The transition from 2017 to 2018 has been one of the most notable changes for myself and my family, having relocated to the South Island of New Zealand and commencing life in Te Anau – the gateway Fiordland. This part of the world has resonated with me deeply over the years and I’m thankful that we’ve been able to settle in comfortably and embrace the lifestyle here, beneath the mountains and beside the forests and lakes.

From a photographic perspective, the past few months have been very productive and enriching. For me, photography is a medium to express my thoughts, experiences and emotions. Within the natural environment, being able to spend quality time connecting with what’s before me greatly assists in the creative process – the putting away of external influence and absorbance of what is tangible. Those things I can see, hear, smell and touch – connecting with the land opens up my mind and my eyes. As if reunited with a loved one, being here feels right and the past few months exploring has confirmed all that I hoped and believed. 

Ancient moss ladened beech forests, rugged coasts that have withstood violent hardship, aged glaciers that have watched centuries come and go – the wilderness here has always stirred me deep within, awakening something inside that I’ll always struggle to express through written word. Here, the upper reaches of mountains catch light, whilst the valleys below are clothed in mist and cloud A myriad of rivers can be heard before they’re seen and once in sight, the moss covered forest that overhangs the waters will steal your attention. In a single day, each of the 4 seasons can be on display, then again and again. The summer sun has treated us well and the rain deep within the fiords has left me humbled and teary eyed in reverence of such beauty.

I’ve taken some time to reflect upon my work and what photography is to me and I feel as though I’m more comfortable than ever with who I am and the imagery I want to create. This is something that has been developed over the years and no doubt will continue to do so, through trial and triumph and all that life entails. The below collection of images have been created over the past 4 months. Some from a brief return trip to Australia but the majority within Fiordland – the first chapter of a never ending story. 

I hope you enjoy and please feel free to leave a comment below. If you wish to view image titles and descriptions, please view them in my gallery section here. 

It’s one thing to share my interpretation of these places and experiences but it’s another to have you here with me. If you’d like to join me on a photography workshop in New Zealand or some of the other countries I run tours, you can check out my 2018 and 2019 workshop offerings here.

Thanks and God bless. 

WP 

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