Through the eyes of a travelling photographer
With a permanent move back downunder, decided to meet with a few friends in Leicester Square for one final pub meal and drinks. With a quick wander through to Trafalgar Square, realised 500 Santas had come out to play…
Farewell to good kiwi friends Leanne and Aimee - after a great season watching the All Blacks
Hundreds of Santas - Nelson’s Column, Trafalgar Square
With an evening being spent watching the great fireworks over Blackheath, Neal, Kay and I decided to venture into the free Hornimans Musueum of Forest Hill, London.
Regal Tang - (Dory, from Finding Nemo)
White Spotted Jellyfish
Richmond Park, is London’s largest Royal Park. Originally a deer hunting park, it has since become a great recreation and sightseeing ground to Londoners. Meeting up with several photography friends, camouflage outfits, and long lens - it was our task to capture the essence of the majestic Richmond Park.
Neal and Richard following the trails
Mushroom extreme close up with macro lens
First sighting of a deer
Stags
Ian - iesphotography.co.uk
Rutting stags
Running from hoards of photographers
Why did the deer cross the road?
In the dense forest
Stroll through Richmond Park
Tilt shift effects with the TS-E 24mm
Brett - brettbutler.co.uk
More Tilt Shift Effects
Old stag
Large antlers
Stag through the clearing at Richmond
Richmond Park is well recommended for a free walk around the 1000 acre woods and grasslands.
Bodies in Urban Spaces, is choreographed by Austrian Willie Dorner, featuring 24 performers who use their bodies in peculiar places…
Imposter 
Street Performer, alongside the Thames
William & Natalie were married today at the world renowned Dorchester Hotel in London. Shooting alongside Richard Swaffields (swaffs.co.uk), we captured their special day from every angle possible. Shooting in the private wing for the ceremony, the penthouse suite balcony, and venturing across into Hyde Park for some fun shots. Congratulations on your beautiful day. 
William, a talented pianist
The Mayor’s Thames Festival, is a yearly free event with plenty of food, music, arts and fireworks to finish off the weekend.
As the sun was setting over London, took a leisurely walk through the expansive Hampstead Heath, en route to an Italian dinner with my friend Katie.
Golden light, just as the leaves were turning to the autumn colours
Katie’s new 1920’s hat
My friend and fellow photographer Michael from Los Angeles, dropped into London for a few days, after spending some time touring south-east Asia, and visiting some of my favourite spots around Cambodia. We met up for a couple of afternoon/evening shoots around the city, showing him a few sights worth seeing.
Michael’s Canon 1D II and my filter / tripod setup
Millennium Bridge & St Paul’s
Michael next to Westminster
Along the Thames outside St Thomas’ Hospital
Laying on the ground for this shot
Michael shooting long exposures first with my filters and tripod
Canary Wharf
Attended the DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters) at Brands Hatch, and decided to use silly shutter speeds to really emphasise the speed of these touring cars. Also in attendance at the event, was New Zealand’s own Brendon Hartley, who’s recently been a Red Bull F1 test driver. He was driving the Formula Three Euroseries, which over the past few years, champions have included Lewis Hamilton, Romain Grosjean and Ryan Briscoe.
Running too deep
About to be a nasty accident
Sir Frank Williams, guest of honour for Ralf Schumacher
Brendon Hartley
2009 McLaren F1 nose cone
After experiencing my first Notting Hill Carnival last year, I made sure I could attend again, to witness the culture of the Caribbean through their music, costumes and delicacies. Decided to use the Notting Hill Carnival as the 12th event for the London Photography Meetups group, where everyone had a blast, whilst trying not to get lost amongst the crowd of near 1 million people. Here’s a few of my favourites:
Happily gave this busker some change
The talented Ray Wise
Banana and Chocolate Crepe - Great way to follow up after Jerk Chicken and Rice
Jarvis getting in the swing of it
We flew out again with Ryanair, who tried to charge me excess baggage for being just 0.6kg overweight. With no weight restrictions on carry on, ended up stuffing more gear into my backpack to get by. Leaving Alghero in the morning, bound for London Stanstead, was another great flight, with blue skies and great views over Nice and the Alps.
La Mariposa campsite along the beach front with trees
Isola Piana, Sardinia
Nice, France
Lac de Serre-Ponçon - Southeastern France - One of the largest artificial lakes in Europe
The race is on
Northern France and the English Channel
Arriving back to London for a BBQ
As you can see, didn’t shoot too much over the past few days, after all, you can only take so many photos of amazing clear waters, with them all looking the same. Our final night back in Alghero, there was a strange colour pattern in the sky, worthy of a photo. With our tent pitched only 20 metres from the beach, ran back to grab the camera for these…
The strange phenomena, with the blue streak stretching through the hills (the far left point is Capo Caccia)
After spending the night on La Maddalena, took a slow drive across the northern part of Sardinia, back towards Alghero, whilst stopping at some more great beaches for a swim and relaxation. With a final night with the car, decided to drive to the Capo Caccia cliffs, where we had previously seen Neptune’s Grotto 600 feet below. Watching a sunset, whilst precariously perched several hundred feet above the water is always great fun!
Can you spot my tripod and camera bag?! Angled slippery surface, with large fractures in the cliff. Great idea. Not.
A view from where the tripod was in previous photo
The view behind
After a night under the stars at Capo D’Orso, we made the 10minute drive into Palau to catch the ferry to the beauty islands of Maddalena and Caprera. With very little planning done for this trip, with having no idea till the last minute we were going to hire a car, we asked around and checked some tourist guides, which unanimously advised us to head to this north-eastern corner of Sardinia. The ferries themselves run frequently, however seemed costly for the relative short distance from the mainland. The reward however was the some of the most amazing clear waters I have ever seen.
First stop for the day, Isola Caprera, in the early morning before the crowds got in
Hazel, Adele, Ayla & Warren
Fishing in pristine waters of Caprera
Hues of Blue
Neck deep in ultra clear water
View from Caprera back to Maddalena
Ancient Ruins on Isola Caprera
Walkway to Cala Coticcio (So gobsmacked, I didn’t see my own shadow)
Cala Coticcio - One of the best beaches in Sardinia, and possibly the world
Only accessible by boat, or an undulating 40min walk
Clear Waters of Cala Coticcio
After a long previous day driving 400km cross country, we ended up sleeping under the stars on a beach at Capo D’Orso. As we arrived after 10pm at night, it was already dark, with only the moon illuminating the water of the lake and sea to give us a vague idea of our location. The droning hum from thousands of mosquitos from the lake area, awoke us just before sunrise, revealing the true beauty of the area.
After a couple of days exploring the local flavours of Alghero, Ayla and I decided it was time to venture off around the mediterannean island. With our newly met English friends, Adele and Hazel, who happened to be on the same flight and bus, we convinced them to come along for some fun, music and more secluded sights of Sardinia. With a quick check of the maps, decided to head south to the town of Bosa, before venturing cross country to Cala Gonone on the east coast of the island. A few wrong turns later, (sign posting is almost nonexistent!) and we had found some great beaches to relax at. The Italian cuisine continued to roll through, pastas, pizza, wine, before finding a suitable place to camp up for the night - another beach!
View along the coastal drive from Alghero to Bosa - Beautiful, smooth winding roads, with impressive views
Arriving into Bosa - Temo River
Parking across the Temo River, with a daunting walk across the narrow bridge
More impressive architecture, with an old clock
Temo River, from Bosa
Beaches near Cala Gonone
Pristine Cala Fuili
Clear waters of Cala Fuili
From the northern end of Cala Fuili
Sunset from the road, near Costa Esmeralda
Ayla with wild Kitten
Warren & Ayla after watching the sunset from the road
Our first full day in Alghero, involved getting to know the local town, streets filled with various architecture, and enjoying the heat as it roasted towards 35°C.
Alghero Waterfront, streets are empty in the morning and lunch periods
A house in Alghero, overlooking the sea
Not sure what the purpose of these stones were, but created my own statue
Aloe Vera growing by the fortified town
Courtyard in Alghero, where I enjoyed my first Sardinian Pizza
In the late afternoon, we caught a ferry to Neptune’s Grotto
Here we are, passing Lazzaretto and the textured cliff faces
Massive cliffs at Isola Foradada
Blue waters at Isola Foradada
Cliffs at Capo Caccia - Can you see the path cut into the cliff?
The bottom of the 656 steps leading from the top of Capo Caccia
Our arrival to Neptune’s Grotto, was rather precarious as we battled large sea swells, and had to literally walk the moving plank into the cave.
First cavern inside Neptune’s Grotto, located underneath the massive Capo Caccia cliffs
People are dwarfed to the scale of the Grotto
Panoramic spanning almost 180 degrees with around 10 photos stitched together
Light at the end of the tunnel
Entering the waters near Tramariglio
More cliff detail near Lazzaretto, in the evening light
Entering Alghero Marina
Low sun lighting up the seaside buildings
Alghero Sunset
Rich red hues from sunset
Sunset on the beach in Alghero, whilst trying out an Americano Pizza (French fries on pizza!)
After a whirlwind tour of Europe, what better way to chill than to head to the tropical waters surrounding beautiful Sardinia, Italy. Located in the Mediterannean, I was asked along by Ayla who was finishing off her Middle East/European tour with a week camping around northern Sardinia. The flight was only £15 at last minute, flying directly to the coastal town of Alghero.
RyanAir - EI-DCH (737-800)
The lack of rainfall very obvious over Sardinia
Alghero Marina, after catching the 70cent bus from airport to town (why can’t other cities be this cheap?)
After pitching the tent in La Mariposa, we treaded the few steps to the beach for the ensuing sunset
Ayla on the busy golden sands of Alghero beach
View from the beach access from La Mariposa towards Alghero - around 2km away
After our exercise in front of the Eiffel Tower, Peter and I took a walk along the Seine River, to the Louvre Museum to see Mona Lisa and other various art works and historic artifacts from around the world. Time flew in the expansive museum, and soon it was time to disappear to Montmartre in search of food and a visit into the Basilica of the Sacré Cœur with great views over Paris.
Mona Lisa
Trying to get a photo of Venus de Milo amongst hundreds of people.. fun
Entrance stairs to Louvre
Basilique du Sacré-Cœur - Montmartre
It was actually my mums’ recommendation to visit here, from her trips she used to do to Paris whilst living in England during the 60’s and 70’s. Well worth the trip up here for a different artistic feel of Paris.
Inside the Basilica
Grand finale, of musician Youri performing some top hits
We met up with our Canadian friend, Ayla who has recently been travelling through the Middle East, Europe and into Paris. We all wandered back down to the Louvre Museum for the approaching sunset, with our cameras in hand.
Pete, the qualified physiotherapist gives Ayla some much needed calf treatment after arriving back at the Louvre
Long shadows at the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel with Louvre in background
Opposite direction from the Louvre Glass Pyramid
The out of focus silhouette of Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel
Ayla & Pete checking their shots out
Another clear evening sunset over the Louvre Pyramid
Symmetry with the Louvre Pyramid
Twilight with Louvre
Eiffel Tower after 2am, with no lights on
Eiffel Tower Straight Up
From Pont de Bir-Hakeim the following morning at 6am
Feeling less creative than 24 hours, with no sleep
After a fresh shower in the hotel, the three of us went off to the Bois de Boulogne park for a picnic and relaxation before our returning Eurostar trip to London.
Bois de Boulogne - The largest park, west of the city, where we enjoyed a great picnic
Paris is an amazing city, and surprised I hadn’t visited before, despite only living just across the Channel for the past couple of years. It was also time to say goodbye to Pete in London, who was unfortunate enough to have me as company for the past four weeks. See you soon back in Aotearoa!
Aimee (another Kiwi friend), Peter & Warren say goodbye in Leicester Square, London
After just a few hours sleep from the great views around the Arc de Triomphe, we walked along to Trocadero to catch a glimpse of the sunrise over the Eiffel Tower. With some excess energy to burn, and missing out on some exercise recently, we had to improvise with our new surroundings…
Dawn over Eiffel Tower from Pont de Bir-Hakeim
A passing boat on the Seine stirs up some ripples
Cliche
Tai Chi
Jumping the Eiffel Tower
Imminent collision
Frogger in Paris
Pressups in Paris - Click for Larger
Dual Pressups
Eiffel Tower in early light