It’s been awhile coming, but I’m settling at last into the year. I must admit I use this summer holiday time to do more varied things, especially thought wise as to the bigger picture – this year’s work!

So distractions abounded, and one was a few evening photo trips with my good mate Roger Wandless.

We headed east from Wanaka in search of suitable grist for the mill of landscape photography, and found ourselves visiting a few side-roads near Tarras, 20 mins. drive from Wanaka. This stopping place gave us a unique view of the Grandview Mountains…The north Dunstan Range…The Lindis River Valley as it sort of meanders to meet the Clutha at Lake Dunstan. These truncated terraces have intrigued me for years, and I’ve yet to get the definitive photograph of them that meets some, as yet hidden aspect of my mind…North to the mighty Saint Bathans Range. Many folk don’t realise this range, along with The Remarkables above Queenstown, hosts Otago’s highest points…Tarras itself, well OK not quite, this is of the house / farm just south of the store and tearooms…A self portrait…Those terraces again – playing with them I was working on a dreamy look…

Do you think I achieved that “look”, or is it looking a bit muddy?

Tarras Church – never knew it existed, as it’s off on a modest hill top just minutes from the main road…

How often in life do we head somewhere in the distance to find something different? In our case we were reminded that under our very noses in terrain we’ve photographed almost to death, there are still hidden places we’ve overlooked!

Roger in action…

Some of you maybe interested in Roger’s new book:

Fiordland Landscape and Life is one of the most ambitious photographic publications undertaken not only in this remote region, but in New Zealand.