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Further to the excellent discussion on wedding photography (see link http://www.d70users.com/viewtopic.php?t=7836) I am posting a few photos taken last year on a visit to Lake Tekapo, New Zealand. I snuck around and took a few shots, the photographer didn't seem to mind and was quite a nice bloke.

I must admit I was still using my Sony F707 (an outstanding P&S camera) at the time and really enjoyed a few hours around the lake. What a spot for a wedding!

Max


Horsing around after the ceremony


The happy couple (with mother-in-law - not sure where she parked her broom )


A gaggle/group/pride/album/mob of photographers (Delete all but one)


Adjusting the accoutrements


NZ's best transport


Not a bad place for a trot...


What a pristine place

P.S. I'm sure Ants has photographed here hundreds of times!

Yes, you're right Max... even shot a wedding in that church although it was nasty light ... only one decent window in the place, right behind the altar so it gives a good view of Lake Tekapo; makes for a nasty lighting situation though. To make matters worse it was blowing like forty bastards outside and so we basically had to tie down the bride! The reception was 100 km away on the East Coast and the weather was so much better there that I regret not flagging the shoot and working over there We did not know that at the time though!

The funniest thing I remember from that location though was many years ago while I was cycle touring through the area... I was photographing the statue of the dog, just 100 metres away from the church and a group of girls were walking by. At this time a bunch of guys in a car pulled along side and started hitting on them. The girls were ignoring them but the boys persisted until one of the girls turned about and asked "How much petrol have you go?". The other girls told her to be quiet and ignore them however she asked the question again. One of the guys replied "enough to get up Mount John!" (before you get ideas this is actually a major astronomical observatory overlooking the lake). With that the the girl replied "Then you've got enough to F%*k Off then!". And they did!

Antsl wrote:so we basically had to tie down the bride!

Was it good for her?

Actually she was a policewoman, he was an ambo... it probably made a change for both of them!

Ants, the day last September was one of those one in a lifetime days, the weather was magical, the air was clear, the snow was plentiful. The next day I spent at Mt Cook/Tasman glacier. I was talking to a guide there and he said he had never seen a clearer more beautiful day in his many years on the mountain!

My little Sony F707 did a stirling job that trip, sort of miss it with its unique swivelling lens, would love a day or two there with my D70!

Cheers,

Max

Yeah, I get the feeling the seasons are back to front over there at the moment ... highs have been up around 16-18 degrees over the past couple of weeks in Christchurch (warmer than Melbourne) while the summers have been downright cold (last Christmas when I was over there I was wearing heavy jackets and still freezing!). I'm off on assignment over there next week, I have two projects on the go of which I want sunshine for one and some heavy snow for the other... I'm hoping at least one of those wishes will come true!

I really like the candid #1. Goofy dudes. I have added this on to the list of places i have to visit. Looks spectacular!

Wow, what a stunning location for such a momentous day... That would be fantastic...

Willy wombat wrote:I really like the candid #1. Goofy dudes. I have added this on to the list of places i have to visit. Looks spectacular!

You MUST visit NZ and do the loop - Christchurch-Kaikoura-Tekapo-Mt Cook-Milford-Queenstown-Dunedin-Christchurch, it is a photographers' heaven!

Max

Yep, what Australia delivers in size, we prefer to deliver in quality..

Ants, NZ, nth and sth island, is spectacular in every way. Mt Cook just blows you away, even the little towns have something to offer. There are few more spectacular drives than Blenheim to Kaikoura then Chch.

The best thing about NZ? Fish and chips are really cheap, and Chch has the best coffee shops anywhere. They're as dear as poison and worth every cent!

Max

ozimax wrote:
The best thing about NZ? Fish and chips are really cheap, and Chch has the best coffee shops anywhere. They're as dear as poison and worth every cent!

Max

Don't tell that to the Wellingtonians, they think they invented coffee culture! What I love most about going back is the chocolate ... it is so much better over there! They make a decent hot chocolate at the Le Cafe in the Arts Centre in Chch too! Then theres the Ginger Tom beer at the Dux de Lux cafe... I'm adding these to the list of things that I need to do when I get over there next week!

Ozimax
That first image is an exposure nightmare for any camera. I'm impressed with how your P&S handled it. What a location!

Matt,

The Sony 707 is a sensational camera in every respect, pity I couldn't afford to keep it when I bought the D70, it was a nice camera with a pin sharp lens, the swivel lens was very handy in many situations. Cost me almost $3000 back in late 2001!

Ants, yeah, the coffee shop at the Arts centre is very good, there are a whole line of coffee shops just north of the city (I think it was north, somewhere near the big park and Christ's College I think???).

Wello has some fine coffee establishments, I think I've been into most of them, Te Papa is even pretty good (4th floor??) if you have an hour to read the paper and relax.

Blenheim has a coffee shop called First Lane, opposite the PO, no, I think it has recently changed hands, but anyway, the coffee is the best I have tasted anywhere in the world. I think they roast then grind their own blend, the only way to go!

Max

Antsl wrote:

ozimax wrote: What I love most about going back is the chocolate ... it is so much better over there!

have you tried koko black chocolates? expensive but IMHO truely up there with the belgiums

Kiwi tucker in general is a class above most - be it veges (not fruit, don't like their bananas ), their chocolate, milk, lamb,steak is all first class, albeit very expensive. You can even buy milk with the cream still on the top! Great place.

Now, if only they could play rugby....

Max