachel got down low for this shot.

Photoshoot: Vogel Street Dunedin

Vogel street is a great place to take urban fashion images. The buildings have plenty of character and within 100 metres there is ample opportunity to find multiple locations. I used both natural light and strobe depending how i approached the scene. For strobe lighting I used a single Godox AD200pro with bare bulb fresnel head. Soft boxes are great but they are big, cumbersome and catch the wind easily. So set up and moving on with a bare head becomes really easy and mobile. The resulting light is ‘hard’ but I think within the fashion genre, this works really well. My fantastic model for the shoot was Rachel. Most of the images I ended up liking were with sunglasses on, however, I promise there are a couple with Rachel revealing her eyes!

Natual light. Vogel Street, Dunedin.

Natural light, Vogel Street, Dunedn.

I had Rachel stand just inside a doorway, at the entrance of Wine Freedom, Vogel Street, Dunedin. Natural light.

Strobe light. On the shadowed side of the street so the strobe can create some directional light to give the scene more dimension with shadow and highlight.

Behind the Vogel Street Kitchen cafe. Here I used strobe to create some punchy light over Rachel. Vogel Street, Dunedin.

Just around the corner from the previous image, again using strobe to create a strong rim light over Rachel and illuminate the metal bars on the garage gate. Vogel Street, Dunedin.

Here I just used the wall opposite the gate of the last image. I really like the ambient light coming from the end of the alleyway. The wind was swirling in this spot so Rachel had lots of fun controlling her hair. Vogel Street, Dunedin.

Here I just used the wall opposite the gate of the last image. I really like the ambient light coming from the end of the alleyway. The wind was swirling in this spot so Rachel had lots of fun controlling her hair. Vogel Street, Dunedin.

Finally an image with Rachel revealing her eyes. Again using strobe. Vogel Street, Dunedin.

Under the over-bridge on Vogel Street. Strobe lighting very much needed in this location. Vogel Street, Dunedin.

We went up the walking ramp toward the over-bridge and found this spot overlooking Cumberland Street on SH1. Rachel has her back to the sun and I am using a strobe to light her front. After this image we drove over to Wharf street for a final few images.

This image is all about those lanterns. I have used a strobe to light Rachels face. Wharf Street, Dunedin

Boats in the background and strobe lighting to create some dynamic light on Rachels face.

A final image of Rachel on the Wharf jetty. I balanced the light from the sky on Rachel’s face with my Godox Ad200pro strobe.

All in all a fun shoot with Rachel. The Godox Ad200pro proved to be a handy tool when approaching each location.

Fog on the Otago Peninsula

When sea fog envelopes the Otago Peninsula you could be excused for staying at home with the camera as there is literally not much to see. However, on this particular morning I just made up my mind to embrace the conditions. I am a big lover of black and white photography and with the fog creating an isolating blanket over the landscape I thought it might work well in these conditions. So I switched my camera view to black and white and immediately it just felt right.

Allans Beach Road by Hoopers Inlet. It was low tide so I could get a a more pleasing angle on the outcrop of trees.

Hoopers Inlet.

I was able to walk across the inlet to this boathouse ‘Waiwhare’ on Hoopers Inlet.

Hoopers Inlet.

An old tree on Hoppers Inlet road. I took portrait and landscape versions of this scene. Without the fog I would never have stopped here, definitely my favourite location of the morning.

Pathway though the trees on Sandymount road.

Looking at these bleak, murky and moody images I feel and see the fog. The black and white images are somehow more filmic and less digital in appearance. All in all, a relaxing morning out.

Papatowai: Old Coach Road & Old Possumers Track

Discovering Papatowai

I was driving through Papatowai in the Catlins recently when I noticed the sign for ‘Beach’ and decided it was worth investigating. After a short walk from my car, the beach view I witnessed was nothing short of epic. The place name Papatowai means where the forest meets the sea, it did, and it was breathtaking. I haven’t seen anything like it before in New Zealand, and I was completely mesmerised.

Tahakopa beach, Papatowai, Catlins, Otago.

Tahakopa beach, Papatowai, Catlins, Otago.

Tahakopa River, Catlins, Otago, NZ.

I wanted to explore the forest before me, but that adventure would wait for another day. As I was driving home I noticed on the north side of the Papatowai bridge a walking track. Bingo.

PART 1: OLD COACH ROAD

The track I saw from my car is called Old Coach Road. It is a historic track and like the name suggests, the road was used to coach people and supplies by horse from boats in the old days. The track is excellent and immediately I was engaged by the surrounding bush.

Old Coach Road Track, Papatowai, Catlins, Otago, NZ.

Old Coach Road Track, Papatowai, Catlins, Otago, NZ.

The Old Coach Road stays close to the edge of the beach. The historic road is wide and an easy meandering walk. I loved the abundance of ferns on the forest floor, and compared with other bush walks I have been on, a lot less chaotic to photograph.

Old Coach Road, Papatowai, Catlins, NZ.

Old Coach Road, Papatowai, Catlins, NZ.

Old Coach Road Track, Papatowai, Catlins, Otago, NZ.

Eventually Old Coach road follows to the edge of the forest and you can see out beyond to the Tahakopa river.

Old Coach Road Track, Papatowai, Catlins, Otago, NZ.

PART 2: TAHAKOPA BEACH

Emerging out onto Tahakopa beach is a real treat. Looking at how the forest meets the sea is fascinating. I had bumped into a local earlier on the track who told me the marker for Old Possumers track was about three quarters the way down the beach toward the cliffs. So off I went photographing everything!

Tahakopa Beach, Papatowai, Catlins, Otago, NZ.

Tahakopa Beach, Papatowai, Catlins, Otago, NZ.

Tahakopa Beach, Papatowai, Catlins, Otago, NZ.

Tahakopa Beach, Papatowai, Catlins, Otago, NZ.

Tahakopa Beach, Papatowai, Catlins, Otago, NZ.

There are plenty of washed up or uprooted tree trunks to compose images with on the beach. The day was overcast, and no light was kicking off but it was still loads of fun. My favourite image from the day is below.

Tahakopa Beach, Papatowai, Catlins, Otago, NZ.

PART 3: OLD POSSUMERS TRACK

Finding the orange triangle marker for the Old Possumers track requires a bit of careful looking and a small dose of luck. I was climbing up the sand bank along the beach quite a fair bit to take photographs, so it was a nice surprise to accidently stumble across the marker.

Tahakopa Beach, Papatowai, Catlins, Otago, NZ.

Once on Old Possumers track it was quickly back down into the bush, but not before I got one more image of these two wind swept trees overlooking the beach.

Old Possumers Track, Papatowai, Catlins, Otago, NZ.

Old Possumers track is well marked with the orange arrows to guide the way. When I visited 2 large trees had fallen over the path, but apart from those obstacles it was easy to follow.

Old Possumers track, Papatowai, Catlins, Otago, NZ.

Old Possumers track, Papatowai, Catlins, Otago, NZ.

I thought I would take a couple of detail images of vegetation on the track.

Old Possumers track, Papatowai, Catlins, Otago, NZ.

Old Possumers track, Papatowai, Catlins, Otago, NZ.

Old Possumers track, Papatowai, Catlins, Otago, NZ.

Old Possumers track, Papatowai, Catlins, Otago, NZ.

As always in NZ, follow the orange arrows.

Old Possumers track, Papatowai, Catlins, Otago, NZ.

The image below here was taken walking over a swampy bog on an elevated wooden pathway.

Old Possumers track, Papatowai, Catlins, Otago, NZ.

On a very windy day, I’d be tempted to avoid walking Old Possumers track, there are more than a few fallen trees around.

Old Possumers track, Papatowai, Catlins, Otago, NZ.

Old Possumers track has been beautifully crafted by the Department of Conservation, down below is an example of a walkway to help you walk through some of the boggy terrain, although be careful not to slip on the logs.

Old Possumers Track, Papatowai, Catlins, Otago, NZ.

Old Possumers track, Papatowai, Catlins, Otago, NZ.

I finished the Old Coach Road and Old Possumers track in about 4 hours. However, I spent a long time documenting the journey with my camera. From a photographers perspective this adventure was amazing. There are so many photo opportunities at Papatowai, it really is a dream location. I would say Old Coach Road is achievable for most peoples fitness levels, but the uneven terrain of Old Possumers Track is more suited to sure-footed people who can avoid twisting an ankle with the odd slippery log on the pathway here and there.

In summary this is the best bush walk I have experienced in the Catlins, or anywhere for that matter. I can’t wait to do it again.