Wanaka Photography Workshop in April

 Hi All,

It’s all Christines fault.....she sent me a link to a photography workshop.

Somehow I ended up booking a 4 day Photography workshop shooting autumn colours in the Wanaka area.

But first I had to get down there. I went through Murchison and down through the Lewis Pass.

But first I thought I’d better brush up my skills 

and start shooting in manual mode 

and not stick with the totally automatic option. 

Once again the super friendly Toutouwai (South Island Robin) visited...

It was so easy to take their photo.

Below is the pond at the northern end of the St James Walkway, 

I often stop there to stretch the legs and see what the views are like today.

However I had inadvertently changed a setting and now was adding vivid colours to each shot!

I finally figured out how to get back to normal colourings

The famous church at the bottom of Lake Tekapo.

There is a great free parkup at the bottom of Lake Pukaki 

And if the weather is kind there is a great view of Mount Cook

The next mornings weather had changed for the worse...

But I choose to take a gamble and drive up to the Mt Cook Village,

On the off chance the weather would allow some good photos...

But it was so cold and bleak 

and predicted to last a couple of days, 

I headed back out towards Wanaka

I enjoyed taking photos in the Lindus pass, all this with a totally grey sky...

But hey I was having fun and practicing for the Wanaka workshop. 

A bit further south now and the weather was improving.

I called into the historic precinct in Cromwell.

To have a play with this view....

I’m following the “Why Not” principal ...

and also had a little juggle on the jetty.

This is the Kawarau River, which goes through Cromwell

Giving some good practicing opportunities.

Now I’ve arrived at the Photography workshop which started in Arrowtown 

 We headed out to Glendu Bay for the late afternoon shoot.

Here is Richard Young one of the tutors. 

Steve getting down and into the correct posture.

The next morning we are all out early 

to drive out to the location in the Nevis Valley

Man it was cold!

It’s exciting when the sun comes up and all the photography action starts.

Gee ... they grow some pretty weird trees down here!

Fun ... eh by gum!

One of the many subjects available today...

It just stood their...

waiting 

for the light

To hit!

 And hit it did!

Same tree ... different view.

Same tree ... different view.

Parking with the big boys at the Wanaka Hotel

We had a superb all sky sunset..

Below was the views if you weren’t looking up!

Which I was most of the time!

The next mornings sunrise we were out shooting the famous Wanaka willow tree

We had special permission to drive up to the tops

 through a Sheep and Cattle Station overlooking Lake Wanaka.

What a view.

I just had to get the Juggling balls out!

Probably the first time a soprano sax has been played from this hilltop

On the final morning we headed out to where the Cardrona River joins into the Clutha River.

It was wonderfully misty!

So that was the fantastic Wanaka autumn colours workshop.

Onward to more blogs as I’ve gotten a large bit behind.

Till the next one.

Stay safe, have fun and be creative!

Cheers

Jimu