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FollowThe Moeraki Boulders on New Zealand's East Coast are incredible remnants from ancient times and are a magnet for landscape photographers. It can get very b...
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The Moeraki Boulders on New Zealand's East Coast are incredible remnants from ancient times and are a magnet for landscape photographers. It can get very busy there but on that particular morning my mates and I had the place to ourselves - bliss!
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Awards
Action Award
Chatter Award
Zenith Award
Creative Winter Award
Curator's Selection
Top Shot Award 21
Runner Up in Enchanting Landscapes Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Enchanting Landscapes Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in An Unforgettable Adventure Photo Contest
Fujifilm X-T20 Camera
Contest Finalist in The Clouds And The Sunlight Photo Contest
Honorable Mention in The Moving Clouds Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in The Moving Clouds Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Towards The Horizon Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Creative Landscapes Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Monthly Pro Vol 38 Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Image Of The Month Photo Contest Vol 28
Peer Award
Absolute Masterpiece
Outstanding Creativity
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Magnificent Capture
Superior Skill
All Star
Virtuoso
Genius
Top Ranks
Categories
amydouglas_3473
January 03, 2018
I was in NZ over 20 years ago - this image brought me back to the rhythmically waves and glowing sunrise instantly. Thank you!!
richardalliers
February 07, 2018
Wow! This image is something special. It's interesting how the subject matter and the overall technique of the image is easy to be done but the image as a whole is much more powerful and complex. Well done!
noellebennett
February 21, 2018
This is almost certainly the best Moeraki Boulders image I've seen - absolute perfection 8-)
MDSPhotography
March 14, 2018
Very nice composition. I like the juxtaposition between the boulder,surf, and shoreline.
FeatherstonePhotography
March 24, 2019
Congratulations on your win from one of the other finalists. I was at Moeraki but during a cloudy day. I live the way you captured the clouds and the colors.
joybello
March 25, 2019
Congrats on your win!! What an honor, & well deserved with this wonderful photo!!
photosdude
May 29, 2020
great photo the slow effect & the colours make it really stand out. job well done
Creule
January 27, 2021
The bolder has endured the passage of of relentless efforts of the waves to devour it. You captured its resolve to remain, and strike a stoic pose for yet another moment.
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
These amazing boulders can be found at Moeraki Beach on the east coast of New Zealand's South Island. Is it just me or do they look a bit like dinosaur eggs?Time
Sunrise is one of my favourite times of the day and I often get better light than at sunset. My mates and I made our way to the beach in the dark and patiently waited for first light. As it was a fairly overcast morning we did not expect much in terms of colour but it turned out to be a great shoot.Lighting
I was hoping for some light from the rising sun on top of the boulder I chose for my composition. I had a symmetrical composition in mind with the movement of the waves mirroring the fan of the racing clouds. I was very happy with the overall result.Equipment
I shot this on a Canon 5D Mark IV with my go to landscape lens, the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II. My tripod for all water based shots is the Sirui W-2204 waterproof carbon fibre tripod. I used a NiSi medium grad filter to balance the light above the horizon with the darker foreground, as well as a 3 stop NiSi ND filter to slow the water movement enough to bring out the leading lines of the retreating wave.Inspiration
I had been wanting to shoot the Moeraki boulders for a long time. I was really hoping that the right level of tide, light, clouds and water movement would all come together for the image I had in mind, and I'm glad to say that I achieved what I wanted.Editing
This is a composite image of the foreground (with boulder and water movement) paired with a sky shot at a later time. I did fairly extensive work in Photoshop to get the look I wanted, and used several techniques including luminosity masking for tonal balance and contrast and radial blur for the sky to accentuate the fan effect of the racing clouds.In my camera bag
Apart from my trusty Canon 5D Mark IV I always have my Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II as well as my EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II with me to cover a fairly broad focal range. As I shoot lots of long exposures, I usually have a pretty extensive filter kit from NiSi in my bag, including the excellent NiSi landscape CPL and a wide range of grad and ND filters. I use a remote shutter to eliminate camera vibration as much as possible, and always carry an assortment of lens cleaning equipment with me to wipe lenses and filters on a regular basis to get the cleanest possible image.Feedback
Do some research and reconaissance before you shoot a location for the first time. For seascapes, it is crucial to know whether low or high tide works best for the image you have in mind. Safety always comes first, be aware that rogue waves can strike at any time. Plan your retreat before you start shooting and never turn your back to the ocean. If you don't mind getting up early, sunrise often works better as you will have to compete with less people for the best compositions. Take lots of different exposures, you will greatly appreciate that later on in post processing.