Growing up
Light-mantled albatrosses nest on cliffs, tucked on tiny ledges, exposed to the elements. There is a nest just across the cove from us on the island, and we've been watching…
Homeland
If you were an albatross, where would you nest? On the long plains behind a sheltering lump of fern, halfway up a steep tussocky slope, or on a ridgeline, with…
Northern Giant Petrels
Northern Giant Petrels don't get a lot of love. Their various nicknames include 'stinkpot', which is, if occasionally accurate, a little rude. Having been the recipient of the self-defence projectile…
Stormlight
We can never make the same image twice. The endless permutations of weather and light, of where birds fly, how the clouds darken and draw light across the landscape, all…
Antipodean Summer Take Two
This summer season sees me back on Antipodes Island, back with the glorious albatrosses who call this place home. It's a thrill and an absolute privilege to spend a few…
Textures of the Antipodes
Gentians, ferns, Acaena (biddy-bids), Lycopodiums and more! I love photographing wildlife, but something that draws me just as much is the textures of the environment I'm in. All the tiny…
The Light Fantastic
The end of a long day of census blocks, walking in lines over lumpy, orifice-infested vegetation. Wind riffling up the slopes of the southern end of Antipodes island, tossing golden…
Ten ways to photograph an Albatross
Classic portrait Are we surprised that I took lots of albatross photographs during three months living and working on Antipodes island? Not really. But how do you keep things fresh…
The Southern End
I didn't manage to do a great job of blogging while on the Antipodes. I hoped to, but too many competing interests were bubbling around at the time, and my…
Antipodean Summer 1
I’m writing this sitting outside the hut on Antipodes Island, 870km southeast of New Zealand. The fact that I can write and post blogs from here is a bit startling,…
Up close with an albatross
Toroa / Campbell albatross It's no secret that I love albatrosses. Being at sea, watching them in their element is hands down one of my favourite things. Aotearoa is a…
Snares crested penguins
Escapism
Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) is still in L4 lockdown, which means I can't do fieldwork. I'm running out of research-related things I can do. So as well as photographing backyard birds…
Dawn at sea
I've been slopped around all night in my bunk and woke to a 3am alarm to take watch til dawn. Seasickness has me grumbling and dry-throated (thanks Scopoderm), but as…
Beeman
This view, even mist-bound, is one of my favourites. The winding boardwalk down from the ridge past Beeman hill on Campbell island. Dracophyllum and tan-tussock, bright juicy green Bulbinella leaves…
