Sunrise at Barker Dam

Barker Dam in Joshua Tree National Park is a historic site that was built in the early 1900s to provide water for cattle and mining operations in the area. The dam was constructed using local materials, including boulders and concrete, and was designed to capture and store rainwater. It is named after William Barker, one of the early ranchers in the area who was instrumental in its construction.

During my visit, I woke up early to catch the sunrise at Barker Dam, and boy, was it worth it! The sky turned into a beautiful canvas of vibrant purples, pinks, and oranges, and as the sun crept up the sky, the rest of the desert turned an intense shade of gold. Even though the dam was dry (and so we missed out on water reflections), the Joshua Trees and rock formations more than made up for it!

Stars, Geology, and Joshua Trees

Last year I had the fantastic opportunity to visit a number of National Parks throughout the US, and this year I will be sharing images from all my visits here on my blog! We have loved them all so far and hope to one day make it to all 63 of them. I’ll be sharing images of the parks we have visited in order, so let’s start in sunny California, where it all began…

Joshua Tree National Park is known for its unique rock formations, minimal light pollution,and unique desert environment. At night, it also provides a stunning canvas for astrophotography. We were lucky enough to get almost completely clear skies, so I was able to capture some incredible images of the Milky Way arching - and spinning! - over Heart Rock, Arch Rock, and the park’s emblematic joshua trees.

Walk to Wainui Falls

Don’t be fooled by the images - the Wainui Falls on the West Coast of New Zealand are actually surprisingly challenging to photograph. The waterfall is so powerful at its full potential that you have only a few seconds to take a photo before the front of the lens is drenched! This was the perfect walk for a slightly overcast day, which left an even light on the water and surrounding landscape.

Riuwaka Resurgence

The waters of the Riuwaka River are sacred to the native Māori people of New Zealand, as they are thought to have healing properties. The most picturesque part of the river is the Riuwaka Resurgence at Kahurangi National Park, where it flows from an underwater spring to form a number of rapids and small waterfalls. As with many such places on the West Coast, this is lesser-known spot that offers a peaceful escape from the more popular tourist destinations. A place for contemplating, relaxing, and enjoying the sounds of nature.

Stars From The Underground

As night falls and darkness covers the land, the New Zealand landscape comes to light. I’m not referring to the stars in the skies of Aotearoa, but to their invertebrate counterparts. Glow worms such as these are abundant in many caves and dells across the country, shining bright to lure their prey. Their bioluminescence is the effect of a chemical reaction where luciferin is combined with oxygen to produce a mesmerizing blue glow...

Pancake Rocks and Their Inhabitants

These rock formations in New Zealand’s West Coast are, of course, named after their looks - they look like stacked rounded layers somewhat resembling pancakes. Pancake Rocks even boasts a suitably-themed pancake-serving café near the entrance to the park. I visited on a stormy evening and, although the weather left much to be desired, the white-fronted terns (Sterna striata) that inhabit this location more than made up for the moody skies.

The Windmills of Oia

Another classic part of Oia’s landscape are its white windmills. They are actually part of a villa which can be privately hired. I presume that the residents unfortunately miss out on the very best sunset view in Santorini - that of the windmills themselves, from a nearby hill!

As we were there in the (pre-pandemic) summer, there were countless other tourists around, and with this being a coveted spot, we arrived at the lookout and set up our tripods about 3 hours before sunset to guarantee the best views. It was worth it, as about an hour later, hundreds of other people started trickling in, many with their own large tripods and cameras that they set up alongside us. So if you ever want to capture this iconic view, make sure you plan ahead and arrive early.

Sunset over the Mountains

Today I share images from yet another stunning Kaikoura landscape. Fyffe Quay is a popular sunbathing spot for New Zealand fur seals. They dawdle about well into the evening, providing an unusual opportunity to photograph them at dusk. I was lucky enough to spot a pup posing on a rocky wall, perfectly positioned against the snowy mountains in the background.

Kaikoura Sunsets and Sunrises

During my visit to Kaikoura, I made my way up to the Kaikoura Lookout a couple of times, to catch both sunrises and sunsets over the harbour. The lookout provides stunning views in all directions, over the town, the ocean, and the countryside. Below are some of my favourite images from this special place.

Moeraki Boulders

The Moeraki Boulders form a quintessential New Zealand landscape. The beach at Moeraki is covered in these enormous spheres, reminescent of alien eggs in a distant planet. Together with a striking sunrise or sunset painting their surroundings in bold warm colours, this makes for some postcard-worthy images. An incredible, one of a kind scenery!

The Spectacular Milford Sound

Milford Sound is one of the top tourist destinations in New Zealand. This large fjord is known for its huge waterfalls and stunning green scenery. Although my visit coincided with some particularly poor weather (and visibility), the landscapes still provided more than enough content for some once-in-a-lifetime photos. It is definitely worth taking a long cruise of the sound, which travels past many of the waterside waterfalls, and also going for a few walks in the surrounding areas as well.

Blue Pools Track

The Blue Pools Track is a short walk near Wanaka, in the South Island of New Zealand. The track goes through a few bridges over translucent blue waters. This was a great place to sit and relax by the water, enjoying the surrounding nature. I can’t recommend this short walk enough, particularly early in the morning before too many people arrive. Below are just a few of my favourite images from my visit to this location.

A Postcard Wanaka Sunrise

After photographing the sunset at the Wanaka tree, I returned the following morning hoping for an equally spectacular sunrise. The low clouds and still lake did not disappoint, and this time the tree and the mountains were illuminated in a slightly different light. I was lucky to capture so many postcard-worthy images of this iconic tree in its original form.

Sunset at the Tree

Wanaka is a small town a few hours’ drive from Queenstown, in the South Island of New Zealand. Its main attraction is a tree that sits in the middle of the lake. The wanaka tree is likely the most photographed tree in the world, but unfortunately is has recently been attacked - the lowest branch was sawed off only a few months after my visit. This iconic tree will never look the same, unfortunately. I am lucky to have made it there before the damage was done. Enjoy these images of the wanaka tree in its original form.

Chapel of the Lord of the Stone

The beaches near Porto are relatively under-explored, and yet contain photographic gems such as the Capela do Senhor da Pedra (Chapel of the Lord of the Stone). We arrived just before sunset, and caught the golden light just before sundown from the air, followed by more traditional images from ground-level. By sunset, we were mostly alone at the beach, a truly unusual occurrence for a place like this!

Porto: An Evening on the Waterfront

Porto is the second largest city in Portugal, known for its tile-covered buildings. The city really comes alive at night, when tourists flock to the restaurants and shops on the waterfront. We were lucky enough to stay at an apartment with a perfect view to the canal, which resulted in some great evening photos. To capture the details of the buildings on the other side of the canal, I used a telephoto lens - and of course, a tripod to keep the shot steady!

Baleal Island Landscapes

Baleal Island, a small drive away from Peniche, is an unusual island. Not only is it connected to the mainland by a thin stretch of road, it also sits atop unusual rock formations to either side. This is a popular sunset spot for locals and tourists alike. There are many spots to sit peacefully by the coast and watch the sun go down over the sea, colouring the white village and its layered rocks as it goes.

Taupo: Huka Falls

Having explored Rotorua, we made our way to Taupo. Taupo's main attraction is the Huka Falls, which drains Lake Taupo and joins it to the Waikato River.

The Huka Falls are one of the most visited attractions in New Zealand, so photographing around the huge number of tourists can be a bit challenging. Sadly it is also a no-drone area, allowing only photography from land.

Here are some of my favourite images from our visit to Huka Falls.