About

Hi, I’m Donald

I’m currently self-employed in several roles, including landscape and wildlife photography. Being a former mountain guide I’m very “at home” in the outdoors. This included volunteer search and rescue work with NZ Police, and the Department of Conservation. Back in the days when this was their task. Btw I’m in my seventies, and I certainly don’t feel it. I put this down to the benefits of outdoor living/playing.

Back in the ’70s also, as a legitimate ‘ski bum’ I authored a ski area guide book with a close friend. Which led to a job doing ski area avalanche control work on areas near Wanaka. Before Central Otago and Antarctica based geo-physics field work.

Odd as it may seem the above led to over two decades in IT. With one emphasis being web site design and implementation. And founder of Southern Light web site initiative (environmental focus):

https://southernlight.co.nz

I was recently employed by the Department of Conservation. The summer periods 2014-2017, saw me looking after huts, tracks, people, and native birds in Mt. Aspiring National Park for 6 months each year. In the case of the latter there has been a noticeable uptick to the dawn chorus. This relates to happy native bird populations. I’m currently back in a volunteer role after a further two years of working in a Govt. team, advising the Dept. on strategy. In many ways being outside a bureaucratic structure is very advantageous in terms of being able to measure effectiveness!

All photos on this site are my own. With the very odd exception, and attribution is acknowledged on them where possible. To see/ purchase photos from my wanderings, they’re at PicFair >>

Cheers

Donald Lousley
Wanaka NZ