Hawke’s Bay Highlights

A selection of my favourite images of Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

Light up the Peak - Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand (2021)

This image captures a magical sunrise from the summit of Te Mata Peak, overlooking the mist-shrouded Tukituki Valley. The scene showcases a momentary, yet perfect convergence of elements: a golden sun rising over the landscape, fog flowing gently through the valley, and birds in flight adding life to the scene. Enhancing the composition further, the sky, fog and the peak create natural leading lines that form an 'X,' guiding the viewer’s eye through the image.
This harmonious interplay of light, texture, and life transformed the moment into a truly magical and visually captivating experience.

Bare Island / Motu-O-Kura - Waimarama Beach, Hawke's Bay (2024)

A sunset at Waimarama Beach towards Bare Island with the reef in the foreground.
The name Bare Island inspired me to create a minimalistic photo. I chose a long shutter speed (4 sec) to reduce the impact of the busy waves on the image and create a softer look. The cloudless sky was perfect for a minimalistic look with only the start of the belt of Venus behind the island.
Note for photographers: I decided to emphasize the natural symmetry of the scene by placing the tree right in the middle of the frame, breaking the rule of thirds, and creating a symmetrically balanced composition.

Illuminated - Hawke's Bay (2022)

This panoramic photograph captures a solitary pine tree standing boldly silhouetted against an ethereal backdrop of illuminated fog flowing gracefully through the Tukutuki Valley.
Taken from the summit of Te Mata Peak, the image showcases the interplay of light and shadow, as the valley’s rolling contours are softened by the glowing mist. The pine’s sharp branches contrast with the fog's fluid movement, creating a visual balance. Subtle hues in the light infuse the scene with a dreamlike quality, making it a serene and captivating portrayal of nature's quiet drama.

Autumn's Awakening - Lake Tutira, Hawke's Bay, NZ (2023)

In the serene embrace of early morning, the trees along Lake Tutira in Hawke's Bay emerge as a panorama of autumnal wonder.

Golden Mist in the Tukituki Valley - Hawke's Bay (2024)

Golden sunlight pierces through the early morning mist that is covering the Tukituki Valley, casting a magical glow over the landscape. Bare trees, stripped of their leaves by the cold season, emerge from the mist, their skeletal branches bathed in warm, golden hues, standing like sentinels above a misty carpet.

Trees and Green Hills - Pukehou, Hawke's Bay (2015)

A small group of trees in a rural landscape with sheep grazing in the fields and green rolling hills in the background.

Land against Fog - Hawke's Bay (2022)

The photograph unveils a scene of fog weaving through the lush, undulating green hills as viewed from the summit of Te Mata Peak. Layers of hills cascade into the distance, their rich green tones softened by the mist that ebbs and flows like a living river. The fog clings to the valleys, creating a dynamic interplay between clarity and obscurity, while the sunlight filters through, casting a gentle, golden glow.
As I watched this spectacle repeat over several days, I thought it resembled nature's tug of war between land and fog. Usually the land wins, but the fog doesn't give up and tries again the next day.

Bare Essentials - Hawke's Bay (2022)

A moody close-up of the trees at the base of Te Mata Peak. The early morning fog obscures the land underneath and behind the trees, stripping the landscape back to a minimalist scene.

Te Mata Peak Sunburst Panorama - Hawke's Bay (2020)

I forget how many times I have seen the sun rise from Te Mata Peak. It always feels good to have made the climb up and the view is usually majestic. And because it's Hawke's Bay the sun usually shows itself.

Golden Tree Reflection - Pekapeka Wetlands, Hawke's Bay (2020)

I took this photo of a couple of trees catching the first light of the day from the Pekapeka Wetlands boardwalk. It was a clear, cold winter’s morning and the frost in the hollow around the trees combined with the warm glow of the early sunlight adds a little extra to the mood.
Note for photographers: I decided to emphasize the natural symmetry of the scene by placing the tree right in the middle of the frame, breaking the rule of thirds, and creating a symmetrically balanced composition.

Stream towards the Beams - Kairakau Beach, Hawke's Bay (2022)

These rocks caught my eye while walking along Kairakau Beach, Hawke's Bay looking for an interesting composition to shoot the rising sun. Clouds were rolling in, and I couldn't believe my luck when these sunbeams came through, appearing next to the Hinemahanga Rocks. The stream connects the rocks in the foreground to the sea and clouds in the top part of the frame. The pattern of clouds in the top right corner of the frame provides a strong visual counterbalance to the rocks in the bottom left corner, creating harmony within the image.