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New Zealand Trip Report September 2022 - Tom Bol Photo Workshops

Milford Sound

Our adventure started in the tranquil waters around Milford Sound. We photographed both sunrise and sunset at Mitre Peak. New Zealand is sometimes called the Land of the Long White Cloud. Our weather for the first two days was sunny and spectacular.

Mitre Peak at sunrise
Team Reese - all smiles
Light beaming through the beech trees

At low tide we found exposed green rocks that made the perfect foreground for Mitre Peak. Everywhere we traveled in New Zealand we were surrounded by mountains. The "Southern Alps" run from one end of the South Island to the other. It is a perfect destination for landscape photography.

Alpine Kea

There is also terrific bird life in New Zealand. Our favorite bird to photograph was the Kea - the world's only true alpine parrot. In several places on the trip the keas would walk right up to us for their photo session.

Photo by Melissa Stanton
Teri gets close to a Weka - an endemic rail
Southern Beech Forest

The plants and ecosystems in New Zealand are as stunning as the landscapes. Many of the species in the southern beech forest are endemic - meaning found only in New Zealand.

New Zealand Pigeon - colorful, endemic and huge!
An historic homestead
Te anu

We spent several days in the area around Te Anu, photographing mountain peaks reflected in pristine lakes. We used slow exposures with ND filters to stretch the clouds and also practiced time lapse photography on overcast days.

Wanaka

The lone tree at Wanaka was a popular subject for both sunrise and sunset. As we photographed the tree we watched birds fly by, like the Pied Cormorant, Paradise Shelduck and South Island Oystercatcher.

Lone tree at Wanaka
Rain Forest

The rainforest near Fox Glacier was a completely different ecosystem. And we had plenty of rain there! We strolled under the fern trees looking for macro subjects like fiddlehead ferns. Forest birds like the Tomtit, sang to us from the surrounding trees. New Zealand has more than 500 different species of ferns.

Fiddlehead ferns with some extra greenage
The endemic Tomtit
Kaikoura

A private boat tour at Kaikoura provided the perfect chance to photograph wildlife offshore. At times we were surrounded by leaping Dusky Dolphins. We also photographed 5 species of albatross near the boat, Giant Storm Petrels, Cape Petrels and Silver Gulls.

Dusky Dolphins
Wandering Albatross
Northern Royal Albatross

Thanks to our photographers and the excellent guidance from Phil at Capture New Zealand

Our photo crew soaking up the sun and a fine New Zealand rose wine

Want to travel internationally with Tom and Cree? We have openings on Northern Lights in Lofoten and Costa Rica Rainforest

Do you enjoy our trip reports or have questions about upcoming trips? Send us a message

www.tombolphotoworkshops.com

Created By
Cree Bol
Appreciate

Credits:

Tom Bol, Cree Bol and Melissa Stanton