Benjamin...B's photostream  

Is it just the tree, or is it me...

Pretty much all of NZ's lowland forests are gone. Forever. Unique ecosystems and all.

Last weekend I started walking up a different hill, after encountering a sign 'road closes at dusk'. On the way up all I saw was barely regenerating bush (fires in the 1800s, no care since, typical) and I though I could as well be at Kaitoke taking photos. So I turned back and went to Kaitoke and took photos.

While framing this, before I put the camera on the tripod, a handful of tourists walked past and snapped the general surroundings on their smartphones. Nice that I made them aware of this scene, hope they make it over here...

Been taken on an offroad ride along Wellington's South Coast. My first time on a ride like this. Good fun. Thanks D.!

Another one of this kind...

Wanted to post this for a while... hesitated... posted.

It's great that here in NZ it's possible to get this close to large mammals. Back in Germany you'd have to get up really early and be very quiet and have the wind in your face to see a deer. Here -- walk along the beach and take care not to step on the predator.

Yeah nah I have just now decided what my best photos are from last year. This one is my best one from January 2011 (I might be biased) and I've never shared it. Enjoy.

Edit -- this had to make way for another one...