© Photographed by Stuart Michael
Just finished flicking randomly through one of my old hard drives and came across some great shots of what was a pleasant evening in Florence. Beautiful coloured skies, amazing cloud transformations and great tasting food, what could be better?
Starting to wish I was back there right now…
© Photographed by Stuart Michael
While visiting family in New Zealand over the Christmas break I took the opportunity to photograph the iconic Cathedral Cove on the Coromandel Peninsula, east of Auckland.
Made world-famous by the film adaptation of The Chronicles of Narnia series, this beautiful part of the North Island has always been a favourite holiday spot for locals and the stunning coastline never fails to take my breath away.
Since New Zealand film director Andrew Adamson chose the area to shoot his 2005 adaptation of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe it has also become a popular holiday destinations for international tourists as well. Adamson spent his childhood summers in the region and it is easy to see why he is drawn to its beauty.
The Coromandel Peninsula is filled with stunning beaches but for me Cathedral Cove is one of the best and is well worth the walk (about 30 minutes each way). Sweat it out and you will be rewarded with majestic bluffs rising out of the ocean for a few hundred feet and the pièce de résistance, a cathedral-like arch cavern offering all the mystery and exploring opportunities any child (or adult) would love.
The local Maori name for the area is Te Whanganui-A-Hei (the Great Bay of Hei) and includes a marine reserve, which is wonderful for diving. People also love the area for water sports, fishing, boating and swimming. And if you love your seafood; oysters, mussels and scallops are readily available!
Here is a great YouTube link to some images of Cathedral Cove where some of the Narnia series was filmed. Well worth a look if time permits. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39xnFVV4IpQ
© Photographed by Stuart Michael
Wherever you are in the world I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a wonderful festive season with your family and friends. Here’s hoping that the year ahead is the best one ever for you and yours.
I have travelled from my home in Melbourne to be with my family in New Zealand this Christmas and one thing that has struck me since arriving is the vivid colour of crimson everywhere as the Pohutakawa [po-hoo-ta-car-wa] tree finds its full force for the festive holidays. This beautiful tree, also known as the New Zealand Christmas tree, has the traditional red and green we associate with the silly season down pat.
What I love about this tree is that it is filled with character – it loves the coast, loves warm weather, is vibrant in colour and amazingly adaptable in that it is equally at home clinging to a cliff top or on the shores of a lake. These trees can also grown up to 20 metres in height with a branch spread of 38 metres so they definitely scream “look at me”.
When the blossoms fall in late December or early January the ground and coastal roads around New Zealand are covered with a carpet of crimson petals. This wonderful splash of colour is great food for photographers like me.
Here’s hoping you find something special under your Christmas tree!
© Photographed by Stuart Michael
“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens” may not have made the list, but “brown paper packages tied up with strings” definitely feature as one of my favourite things! They make it in at No. 12 – Christmas.
It is a great time of the year to reflect on what is important in life and what I am grateful for. Family and friends spring to mind. It is when they asked me what I wanted for Christmas that I had to stop and think about what I love – some of which you can buy and some of which just are…