You can boost minimal moonlight by using its reflection for a silhouette – another way to employ the wan light of a slender moon. “Moonlight photography” for me means not photographing the moon itself (another subject entirely), but rather making pictures by its light. The term is freely abused by amateur photographers. For a sharp […]

North Taranaki this week has been clear and mild for night photography by the  crescent moon. These slender new moons might give only the feeblest of light but if you can see your shadow by them then there is enough for moonlight photography! Nature also provides some magnifiers for moonlight, the best being its reflection […]

NEWS: The above image is one of about 50 of mine which have just been published in a free ebook of quotations by Hannah Samuel, public speaker, author and mentor, of Auckland. The Pocket Book of Men’s Wisdom, Volume 1 is a compilation of quotes from Kiwi men associated with Big Buddy (www.bigbuddy.org.nz), a mentoring […]

Twelve hours before the Christchurch earthquake I was somewhat wearily walking the quiet waterfront at Kaikoura, 150 km to the north on the east coast. I was happy after a perfect evening of night photography, and had the moon well up behind me when I spotted these trees high above. They fringe the cliffs which […]

A companion piece to no. 107. Twilight tractor (and taken 6 minutes later), this electric call to good order conveys another mood. Existentialists may freely dwell on it. Outside the Waikanae boat club 45 minutes after sunset, the balance of light was changing in favour of artificial light. A star is visible in the nightfall. […]

This took around 15 minutes at a small aperture, on Fuji slide film. It was a perfect summer’s evening at Paritutu Centennial Park, and I spent the interlude chatting with a friend. I’m only guessing that the stripe is Venus, but as she often accompanies the early moon it’s a good bet. For trails like […]

An industrial landscape at night; how lens choice affects star trails

Inshore study in gold and aqua under a full moon; ideal exposure and post-process rescue

Heavy haulage outside the boat club; beast and beauty of the tripod

Uncommon natural lighting with an extra touch

Golden fluff in moonlit motion; creative control and its inevitable decisions

Palms, balm and moonlit calm; the issue of personal safety and the usefulness of a lighting assistant

Vertical grace and green against a starry sky; the search for critical focus

An unexpected colour at second quarter; a wild coast made easy for the townie

Dramatic study in amber, green and blue; composition using the foreground in a classic thirds

Streaks of unexpected colour on a moonless night; “It must be film!”

Two minutes in the twilight; highlighting a volcanic bomb

Geothermal ugly in yellow and blue; a mixture of light plus an LED torch

Twilight use of flash; subtlety, instantaneity and their opposites

Silver surf and f16 on the beach; handling difficult focus by using a small aperture

A twilight twist from the Chateau; telephoto and perspective

A cabbage tree lit up from an unlikely source; star movement, lens choice, colour casts

Monochrome peak-and-pines at a road end; composition and the continuing lure of square format

Decorative arch and summer peak from Surf Highway 45; working by the westerly early moon

Striking blue moonlight under a black sky; f16 and depth of field