01.17.10
Posted in Animals, Nature, People at 7:15 pm by Warren Williams
Standing an impressive 51 metres tall, Tane Mahuta is New Zealand’s largest known Kauri. The trunk girth is even more impressive at 13.77m, with its estimated age being somewhere between 1,200 to 2,500 years old. Tane Mahuta is just one of the many large Kauri’s around the Waipoua forest, north of Dargaville. We made a little road trip with my youngest sister Candace, cousin Nicole, and her new daughter, Kayleigh.
Tane Mahuta (Lord of the Forest)
Roof structure, amongst the dense NZ vegetation
Kayleigh
Fern frond
Driving back to Kaikohe, I shot a few photos of the family dog and Kayleigh with Nicole
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01.07.10
Posted in Animals, Aviation, Landscape at 12:00 pm by Warren Williams
After spending much of the past two and a half years based in London, I was finally making way to live back in New Zealand. I made an overnight stopover in Melbourne, visiting the house my mum has recently bought, and made great use of the swimming pool! As I was flying Emirates airline, the first ten hours was literally spent flying in a circle. Mumbai to Dubai, and then Dubai to Singapore, and onwards to Melbourne, with the flight path taking us directly over Mumbai some hours later. Alas, more airmiles.
Mountains in United Arab Emirates
Flying over Fujairah, U.A.E
After almost 20 hours travelling, we were flying over South Australia as the sunrise over the red desert lit up brilliantly.
Arriving into Melbourne around 8am, I had a day to chill with my mum, one of my sisters Tara, and their partners, around the pool and BBQ dinner. This is the summer I had been missing from UK!
Marlee, the cat my mum has recently adopted after its previous owners had abused her
Beautiful!
Sunset over the back yard pool after enjoying a day with 32ºC
View from the Emirates Lounge, after being upgraded to business class (yet another early rise)
Views from in front of the wing, from seat 8A (front left of business class) – The food and drink available was far superior to what’s normally offered in cattle class.
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01.05.10
Posted in Animals, Landscape, Nature, People, Travel at 4:00 pm by Warren Williams
The final day of an amazing trip through Mumbai and Goa had arrived, so after a little research, decided to take Angus to the Sanjay Gandhi National Park in northern Mumbai. It is the largest urban park in the world, encompassing 104 km2. It is said to be the lungs of Mumbai, as it purifies much of the air polluition. Within the park you can catch a bus to see lions and leopards, whilst also venturing 6km along the park to the amazing Kanheri Caves. These 109 caves were built over 2,100 years ago, by Buddhist monks, into the solid hard basalt rock.
I’ve included more photos than usual in this last post from my Indian travels of 2009 & 2010. An amazing trip, that I couldn’t have done without the hospitality of my great friend Angus and his family. Thank you! 🙂
Lioness in the park
Baby Rhesus Macaque Monkey
Large caves of Kanheri
Angus standing against the 7m tall Buddhist statue
Large Chaitya with great Stupa
Low light filtering behind the Stupa
Textured Basalt floor
Walkway to more caves on the hill
More caves near the top, almost like the set of a movie
View in opposite direction showing the elevation (hard work in the Mumbai heat!)
First attempt at writing with a torch
Angus taking a break in one of the cool caves
Our friendly SIS security”guide”
Warren atop the caves and stairs of Kanheri
Angus walking back down the hill from the 109 caves
Spot the monkey?
Goat with incredible balance, walking on a branch!
Overflowing water tank
Last shot from India
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01.01.10
Posted in Animals, Landscape, People at 9:56 pm by Warren Williams
With a slow start to the day, spent at the apartment pool, and playing some table tennis, Angus invited his old friend Martina over for dinner at Baga Beach. After watching the sunset, and fishermen emptying their catch, we ran back to Brittos restaurant – However a powercut and lack of communication put an end to that. We ended up catching a rickshaw back to Calangute and eating some good food at Kamats.
Martina
A lonely fish
The entire family helping out with the catch
Northern end of beach away from the crowds
Looking back to the beach huts and restaurants including Brittos
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12.29.09
Posted in Animals, Birds, Landscape, Nature, Travel at 3:30 pm by Warren Williams
Returning back to Marcela the following morning, Raju was keen on showing more of the bush in the neighbouring areas, including his own property and yet more fruit! 🙂 It was a great walk, seeing a beautiful, peaceful view of India, as we encountered many various animals and workers in the field.
Bananas on Raju’s property
The sad face of a local dog with mange
Massive King Cobra nest
One of the many tropical birds
Yep, another
Cameleon
Rich Paddy Field
Wilderness adventures, reminiscent of “Stand by Me”
Water buffalo
Another stunning Kingfisher
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12.28.09
Posted in Animals, Birds, Landscape, Travel at 9:00 pm by Warren Williams
Located between Old Goa and the road to Santo Estevam, Marcela is a small town where Angus’s grandmother has lived for many years. Her property has its own spring water well, and many fruit trees, which Raju was kind enough to get some coconuts down for the fresh milk.
Angus scooping the coconut out
Fresh spring water from the well
Raju with a crab from a water hole nearby
10 points for what this is?
View from atop water tank in Marcela bush
More rice fields from atop the water tank
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12.22.09
Posted in Animals, Landscape, Travel at 8:25 pm by Warren Williams
Ventured further north to the rocky red coastline of Vagator Beach, before settling down in the evening at Little Vagator Beach. Despite clouding over during most of the afternoon, the sunset shone through amazingly red, complementing the rockface.
Yet more cows, near Little Vagator
Very slippery rocks, where I almost had an underwater experience!
Warren & Angus after sunset at Vagator Beach
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12.20.09
Posted in Animals, Landscape, Transportation, Travel at 10:00 pm by Warren Williams
White sands stretch 7km southward from Baga, through Calangute, Candolim and finally Sinquerim. Nestled in the southern end of coastline between Candolim and Sinquerim lies the Merchant Vessel, the River Princess. After running aground ten years ago, it has caused environmental issues, such as rusted shards of steel on the beach. It does however make an interesting photo subject!
Lifeguards on duty in Calangute
Fisherman, untangling his nets
Selling fresh fruit on the beach of Calangute
Later in the day, Angus and I decided to hire a taxi from Calangute to the River Princess shipwreck. Frustratingly, taxis aren’t metered in Goa, and they usually offer exhorbitant cash amounts up front. Several times the cost than in Mumbai! After finally negotiating a van driver down to just 200 Rupees ($6), we took the 10min trip further along the beach.
More cows 😛
Stray dogs give the cows some problems, as we witnessed on various beaches
Whilst other cows must be wary of their own kind
Parasailing across Candolim
Jet skis near the stern of the River Princess
River Princess silhouetted
Bow of the River Princess, with the sun setting through the hazy sky
Several exposures with the incoming tide
Jumping fun (shot by Angus)
As twilight set in, I shot a few long exposures with various filters:
No filters
Two graduated ND filters on top (.6 hard and .9 soft)
5 minute exposure
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12.19.09
Posted in Animals, Landscape, People, Travel at 8:30 pm by Warren Williams
The impressively large Fort Aguada was built by the Portuguese in the seventeenth century, with views stretching across the Arabian Sea. It was rather unbearable walking around here, in mid thirties temperature, and humidity soaring into the 90’s! Definitely the hottest day of the trip.
Later in the day as the heat slowly faded, we all ventured up to the northern reaches of Goa, to the popular tourist beach of Arambol. Another surprising experience, with thousands of people around, along with the odd cow walking along the sands – something I hadn’t seen in photos whilst researching Goa.
Sunbathing
Stray dogs
Angus, using one of my spare cameras, capturing the orange hue sunset
Angus and the reflecting sunset
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12.18.09
Posted in Animals, People, Travel at 1:52 pm by Warren Williams
After spending a couple of days around the beautiful Sant Estevam village, Angus and I decided it was time to spend some time in the apartment in Calangute, cooling off from the extreme heat with the neighbouring sea. We stopped in Goa’s largest city – Panjim (also known as Punaji), for a quick wander, coming across the pungeant fish market.
Following the walk, we ventured off to the busy party town of Baga, near Calangute to have some refreshing drinks and a late lunch.
Matthew, and his milky drink
Adorable 🙂
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12.17.09
Posted in Animals, Nature, People, Travel at 9:03 pm by Warren Williams
We took an hours drive to the Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary, only to find it was shut on Thursdays! Just nearby we had noticed the Pascoal Spice Farm – offering a view of the spice plantations and a restaurant set amongst some tropical forest. After a massive meal of chicken, fish curry rice and various drinks, we decided to wander amongst their walkways to burn off the food. Early on the path, we came face to face with this monster of a spider.. the size of a hand, it looked rather intimidating but was in fact quite harmless – something I only found out after shaking nervously a few inches away.
Shooting underneath, I was sure it was about to launch an attack
Angus and his nephew, Matthew
Jua Bridge, to Santo Estevam – the alternative longer route
Friendly villager of Santo Estevam, selling fried potato and samosa
Another villager awaiting her order
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11.07.09
Posted in Animals, General at 9:56 pm by Warren Williams
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
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10.25.09
Posted in Animals, Nature, People at 9:00 pm by Warren Williams
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.
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04.14.09
Posted in Animals, Motorsport, Travel at 3:00 pm by Warren Williams
My last day in Melbourne, spent walking around Albert Park, which hosted the opening 2009 Formula 1 race just a few days prior, followed by St Kilda beach.
Albert Park, with fencing from the F1 still in place from last weekend
Massive Jelly Blubber! Hundreds washed up on St Kilda beach
Another kite surfer
Took other shots, but many repeats from similar conditions a few months back:
http://warrenwilliams.co.nz/blog/?p=231
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04.11.09
Posted in Animals, Travel at 5:00 pm by Warren Williams
The Werribee Open Range Zoo is a large, open plan zoo, set over a vast savannah.
Meerkat
Cheetah
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