North Island Robin

I came across this little North Island Robin while walking through one of the tracks at the southern end of Wenderholm park. The Robin is a very friendly bird and this one was happy to pose for over an hour or so. Shooting birds like this in their natural environment can be challenging with the extreme low light and untidy backgrounds. On camera flash isn’t the most flattering of light, but that was all I had available to me. I’m reasonably happy with the images made.

LisaSarah Stainless Steel Art

I recently did some product photography for artist Lisa Turley who owns www.lisasarah.com. Her work is a fusion of nature imagery on a hi-tech stainless steel medium. You can buy direct from her website or through a selected retailers listed on her website.

Gannets at Muriwai

Went out to Muriwai to check out what was happening at the Gannet colony located at Muriwai Beach on Auckland’s west coast. The birds are back in from their winter break in Australia and are on both onshore nesting locations in good numbers. Still far from the peak numbers found in November. Good viewing of birds flying with building materials in tow can be seen right now. Look for a wind out of the west for great flying displays.

Australasian Gannet in fllight at Muriwai

2009 ANZANG Landscape and Wildlife Photography Awards

Just found out two of my images will be published in the 2009 ANZANG Landscape & Wildlife Photographer book. One of the images has made it though to the exhibition for final judging which will be held in October. The exhibition is on at the South Australian Museum in Adelaide from 2 Oct though to 22 Nov. For more details on the ANZANG awards check out the following link.

Flowering Rata, Karamea (selected for book and exhibition)

Silvereye (selected for book)

Opening Post

This is my opening post. I don’t know where this blog will lead but I’m hoping that it will supplement my portfolio of images on my main website www.paulkettel.com with more current and frequent examples of my work.

The image for this post is of a New Zealand native called a Fantail or Piwakawaka in Maori. These are delightfully playful birds, which seem to dance around you while walking through bush. This bird was photographed at Wenderholm park just north of Auckland. A recent storm had left the beach strewn with seaweed and driftwood, making for perfect feeding conditions for the fantail.