photography Archives | Rambling Feet

How to Photograph Glow Worms in the Abbey Caves

The man at the front of the boat points towards what looks like a starlit sky, one in which no known constellations can be discerned. The people sat in the boat follow his finger. They strain their necks, gazing in wonder at the sight above them. Despite the brightly lit visitors below, thousands of bright blue specks barely illuminate the outline of a rock ceiling. Nonetheless, it is a beautiful sight.

This is the sort of image that features prominently in any guide or brochure promoting New Zealand’s famous glow worm-filled caves. It has been successful in tempting visitors to fork out upwards of NZD45 for a tour. Those same photographs are a problem though; their existence doesn’t mean that you can get the same kind of photos with your camera – if the guide permits it in the first place.

However, if one is reasonably fit and prepared to get wet, you can get set some good (if boat-less) photographs of the glow worms at the Abbey Caves in Whangarei, a 2.5-hour drive from Auckland. Unlike Waitomo, there won’t be any crowds to deal with too, and it will probably stay that way for some time. [Read on]

Photos of 11 Postcard-Worthy Places in Bad Weather

Part of the fun of travelling around the world these days involves sharing photographs of famous places with everyone back home. Bad weather can ruin those moments, especially if one’s on a tight schedule. Without some photoshop magic or filters, everything appears dull and flat.

However, the renown philosopher Jagger once said, “You can’t always get what you want.” So look on the bright side: no-one can buy a bad weather photograph on a postcard and pass it off as their own.

The following is my collection of photographs of tourist attractions as you have never seen them, with better photographs that I found elsewhere for comparison. [Read on]

These 10 Photos Show the Funny Side of Travel

Humour is all around us, whether it’s in street art, someone having fun on the job or a lucky moment, and there as’t been a lack of it whenever I’m away from home. From these photos you can probably tell more about what I find funny than what the people in these countries do. [Read on]

10 Views of Auckland’s Sky Tower

I have not written much about my time on the North Island in New Zealand, apart from the Koutu boulders, even though I spent 10 weeks there. Three weeks were spent in Auckland, making it the longest time I spent in a single place after Christchurch, and it was really difficult to miss the Southern Hemisphere’s tallest structure (for now).

The 328-metre Sky Tower is one of Auckland’s most popular attractions, and like the Eiffel Tower, the Space Needle, Cristo Rendentor and other iconic structures around the world, it makes a great reference point to take one’s bearings from. I couldn’t help but look for it whenever I got a great view of the city, and I took too many photos from different spots on the map.

Like the other places mentioned above, one can take a trip to an observation deck near the top. There is an uninterrupted view of the city and the islands of the Hauraki Gulf to be had. On a clear day, one can see as far as the Coromandel Peninsula. [Read on]

5 Singapore GP Tips No One Talks About

The Formula 1 in my home city is just three days away! Tickets collected, ear plugs packed, you’ve read the suggestions on the Singapore GP web page and you’re ready for the weather. What could go wrong?

Having attended all the Singapore GP’s held thus far, I’d like to offer my favourite tips to those race fans who are looking to maximise their enjoyment of the race and minimise the frustration (and one for those who want to avoid the event entirely). Do comment if you’d like my advice on other matters related to attending the race! [Read on]