After getting dinner organised for the troops at home, I literally dashed out the door the minute Mark arrived home just after 5pm, and headed straight for the South Coast. The sun was still casting its golden light on the island in Island Bay and there was an unbelievably big swell out in the Strait even though it wasn’t actually that windy. I put it down to the big full moon that would soon rise over the harbour.
I do love Island Bay as a location, having the island and rocks as a focal point in photos makes for a much more interesting horizon than ones with pure water alone. Having said that, more recently I’ve also fallen in love with Princess Bay. Here you can actually get right out amongst the rocks themselves quite easily, and on a clear day with stunning views looking back across Island Bay towards the Kaikoura ranges and in particular Mount Tapuae-o-uenuku it is an incredible setting.
I do love Island Bay as a location, having the island and rocks as a focal point in photos makes for a much more interesting horizon than ones with pure water alone. Having said that, more recently I’ve also fallen in love with Princess Bay. Here you can actually get right out amongst the rocks themselves quite easily, and on a clear day with stunning views looking back across Island Bay towards the Kaikoura ranges and in particular Mount Tapuae-o-uenuku it is an incredible setting.
Even though that morning in the city hadn’t promised much for the day with unusually hazy skies, this was going to be my one and only opportunity to get out this week, so I just ‘carpe diem’ed and went with it. And as the sun sunk behind the western coast, the mountains of the South Island literally rose up out of the salmon sky overpowering even the biggest waves that were crashing on shore. With the telephoto zoom on (at full stretch) I still felt I could only just do justice to the incredible vista.
I found a beautiful spot near some jagged rocks to set up camp, enjoying both the reflections of the rocks in the water as well as the opportunity to capture some silky wave action as the waves threw themselves with abandon at the face of the rocks.
When I moved further round the headland, I got distracted taking photos down low amongst the tussock, and then let out a squeal of delight when I turned around and saw the very big full moon rising from behind the eastern hills.
Mark was due out at a meeting by 7.30pm, so with a rumbling stomach in need of dinner, a need to empty my bladder growing by the minute and the dark having almost fully enveloped me, I headed home, once again in awe at nature’s amazing entrĂ©e I’d lovingly savoured that evening.
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