POP: Tranquil.

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	27 Images.

		Wide Angle Albatrosses. I thought that the only lens I would be using would be my 70-200mm, but since the birds were so fearless of us I got the 17-40mm out and took a few with it. I kind of like the look the wide angle gives here.
Albatross Watching, Kaikoura. 3:16 pm, Sun 12th Apr, 2009

		Masters of the Air 3. They definitely utilise what we humans call 'ground effects' or is it just that they get a thrill out of the sensation of speed they get from flying so close to the surface of the sea, I know I would!
Albatross Watching, Kaikoura. 2:45 pm, Sun 12th Apr, 2009

		Wandering Albatross. Apparently their beaks go pink when they are ready to mate, otherwise the beak is coloured like the end of this ones beak, so this one may well be interrupting its busy schedule to raise some youngsters soon.
Albatross Watching, Kaikoura. 2:44 pm, Sun 12th Apr, 2009

		Two Shags on a Rock. Any perch will do so long as it is quiet and peaceful. The Shags are fisher-people, but unusually they have no oil in their feathers so every time they get their feathers wet, they have to go sit somewhere in the sun and dry them out again.
Kaikoura. 1:27 pm, Sun 12th Apr, 2009

		Peoples Lives by the Beach. I kind of like the soft focus of this picture, it opens the doors for the imagination a bit.
Lyall Bay, Wellington. 6:53 pm, Tue 22nd Apr, 2008

		Paradise. Who would live in a city seeing this? Ummm, me :( and most of the population, but then people are migrating out into the country more and more, encroaching on the pristine country, they are building roads and houses on it all, it breaks my heart!
Peka peka, Wellington. 3:09 pm, Tue 27th Nov, 2007

		Cherry Blossom Flowers. One small branch of a whole small tree covered with flowers like these. When I walked under the branches I became aware that there were many Bumble Bees buzzing from flower to flower as they all stopped buzzing until I stood quietly for a short time, then they all started happily buzzing again.
Pekapeka, north of Wellington. 5:44 pm, Fri 21st Sep, 2007

		The Hutt River. I heard someone say once that animals were not as worthy of our efforts to help them survive because they are not 'Sentient'. Well I ask you, what is the point of our 'Great' sentience if it is simply to glorify ourselves, is sentience a great thing at all if we use it for merely 'Surviving' in the face of the extinction of Any life. I look at this water and its play with its environment, it's highly complex and vitally important part in the functioning of the world, and I wonder what prevents us from recognising the life this water has? Is it simply that we cannot 'Kill' it? We are very ignorant sometimes with our sentience, very un-scentient, very un-conscious and sometimes very guilty.
The Hutt River, Wellington. 3:55 pm, Sun 2nd Sep, 2007

		Wash Of Soft Pastel Colours. Another view from the top of Paekak hill, getting ever closer to true sunset. The colours are wonderful, this is probably my favourite from the bunch I took while I was there at the time. You can see the south island of New Zealand much more clearly.
Paekakariki Lookout Point, Wellington. 5:42 pm, Sun 19th Aug, 2007

		Nice Way To See The World. Nice colours here, with the gold on the water from the sun and the bright parasail. People are leaping off the top of Paekakariki Hill often, assisted by hangliders and parasails, they get to float over the main road (State highway 1, nearly visible in this picture) for awhile, then float down on to the beach, a lot of fun I would think, apart from the jumping off the top bit!
Paekakariki Hill Lookout point, Wellington. 5:26 pm, Sun 19th Aug, 2007

		Windless Days! Sunny and still, very nice unless you have to get somewhere and you're travelling by Yacht :\| It's almost blasphemous to hear the 'putt putt' of a motor on a yacht, but there are times I guess when 'needs must'.
Wellington Harbour Channel. 8:47 am, Mon 6th Mar, 2006

		The Peaceful Waikato River. All the turmoil of the Huka Falls nearly forgotten but for the billions of tiny bubbles now probably contained within the water, and the quiet roar coming from behind me 300metres or so up the river.
Huka Falls, Taupo. 4:08 pm, Tue 16th Aug, 2005

		Deserted Beach. This little white sand beach was recommended to me by a local man I talked to, his directions were very brief, but his recommendation was very strong, so I was very glad that I had a slightly harder look for this beach. Apparently the area is swarming with 'visitors' in the summer, but this dear wee beach could only support a few comfortably.
A bay in the Bay of Islands 2:12 pm, Sun 14th Aug, 2005

		White Sands Beach. How special is this!
A bay in the Bay of Islands 2:05 pm, Sun 14th Aug, 2005

		Clear Water. So clear and fresh, it makes you want to strip off your clothes and jump in. Even the man mowing his lawn nearby did not disturb the feeling :)
Rawhiti Point, Bay of Island. 1:20 pm, Sun 14th Aug, 2005

		Resting? Like shadows, they try to remember the flesh long gone that they stand strait and resolute to commemorate. We are none of us perfect specimens of humanity and so I salute you, you strangers who wish to be remembered well.
Russell, Bay of Islands. 10:36 am, Sun 14th Aug, 2005

		Gentle Waves Wash the Beach. The only being I came across on this beach was a black Labrador dog, who was most friendly. There was a wonderful feeling of peace on this beach.
Pia Pia Hinemoana Bay, Wainui Rd, on the way to Matauri Bay. 4:29 pm, Fri 12th Aug, 2005

		Underwater Perch. The Black Backed Gull came down to check out what was going on, perhaps there would be some human scraps of food offerings. I like the ripples it has made when it landed on its perch.
Houhora Heads. 11:59 am, Fri 12th Aug, 2005

		Houhora Heads. Arriving at Houhora Heads, a tiny little settlement, possibly with a Pa , I was struck by the strong feeling of peacefulness I felt. It was like the feeling when your laying in a bath that is just the right temperature, and there is nothing requiring your attention, it was luxurious!
Houhora Heads. 11:58 am, Fri 12th Aug, 2005

		Yacht at Anchor. Yacht sitting in Houhora Harbour. The patterns on the water are the sort of thing that yachties look for when they are looking for wind.
Houhora Harbour, from Pukenui. 11:38 am, Fri 12th Aug, 2005

		Te Paua Road. A lovely road, smooth as felt, with nice consistent grip (if a little slippery). According to my map, the sand you can see out there is the 'worlds purest silica sand deposits', also the area where 'Godwits' gather before migrating to Siberia!
Te Paua Road, Parengarenga Harbour. 10:28 am, Fri 12th Aug, 2005

		Sunset. Isn't nature wonderful! And there was I thinking that there would not be a sunset that day :\|
Cape Reinga Road, SH 1F. 5:53 pm, Thu 11th Aug, 2005

		The Tree House. I'm not sure, but the trunk you can see in this picture may 'the tree'. I stayed in one of their small bungalows, and found the surroundings to be very relaxing and refreshing. I spoke with the owners for a short time before I left, and found them to be most interesting and 'caring' people.
The Tree House, Kohu kohu. 10:18 am, Thu 11th Aug, 2005

		Another Lazy Day in the Sun. The local dog, well fed and uninterested, snoozes on the Ferry House's back doorstep, it's a dogs life alright!
Rawene. 3:52 pm, Wed 10th Aug, 2005

		Forgotten Land. Thought worthless land till not so long ago, the Wairere Boulders was bought and turned into a touristic venture. The path amongst the boulders is a wonderful adventure, and was apparently exciting to build.
Wairere Boulders, off the road to Kaikohe. 11:49 am, Wed 10th Aug, 2005

		Nice Place to Sit and Contemplate? The camping grounds I stayed at here had lovely and well maintained grounds. Situated between 2 small rivers that joined, meant they were virtually surrounded by river.
Whatoro (I think), or Kaihu. 5:20 pm, Mon 8th Aug, 2005

		Natures Chaos, Humans Entropy. A wee spot of paradise in Wanganui.
Outskirts of Wanganui. 1:04 pm, Sat 16th Jul, 2005