seascape – Sandy's Views

Himatangi Beach

November 21, 2017Posted in photography, TravelTagged architecture, beach, community, holidays, landscape, New Zealand, photo, rustic, seascape, seaside, summertime, travel, travelphotography, Vacation, village2 Comments

This is where we live now. A small beach community in Manawatu, New Zealand. Himi as I call it has a wonderful eclectic variety of proper beach baches and more conventional homes, and the largest sand dune in the Southern Hemisphere apparently.

The phrase, ‘a picture paints a thousand words’ is best applied here. Here is a collage of Himatangi Beach images. I love it here.

This is the road to my place, ok, it’s not the only road, but it is a road.

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Cool ay? See you at Himi.

Before the sun comes up

December 2, 2016February 14, 2017Posted in New Zealand, photographyTagged beachlife, landscapes, natural beauty, nature, New Zealand, photography, seascape, sunrise, travel, travelphotography4 Comments

Once upon a time. I spent a lot of time out and about before and during the sunrise. I should do that more often.

epic — State Highway One in the Rangitikei, from Leedstown Road. Most people don’t know where that is.

Halcombe cows don’t care about the sun coming up.

stilts-at-dawn — Once again, Kawau Bay, different day. Place of contrasts and all that

red-sky — You know the phrase ‘red sky in the morning’? Well this is an epic warning.

The sunrise was so awesome, even the seagull stopped to watch

early-mist — Low fog, or mist, or whatever. Creeping over a farm fence. Manawatu.

Get up early. Sunrise is often way cooler than sunset.

Summer Sunsets, At The Beach

February 6, 2016February 14, 2017Posted in New Zealand, photography, Travel, UncategorizedTagged nature, ocean, photography, reflection, seascape, seaside, sunset, travel8 Comments

Luckily for me, I live 200 metres from the sea front on the Western Coast of the North Island of New Zealand. I can wander down to watch the sunset any day of the week. These are a selection from just three nights. Three nights from the last week. It’s mid summer here. So these were taken between 8:30 and 9pm. That short window when the sky really kicks off. Often the best light is after the sun has set. As you can see.

Himi Inlet sunset — Heading down to the beach, this is a little rivulet which empties into the sea a few metres to the left of this shot.

Beach driftwood stack — People make piles and structures out of driftwood, it helps me take a photo straight at the sun.

Himi beach people — I don’t usually have people in my photographs, but since I referenced people in the last photo, there are some. They’ll be making a driftwood sculpture later no doubt.

Evolution of a cloud bank 1 — That’s a cloud bank developing, about to block out the sun.

Himi Beach post sunset — Gone, now the good stuff really kicks off…

Long Beach one — See? Lavender? Lilac? Pink? You choose. looking down the beach to the South. That’s Kapiti Island way off in the distance. You can also see the South Island from here, just not in this shot.

Sea, see — You could stand and look at this all day, except you can’t as it’s nearly night time.

Thursday Night Himatangi — Saving the best till last? Quite possibly. I do like this. Low tide, post sunset. Awesome New Zealand.

So there you go. Hope you enjoyed my evenings.

Wellington Bays

December 20, 2015February 14, 2017Posted in New Zealand, photography, TravelTagged coast, landscapes, New Zealand, photography, road trip, seascape, seaside, travel, Wellington3 Comments

Well not all the bays, the bays out past the Airport. Wellington is the Capital City of New Zealand. It’s perched in a little bay with all the houses nestled into a load of hills behind it. Most people think it’s quite a pretty little city. I was visiting a friend but was early, so decided to take the scenic route round the Miramar Peninsula rather than simply drive across town. I’m pleased I did because look!

Wellington cable car classic — Ok, it’s not a bay, but this is one of those ‘classic’ shot’s of Wellington and is as good a place as any to start. Plus there is a bay, down there.

City Centre — The Wellington Waterfront from Oriental Parade. The beehive looking building on the far right is called ‘The Beehive’. It’s where we store our politicians.

Oriental Bay — From Oriental Parade, no idea why it’s called that. People from Wellington like to walk along here, or run wearing lycra, earphones and carrying a water bottle.

Boat Sheds Evans Bay — Evans Bay boat sheds. Cool.

Worser Bay jetty — Another broken pier at Shelly Bay. Looking across towards Mt Victoria. It’s not really a mountain. That bit of Wellington on the hill that isn’t a mountain is called Haitaitai.

Miramar Peninsula Lighthouse — The Point Halswell Lighthouse on the tip of the Miramar Peninsula.With a guy fishing off it.

Miramar Peninsula — A busy sunday morning in Wellington. Heading into Kau Bay along Massey Road.

Karaka Bay phone box — Karaka Bay jetty, complete with old working phone booth.

Empty Karaka Bay Jetty_ — That’s still the Karaka Bay jetty, or pier. I like a nice jetty, or pier.

Breaker Bay Pinnacle Rocks — Those are the pinnacle rocks looking across towards the Wairarapa from Breaker Bay. It was out there that inter island ferry, The Wahine, sunk in 1968. 53 People died.

Breaker Bay seagull — Flax Bay, over there is the very bottom of the North Island.

Breaker Bay boat — Upside down boats lend a pleasing aspect to a coastal scene. Flax Bay

Kaikouras from Moa Point — In the distance is the South Island, the Kaikoura Ranges about 250 kilometres away by ferry and road. Taken at Moa Point. That ship is a Cook Strait ferry, the Interislander

Air NZ arrival Moa Point — Air New Zealand arriving int0 Wellington, flying low over Moa Point. It can get a bit hair raising flying into wellington on a windy day. It’s often windy, mostly.

Looking across Island Bay. Time to turn inland.

So there you are. Worth the trip.

The Moon….

November 11, 2015February 14, 2017Posted in UncategorizedTagged full moon, landscape, moon, nature, New Zealand, night, photography, seascape5 Comments

Like a lot of people, I like to take photos of the moon. Not just the moon though, the moon with other stuff in the photo. Otherwise it’s just a photo of the moon. I don’t have the high powered telephoto lens to get the close up shots, nor am I an Astronaut. I also don’t do astrophotography. I just like to try to get a nice snap of the moon when it’s showing off a bit. No point giving too much explanation with these photos as is my usual thing. Each one is a photo of the moon, with some other stuff in the frame. I’ll just tell you where I was when I took the photo. Oh, and it’s harder than you think to photograph the moon. None of these were taken using a tripod. So there.

The moon, way up there, I know. But it's a big sky. Foxton Beach — The moon, way up there, I know. But it’s a big sky. Foxton Beach. Mt Ruapehu 230 kilometres away on the horizon. The moon is farther.

Power lines, moon, etc. Near Halcombe in the Manawatu

I got out of my car to take this beside the road. The road being State Highway One in the Rangitikei.

Not a blue moon. Early evening moon rising. Hunterville.

Misty moon. Ok I'm stretching the other stuff in the frame here as the other stuff is just mist. Hunterville. — Misty moon. Ok I’m stretching the other stuff in the frame here as the other stuff is just mist. Hunterville.

Dawn, early moon in Rangitikei. With a derelict cottage

Amazing clouds and full moon. Kawau Bay.

Moon sinking into the clouds, Rangitikei at dawn.

Yachting by moonlight. Kawau Bay at Dusk.

Moon rising over State Highway One. Near the Vinegar Hill SH54 turn off.

Let's face it, this looks like the end of the world. Amazing clouds with accompanying moon over Whangaparaoa Peninsular. — Let’s face it, this looks like the end of the world. Amazing clouds with accompanying moon over Whangaparaoa Peninsula.

So, the next time I post anything on here. I will have upgraded my camera gear. I’m not sure when that will be. Keep an eye out. I hope you enjoyed the moons

Between the mountains and the sea.

October 17, 2015February 14, 2017Posted in New Zealand, photography, TravelTagged awesome, holiday, landscapes, natural beauty, nature, New Zealand, photography, scenery, seascape, travel, Vacation4 Comments

New Zealand is a long but fairly narrow country. It’s 2,086 kilometres from one end to the other, but you are never more than 120 kilometres from the sea. What this means is that you can often see the mountains from the seashore, or the sea from the mountains. Which is nice. This gives many fetching photographic opportunities, such as these.

Rocky Beach, Kaikoura. It's not the name of the beach, merely an observation. — Rocky Beach, Kaikoura. It’s not the name of the beach, merely an observation.

Fishing boat in front of the Kaikoura Ranges. New Zealandness at it's most scenic, with a fishing boat. — Fishing boat in front of the Kaikoura Ranges. New Zealandness at it’s most scenic, with a fishing boat.

I could call this 'Chimney Seal. You may notice a loafing seal at the base of the old chimney. Looking across to the Kaikoura Ranges — I could call this ‘Chimney Seal. You may notice a loafing seal at the base of the old chimney. Looking across to the Kaikoura Ranges. Well I am looking at the Kaikoura Ranges, the Seal is not.

Those mountains are an awfully long way away from where I took this photo in the Wellington Harbour from the deck of the Interislander Ferry

The newest Ferry in the Interislander Fleet, this is how we get from one island to another. You can fly but this a nicer way to go about it. That's the Kaiarahi. — The newest Ferry in the Interislander Fleet heading North for Wellington, this is how we get from one island to another. You can fly but this a nicer way to go about it. That’s the Kaiarahi. I took this from the ferry I was heading South on, towards Picton.

On a rough crossing in Cook Strait, the large bit of water between the North and South Island's you sometimes get these sea spray 'rainbows'. You have to be quick to photograph them as they come and go. Plus you risk a salt water soaking of your camera. You decide if it's worth it. — On a rough crossing in Cook Strait, the large bit of water between the North and South Islands you sometimes get these sea spray ‘rainbows’. You have to be quick to photograph them as they come and go. Plus you risk a salt water soaking of your camera. You decide if it’s worth it.

After a rough crossing of Cook Strait, turning into the Marlborough Sounds through the Tory Channel is like walking into a library off a busy street. A giant outdoor nature library on a sunny day sort of thing.

That's New Zealand's main road. State Highway One. The rail line beside it is the main rail route south. This is how we get about. It's nice here. — Once you’ve left the ferry in the South Island, the main road South is this one. That’s New Zealand’s main road. State Highway One. The rail line beside it is the main rail route south. This is how we get about.

Taking the Train in New Zealand is slow but scenic, this is the 'Coastal Pacific. I think they call it that because it follows the Pacific Coast but I'm just guessing at that. — Taking the Train in New Zealand is slow but scenic, this is the ‘Coastal Pacific’. I reckon Kiwi Rail named the train ‘Coastal Pacific’ because it follows the Pacific Coast but I’m just guessing of course.

I like a train track heading towards a mountain. The title of this post made reference to mountains. That's the biggest one in the North Island. Mt Ruapehu. It's quite far from the sea. — On the subject of trains, This the train that runs up and down the North Island. Kiwi Rail creatively named this one ‘Northern Explorer’. I can’t think why though. In the title of this post I made reference to mountains and that’s the biggest one in the North Island. Mt Ruapehu. It’s quite far from the sea.

Inland, far inland, almost a whole hours drive the sea in one direction, well over two hours in the other. — Inland, far inland. But still less than an hour’s drive to the ocean if you head West.

The Ruahine Ranges, on the other side of them is Hawkes Bay.

Rainbow, kicking off an early morning, inland.

Early morning Manawatu. I drive past this sort of thing from time to time. Manawatu is mostly flat, lying between the Rhine and Tararua Ranges and the Tasman Sea. — Early morning Manawatu. I drive past this sort of thing from time to time. Manawatu is mostly flat, lying between the Ruahine and Tararua Ranges and the Tasman Sea.

One day when I can afford better camera equipment than I have. I can capture this sort of amazing early morning scene better. Between the mountains and the sea. The Mountains are half an hours drive in front of me here and the sea is 15 minutes drive behind me. — One day when I can afford better camera equipment than I have. I can capture this sort of amazing early morning scene better. Between the mountains and the sea. The Mountains are half an hour drive in front of me here and the sea is 15 minutes drive behind me.

What better way to finish than with the sun dropping beneath the Western Horizon. I'm standing just feet from a public highway here and barely an hour from a mountain range behind me. — What better way to finish than with the sun dropping beneath the Western Horizon. I’m standing just feet from a public highway here and barely an hour from a mountain range behind me.

At The End Of The Day

August 24, 2015February 14, 2017Posted in New Zealand, photographyTagged dusk, landscapes, New Zealand, photography, seascape, sunset, travelLeave a comment

I don’t like the phrase ‘at the end of the day’ when used to finalise an observation made, if that makes sense. It annoys me. So I’m going to reclaim the end of the day, show some images of the day’s end. So when I hear, ‘at the end of the day’ I’ll think of exactly that. Dusk, that wonderful light before sunset. Having said that, the odd photo of the Sun actually setting might sneak in among the dusk photos here.

That barn isn't there anymore, shame, it was a nice barn — That barn isn’t there anymore, shame, it was a nice barn

Blue Mountains, pink hues, cool dusk tones

Walking up to dusk, 200 metres from my front door

Looks like Summer, it isn't. This is Winter — Looks like Summer, it isn’t. This is Winter

On the horizon, in the distance is Mt Taranaki, 210 Kilometres distant

Kite Surfer walking in, had enough for the evening

Photos from my place

August 13, 2015February 14, 2017Posted in New Zealand, photography, TravelTagged landscapes, nature, New Zealand, ocean, photography, seascape, sunset, travel12 Comments

I’ve moved, moved to the beach. My new place is a small rented cottage on the Western Coast of the North Island of New Zealand. North of Welington, South of Whanganui. I love going to sleep with the sound of the sea outside. I can walk up to the dunes from my front door in a few moments. I decided to take a few photos. All these taken round my immediate vicinity. It’s currently winter time here in New Zealand.

Who doesn’t love a patchwork of sun shadows, late afternoon on an old woolshed? I know I do.

Wonky shed — Do-er upper, this is on the way home, or on the way out, depending on if I’m coming or going. I like a wonky shed in the evening.

Sunday evening, that's a bit of weather out in the West. — Sunday evening, that’s a bit of weather out in the West.

Sunday evening, my place. It's awesome — Sunday evening, my place. It’s awesome

Cool, no other description required really

See those photos of the sea? I just simply turned around and photographed this. Those are the Tararua Ranges, they are the backdrop to my place. The wild Tasman Sea in front and the Epic mountains behind me. I like that.

Walking up to the sunset after work, on a Tuesday

While looking out to sea, I can look right, up the coast, that's the way North — While looking out to sea, I can look right, up the coast, that’s the way North

Moments after the sun sank beneath the horizon, Tuesday evening at my place.

This was a Sunday, any other Sunday, every Sunset is different of course. The clouds look a bit angry

It's the last hurrah of a Sunday. Didn't anyone ever tell you not to look directly at the Sun? — It’s the last hurrah of a Sunday. Didn’t anyone ever tell you not to look directly at the Sun?

If you don't look directly at the last light of a Sunday, you can look at the sea shore instead, which has it's own merits — If you don’t look directly at the last light of a Sunday, you can look at the sea shore instead, which has it’s own merits

After the day has gone, just after, the light changes again, and some sea birds happen by.

Finish with a bang. I spent ages trying to decide what to call this, I decided to call it WOW! Frosty morning, a few minutes up the road on the way to the day job.

It’s nice here.

Oceans, Rivers and Lakes

July 11, 2015February 14, 2017Posted in UncategorizedTagged beach, lakes, landscapes, nature, New Zealand, ocean, photography, Rivers, scenery, seascape, travel4 Comments

New Zealand has a lot of water, we’re the country most surrounded by water of any country on earth. Make some sense of that. We have loads of lakes and rivers, lakes within lakes and lakes with volcanoes underneath. I’ve posted about our coastal awesomeness before. Those images were mostly in the far north. This lot were taken a bit further south. Southern Central North Island

Looks pretty, it's disastrous, those are flood waters. Manawatu flats under water. The Manawatu river is a long way from here. — Looks pretty, it’s disastrous, those are flood waters. Manawatu flats under water. The Manawatu river is a long way from here.

Rangitikei River, near Utiku, looks calm enough now, you should have seen it a few weeks ago, washing away bridges it was. Not this bridge though.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I like a nice valley. This is one of my favourites. The upper reaches of the Rangitikei River. Seen from Toetoe road. I know it's a funny name for a road but it's a splendid view. Toetoe is pronounced toy toy and it's a sort of pampas grass kind of thing. — I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I like a nice valley. This is one of my favourites. The upper reaches of the Rangitikei River. Seen from Toetoe road. I know it’s a funny name for a road but it’s a splendid view. Toetoe is pronounced toy toy and it’s a sort of pampas grass kind of thing.

Whanganui River, with Mt Ruapehu in the distance, 120 kilometres distant. That's a 9,117 foot high volcano, 120 kilometres away. — Whanganui River, with Mt Ruapehu in the distance, 120 kilometres distant. That’s a 9,117 foot high volcano, 120 kilometres away.

This is here because the water in the watercourses down there is orange, which is cool.

Along the coast from Himatangi to Foxton beach these little rivulets flow across the beach and out to sea, see?

This is at the Manawatu River mouth, Foxton Beach. Looking inland at the Tararua Ranges. They've got snow on them under that cloud. I was hoping to get some snow in the shot as well. Not today. — This is at the Manawatu River mouth, Foxton Beach. Looking inland at the Tararua Ranges. They’ve got snow on them under that cloud. I was hoping to get some snow in the shot as well. Not today. That stick is like a local version of the Lake Wanaka tree.

That's looking out to sea across the Manawatu River. Fishing net with attendant Seagull beside the beach. — That’s looking out to sea across the Manawatu River. Fishing net with attendant Seagull beside the beach.

If you showed this photo to someone and said this was the Mouth of the Manawatu River at Foxton, they wouldn't believe you. Go on, try it, ask someone. — If you showed this photo to someone and said this was the Mouth of the Manawatu River at Foxton, they wouldn’t believe you. Go on, try it, ask someone.

The early morning stillness of Himatangi Beach. Looks very calm and beautiful. It is. Most people don't give Himatangi a second or even first thought. That's fine with me. — The early morning stillness of Himatangi Beach. Looks very calm and beautiful. It is. Most people don’t give Himatangi a second or even first thought. That’s fine with me.

Frost on the sand at Himatangi Beach. Himatangi is on the lower half of the west coast of the North Island. The beach is also a road, I love a beach that's a road. — Frost on the sand at Himatangi Beach. Himatangi is on the lower half of the west coast of the North Island. The beach is also a road, I love a beach that’s a road.

Driftwood beside the outlet to the sea at Himatangi. It's all free, help yourself. — Driftwood beside the outlet to the sea at Himatangi. It’s all free, help yourself.

The road from Himatangi Beach to Foxton Beach. It's not the only road, but it's the best one. Speed limit is 30 Km/h — The road from Himatangi Beach to Foxton Beach. It’s not the only road, but it’s the best one. Speed limit is 30 Km/h

Lake with a Volvcano underneath. This is Lake Taupo, a 616 square kilometre crater for one of the largest Super Volcanoes in the world. True story. This Volcano goes up, you can expect flight delays, for the rest of time.

This is also Lake Taupo, looks pretty, can be catastrophic. Those fluffy flower things are Toetoes.

Cloudy coolness

June 27, 2015February 14, 2017Posted in New Zealand, photography, TravelTagged beach, clouds, landscape, nature, New Zealand, photography, seascape, sunset, travel2 Comments

Because who doesn’t like to look at some epic cloud formations? Don’t ask me to go all scientific on you. I’m not a cloud geek, I don’t know what the clouds are called. I just like looking at and photographing some cloud action that’s worthy of capturing. I’ve already put a few photos throughout the blog which feature cool clouds, but they were incidental to the view. These ones are the reason I took the photo. It’s the subtle differences. If you know the names of the clouds, please comment and enlighten us all.

Southern Central Hawkes Bay, the day before the 'great flood' turned up in other parts of the country. Waipukurau, the nearest town to here was unaffected. The clouds were weird throughout Hawkes Bay that day — Southern Central Hawkes Bay, the day before the ‘great flood’ turned up in other parts of the country. Waipukurau, the nearest town to here was unaffected. The clouds were weird throughout Hawkes Bay that day

Looking North-East across Waipukurau in Southern Central Hawkes Bay. Storm brewing, but not here.

I call these 'God rays', they are actually called 'Crepuscular Rays'. Which sounds meteorological rather than awesome. These are over the small Rangitikei town of Hunterville, which few would describe as awesome. — I call these ‘God rays’, they are actually called ‘Crepuscular Rays’. Which sounds meteorological rather than awesome. These are over the small Rangitikei town of Hunterville, which few would describe as awesome.

Rangitikei river valley, full of fog, love this stuff. There's a river down there, I expect it has something to do with the valley hugging foggy clouds. — Rangitikei river valley, full of fog, love this stuff. There’s a river down there, I expect it has something to do with the valley hugging foggy clouds.

I put a lot of care and thought into naming my images. I call this 'Yard Rays'. I know. — I put a lot of care and thought into naming my images. I call this ‘Yard Rays’. I know.

South of Napier, Hawkes Bay. Storm front brewing but the storm wasn't here. Still, as you can see, the beach is not one for sunbathing so that's good to know if you'd ever considered such a thing and felt a special trip to Napier might be in order. Make the trip by all means. Don't swim or sunbathe, drink wine. — South of Napier, Hawkes Bay. Storm front brewing but the storm wasn’t here. Still, as you can see, the beach is not one for sunbathing so that’s good to know if you’d ever considered such a thing and felt a special trip to Napier might be in order. Make the trip by all means. Don’t swim or sunbathe, drink wine.

Looks like a Tornado brewing over Napier in Hawkes Bay. It isn't. — Looks like a Tornado brewing over Napier in Hawkes Bay. It isn’t.

Rays punching through the clouds above Lake Taupo.

This is an unremarkable place in the Manawatu. Made interesting only by the sun striking through the clouds. I'm sure there is also lots of local history the local people are very proud of though. — This is an unremarkable place in the Manawatu. Made interesting only by the sun striking through the clouds. I’m sure there is also lots of local history the local people are very proud of though.

Cumulonimbus. I know I said I wasn't going to name any clouds. But this is amazing. The entire top of the Whangaparoa Peninsula obliterated by a nuclear explosion, is what a Cumulonimbus looks like in this instance — Cumulonimbus. I know I said I wasn’t going to name any clouds. But this is amazing. The entire top of the Whangaparoa Peninsula obliterated by a nuclear explosion, is what a Cumulonimbus looks like in this instance

Over there at the bottom right is Rangitito Island to give some perspective to this epic cloud formation. Early morning in Arkles Bay. — Over there at the bottom right is Rangitoto Island to give some perspective to this epic cloud formation. Early morning in Arkles Bay.

Same place, different day, slightly different angle. Big skies up there.

Rangitito at Dusk, with a boat heading out to sea. This is the sort of thing you want to be looking at of an evening rather than the telly. Just saying.

So that’s it. When people say ‘it’s all cloudy’, that’s a good thing. See?