An annual photography competition held by NIWA has showcased some of the most unique parts of New Zealand’s natural environment.
A unique river portrait and a humorous moment with bubbles were just some of the 350 competition entries submitted by NIWA’s climate, oceans and freshwater staff who often visit wild and wonderful locations in the name of scientific endeavour.
Here are some of the best:
Pensive aurora australis
In May, stunning aurora australis displays were visible across the country thanks to an intense solar storm.
Marine ecologist Darren Parsons captured this captivating image from Pukematekeo trig in Auckland’s Waitakere Ranges.
“My photo was random luck. There were several families there and, amongst the chaos and chatter, I noticed someone leaning against the trig, taking in the sight.”
‘Another world’
No, it’s not a crustacean-encrusted Wilson from the movie Cast Away.
Marine ecologist Crispin Middleton was diving in the waters off Poor Knights Islands when this mysterious football floated into his view.
“Upon closer inspection, it appeared as ‘another world’ with pelagic crabs and goose neck barnacles living on the football,” said Middleton.
Kaharoa II San Diego
Ship technical director Greg Foothead was aboard research vessel Kaharoa II for its maiden voyage to Wellington when he snapped this picture of captain Chris Whalan navigating into San Diego harbour.
The judges noted that his photo “captures something a bit different, with the ship’s instrumentation as the point of interest combining with the nighttime city scenes outside the portholes”.
Mount Ngāuruhoe sunset
Fisheries scientist James Williams was on a snowboarding trip in Tongariro National Park, staying overnight in the ski club on Mount Ruapehu when he captured this shot of Mount Ngāuruhoe at sunset.
“I took this photo on my iPhone at the end of the first day. I love the warm glow of the evening twilight and the untracked snow, but most of all, it brings back the memory of a really great trip,” said Williams.
Barren Arch kelp
Marine ecologist Irene Middleton snapped this school of silver sweep in the surge above kelp at Barren Arch, Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve.
“I actually used the swell to my advantage in the image as it gives a great sense of movement and dynamism, but I did get rolled straight after capturing this frame,” she said.
Journey of the methane bubbles
Scientist Michael Kotkamp used a bit of Kiwi ingenuity to come up a humorous way of showing which way the wind was blowing during his gas experiment.
Climate, atmosphere and hazards manager Nava Fedaeff photographed Kotkamp using the bubble gun and balloons, which the judges loved for its “deadpan humour” and “use of the golden hour light”.
Whīwhiwhi — entangled
This artistic representation of a rare geomorphological form called the scroll plain — an area where a river meanders across very low gradients was created using data instead of a camera.
Hydrodynamics and GIS technician Jochen Bind said the image uses a hand-made print constructed from data of the river’s elevations, which was then coated with a cyanotype solution that reacts with UV light to create the blue and white image.
“With my portraits, I try to create an emotional bond to rivers by showing their nature in a more abstract and aesthetic way… showing their entirety with all the channels and landforms that were created over its whole lifecycle,” Jochen said.
