I'm off!

[Octane]

Hi peoples,

It's that time of year (again); I'm heading back over to my second home (South Island, New Zealand) for a couple of weeks for my first winter campaign.

The last time I went in winter was in 2007 and it was predominantly for skiing with a little bit of sightseeing and not much photography.

The theme for this photography trip: the winter landscape, obviously.

It's been a crappy 3 months and I've been really looking forward to get away, reset and recharge my batteries.

I have only processed a handful of images from my last trip (September, 2011) as I just haven't had the time. But, I hope to return with the best images I've ever made, to date. It'll be the first chance I'd have had to expose the 5D Mark III to the elements, and, I will be taking over my medium format system and some Neopan ACROS 100, and Astia (ran out of time in getting more Velvia) to try something a bit different.

I'm also going to use this trip as an inventory planning trip as I hope to run workshops over there. I'm planning on holding my first one in the tail end of spring (November) this year. I hope to take a group of 4 as a trial run. So, if anyone's interested in more information or wants to head over for a couple of weeks of fun, and make beautiful photos that you'd be proud to hang on your wall, get in touch.

Cheers, all. :)

H

[TheDecepticon]

Enjoy yourself, look forward to your shots as always. :thumbsup:

[gary]

Hi H,

Have a great time and we look forward to the shots.

[brian nordstrom]

:) You have a great time over there H , but take some warm clothes as it freezing over there at the moment .
Look forward to seeing a few photos on your safe return .
Brian.

[Ric]

Happy trails H.

I'm looking forward to seeing your photo's when you return.

[Miaplacidus]

Sounds great. Just don't get frozen.

Shots of Milford Sound in Winter could require a lot of patience, I imagine.

Looking forward to some wonderful images after your safe return.

Brian.

[Kevnool]

Enjoy H have a great time.
I know you will get lots of piccies in.

Cheers

[CometGuy]

Wow feel so envious! They've had quite a bit of snow I've heard - so take care driving. Look forward to seeing the pics.

Terry

[jjjnettie]

Fingers crossed you can catch some aurora action as well. :D
Safe travels my friend. Take care.

[Matt Wastell]

Have a great trip, refresh and come back to us with great pics and great stories!

[Jen]

Wow H good on ya :thumbsup: I hope you have a great time and i sooooo cant wait to see your pics when you get back :D
Take care buddy ((hugs))

[Octane]

Thanks, everyone. :)

Brian, I went on a shopping spree at Kathmandu when they had their 60% discount on (I'm also a Summit Club member). I bought the best jacket, pants, gloves, etc., available. It's still way overpriced, but, it's going to keep me warm.

I managed to find a roll of Velvia 50, score!

Bye, all. :)

H

[Poita]

Enjoy the trip! We all eagerly await the resultant images too!

[Liz]

Exactly what I was going to say!! A great opportunity to phototgraph the Aurora from the South Is = magic :)

You can get an aurora App to ket you know when there is a solar flare. Depending on how those clouds are over there.

Have a fabulous time H.

[lacad01]

Take care and all the best. Look forward to seeing some spectacular images :thumbsup:

[Omaroo]

Happy days Humayun. Have a good trip.

[h0ughy]

remember to wear a possum beanie

[Octane]

Thanks, again, all!

Aurora app? Must hunt down!

lol @ possum beanie. There's a place in Hokitika that sells all things possum. I might buy one there. :D

Doing last minute packing and heading to the airport in 3 hours.

H

[Octane]

I can't seem to find any for the iPhone. If anyone has any recommendations, I'm all ears. :D

H

[Poita]

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2010/17feb_3dsun/
It gives a tone when a solar flare erupts, usually means some Auroral goodness could be on its way.

[Octane]

Peter,

I got that one after a quick Google search.

Here's hoping it provides alerts. :fingers crossed:

Cheers. :)

H

[acropolite]

http://helios.swpc.noaa.gov/ovation/South.html can't remember where the link came from but as long as you have WiFi it will do the trick.

[ZeroID]

Hokitika ... try the Hokitika Hooch while you're there. Commercilaised version of the original home brew.
Have a good trip and enjoy the dark dark skies you will get down there.

[Octane]

Just landed at Sydney. Boo.

H

[iceman]

Welcome back!
Hope you had a great trip.

[SkyViking]

Hope you had a great trip H, now eagerly awaiting your works of art :)

[allan gould]

Hope all your photos are as you envisaged, H.
Welcome back.

[Octane]

Cheers, boys. Just at airport station. $17 for a single ticket out west. What is this? When did this happen? Yikes!

The trip was largely uneventful; I think I took 6 pictures. There wasn't a single sunrise or sunset with clouds. It was clear the entire time.

I did try something different at Mount Cook, though, and I look forward to processing the image.

H

[iceman]

heh that sure makes it hard. It was like that out at the Kimberley. Every day was a carbon copy of the previous - not a single cloud in sight for 13 days.

[Octane]

That sucks! Hope you got to make pictures in the shade, at least?

H