Autor-Archive: Arno Wirtz

You’ve got to love this country.

Earlier I got chatting to a couple from South Africa. We were enjoying the same view overlooking  Mahau Sound. The two were a bit gutted as their team had just been knocked out of the rugby world cup in a game they should have won.

Never mind that dampener to their holiday the couple commented on the beauty of New Zealand and it’s people. By all accounts they were having a ball.

It’s refreshing to hear the perspective of people who are new to this country. It reminds me that no matter how often I come across a view it’s always a privilege to see it again. And each time it looks a little different from the last.

I love road trips.

I hadn’t been out of Christchurch since the summer and with a few days off work I decided to go for a leisurely drive up the coast to Picton.

I’ve got family up there and was looking forward to a few days of catching up and relaxing in the Marlborough Sounds. It’s a beautiful trip from Christchurch, but waking up this morning the weather looked decidedly uninspiring. Cloudy skies and a strong easterly gale did not make for a day of taking photographs along the way.

South of Kaikoura a group of Kiwis was doing what Kiwis do. Being out, enjoying the beach and getting kai, whitebait in this case. Living in Christchurch, and putting up with the earthquakes during the last year, it was easy to forget that life goes on as normal outside the Canterbury Plains. I decided to stop the car and watch the activity for a while. It was a good decision as I felt an instant sense of calm and enjoyment holding my camera and making images.

With photography you make your own luck and opportunities are everywhere, even on the seemingly unpromising days.