Glen Webber ~ Online.

Self portrait photo by the lighthouse on Tiritiri Matangi Island at night.

[tiri lighthouse picture]

Another photograph from Tiri.
Time for another update I think. Its a photo of the Tiritiri Matangi Island Lighthouse. If you look closely you can see me standing by the door to the lighthouse. This picture was originally intended to be part of the foreground in a stacked star trail photo. However I somehow stuffed up the programming on my camera and ended up with only 6 frames. Not sure what I did there. But at least I was able to salvage this shot.

If you're able to visit Tiri and haven't been there before head straight for the lighthouse on the hill. Not only is it beside the visitor center / tea rooms, but this is where several Takahe hang out and will be easily seen. If there is only one place you go on the island on a day trip go here. Also if you are able to spend the night on Tiri. Do so. Its awesome. Little spotted kiwi are everywhere. There are Tuatara's walking about, Morepork (Ruru) around and Teal taking their ducklings (tealings?) for midnight walks. Very Cool, and so worth while.

Picture taken with the D300 DSLR.

About the Tiritiri Matangi Lighthouse.

Tiritiri Matangi Lighthouse is owned and operated by Maritime New Zealand. The Tiritiri Matangi light is the oldest lighthouse in New Zealand still in operation. Constructed in 1864 from cast iron, the light was first lit on 1 January, 1865. The light was first automated in 1925 and used an acetylene burning revolving light. Keepers returned to the light in 1947 and it remained manned until 1984 when the light was fully automated.
Check out the Wikipedia page.

BTW this is the first photograph I've posted where I've used my 10mm Sigma Fisheye lens. I used the same technique here as I did for my self portrait photo on Lake Manona, Wisconsin.

Lighthouse photograph information.
Image Description:	Self portrait by lighthouse at night on, Tiritiri Matangi Island, New Zealand.
Camera Make:	Nikon Corporation.	Camera Model:	Nikon D300 Digital SLR (DSLR).	Date:	13th April 2009.
Focal Length:	10mm	35mm Equiv Focal Length:	15mm	Aperture:	f/2.8
White Balance:	Auto.	Flash Used:	No.	Exposure Time:	30 seconds.
Light Source:	N/A	Metering Mode:	Spot.	Exposure Mode:	Manual.
ISO:	1000		Lens Used:	Sigma 10mm Fisheye DX.
Accessories Utilised:	Nikon MB-D10 battery grip, Scandisk Extream IV CompactFlash, Manfrotto 055x Prob tripod and 486RC2 head.
Software:	Converted from RAW with Nikon Capture NX. Post editing with The Gimp 2.4.
Photo edits:	Small align and crop. Levels, then sharpen. Add border and scale.
Photographer Comments:		Another self portrait at night.
Model Credit:	Glen Webber.	Photograph Copyright: ©	Glen Webber 2009. All rights reserved.

Thats all for the moment.
Cyas,
Glen.

Like my photos? Follow me on twitter @glen_co_nz.

Thoughts or opinion? leave a comment below, by clicking the comments link.

Photo of a Takahe on Tiritiri Matangi Island, New Zealand.

[takahe picture]

Woohoo photo number 3 for the year.
This is a photograph of a Takahe on Tiritiri Matangi Island. I think this is "Greg", but I'm not 100% sure. I'll need to look up some photos from the Island and compare the leg bands. Takahe are the most amazing birds. Its a real treat to be able to get this close to one. I completely recommend a trip to Tiri, if for no other reason than to see Takahe in the flesh.

This is of course a South Island Takahe. Its such a shame that there are only about 200 left in the world. Its even more sad when you think that the North Island Takahe (Moho) is extinct, and has probably only been for a few generations.

Photograph taken with my Nikon D300 DSLR, of course.

Some information about the South Island Takahe.

The South Island Takahe is a flightless bird indigenous to New Zealand and belonging to the rail family. It was thought to be extinct in 1898. However, after a carefully planned search effort the bird was rediscovered by Dr Geoffrey Orbell near Lake Te Anau in the Murchison Mountains, South Island, on November 20, 1948.

The Takahe is the largest living member of the Rallidae; its overall length is up to 63 cm (24.8 in) and its average weight is about 2.75 kg (6 lbs), ranging from 1.8-4.2 kg (4-9.2 lbs). It is a stocky bird, with reduced wings, strong legs and a massive bill.

The adult Takahe is mainly purple-blue in colour, with a greenish back and inner wings. It has a red frontal shield and red-based pink bill. The legs are pink. Sexes are similar, the females being slightly smaller, but young birds have mainly pale brown plumage.

The Takahe is found in alpine grasslands habitats today, although it is known to have inhabited most of New Zealand. It eats a wide range of plant food, and its diet is similar to that of the pukeko (Know to Australian's as a Purple Swamphen), the closest living relative of the Takahe and the Moho (North Island Takahe). The Takahe can often be seen to pluck a snow grass stalk, taking it into one claw and eating only the soft lower parts which is a favorite food. The rest is discarded.
You can read more over at Wikipedia.

South Island Takahe data.

Maori Name : Takahe.
Abundance : Extremely Rare.
Status : Endemic, protected.
Found : A small number of Island sanctuaries, Mt Bruce wildlife centre, and the Murchison Mountains in the South Island.
The Takahe has a New Zealand conservation status of "Nationally Critical". The most seriously threatened of species in NZ.
Please visit the Department Of Conservations Takahe pages, to see what you can to help the Takahe.
http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/native-animals/birds/land-birds/takahe/you-can-help/

Takahe photograph information.
Image Description:	Takahe Portrait, Tiritiri Matangi Island, New Zealand.
Camera Make:	Nikon Corporation.	Camera Model:	Nikon D300 Digital SLR (DSLR).	Date:	15th April 2009.
Focal Length:	105mm	35mm Equiv Focal Length:	157mm	Aperture:	f/5.6
White Balance:	Manual.	Flash Used:	No.	Exposure Time:	1/40th of a second.
Light Source:	Cloudy.	Metering Mode:	Spot.	Exposure Mode:	Manual.
Software:	Post editing with The Gimp 2.4.
Accessories Utilised:	Nikon MB-D10 battery grip, Scandisk Extream IV CompactFlash.
Photographer Comments:	My first published Takahe photograph.		Lens Used:	Nikkor 18-105mm VR DX lens. The "kit" lens from the D90.
Model Credit:	Takahe.	Photograph Copyright: ©	Glen Webber 2009. All rights reserved.

GCN News:
As you can see I'm still playing with things. There is now a title on the photo.
I might add this to the others in the future.

Also my second photo I can add to the New Zealand Birds section of GCN.

Cyas all,
Glen.

Like my photos? Follow me on twitter @glen_co_nz.

Thoughts or opinion? leave a comment below, by clicking the comments link.

Photograph of a Purple Rock Crab, Tiritiri Matangi Island, Auckland, New Zealand.

[purple rock crab photo]

Yay! Another photoblog post already!

This photo was taken last week on our trip to Tiritiri Matangi Island. This was around Fishermans bay if I remember correctly.

I really cannot recommend a visit to the Island enough. It is so worth while. Also if you can swing an overnight stay you won't be disappointed. All going well there will be more photographs from Tiri soon. I have yet to sort through all my pics.

About the Purple Rock Crab.

Actually its been difficult to find any serious amount of information about this crab. They are found in many countries, in particular Australia, and New Zealand. In Australia different colour's have been know to crop up from time to time.
Interestingly I've seen it stated in several places they grow up to 50mm (across the shell). Yet This one was easily twice that. Unfortunately I didn't think to place something else in a frame, so I could more accurately compare sizes.
So :
Photo Tip : Take a metal machinists ruler out with you in the field.

The Wikipedia article is only a stub.
Hopefully someone who knows what they're talking about will update it.

Purple Rock Crab photograph information.
Image Description:	Purple Rock Crab, Tiritiri Matangi Island, New Zealand.
Camera Make:	Nikon Corporation.	Camera Model:	Nikon D300 Digital SLR (DSLR).	Date:	13th April 2009.
Focal Length:	105mm	35mm Equiv Focal Length:	157mm	Aperture:	f/5.6
White Balance:	Auto.	Flash Used:	No.	Exposure Time:	1/200th of a second.
Light Source:	N/A	Metering Mode:	Spot.	Exposure Mode:	Manual.
Software:	Editing with The Gimp 2.4.
Accessories Utilised:	Nikon MB-D10 battery grip, Scandisk Extream IV CompactFlash.
Photographer Comments:	I like this little crab photo.		Lens Used:	Nikkor 18-105mm VR DX lens. Yes the "kit" lens from the D90. Yes its a good lens.
Model Credit:	Purple Rock Crab.	Photograph Copyright: ©	Glen Webber 2009. All rights reserved.

Yay 2 pics up this year. More to come.
Cheers,
Glen.

Like my photos? Follow me on twitter @glen_co_nz.

Thoughts or opinion? leave a comment below, by clicking the comments link.

Photo of a Little Blue Penguin swimming at Gulf Harbour, Auckland, New Zealand.

[little blue penguin swimming picture]

So ummmm yes it has been a while since I last photoblog'd.
Actually its been something like 9 months. :-) I have been taking photos during this time. Lots in fact.
About a 15,000 shutter count over the nine months taken in 7 different countries.

Its just the whole looking after my photoblog, and posting photographs I've been having trouble with.

Still onwards and upwards. So here is my first new photo. Its a nice little photograph of a Little Blue Penguin swimming.
It was taken in Gulf Harbour last Wednesday evening, about dusk. We had just returned from our trip to Tiritiri Matangi Island.
The penguin was swimming in the entrance to the marina. The wind was up, and the waves were a little big. I suspect it was just taking a brake before heading back out in to the sea.
Photographed of course with my wonderful Nikon D300 DSLR.

Some information about the Little Blue Penguin.

The Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor) is the smallest species of penguin. The penguin, which is about 43 cm (16 in) tall, is found on the coastlines of southern Australia and New Zealand.

Apart from Little Penguins, they have several common names. In Australia, they are also referred to as Fairy Penguins because of their tiny size. In New Zealand, they are called Little Blue Penguins, or just Blue Penguins, owing to their indigo-blue plumage, and they are called Korora in Maori. These birds feed by hunting fish, squid and other small sea animals, for which they travel and dive quite extensively. They are generally inshore feeders.

The Little Penguin breeds along the entire coastline of New Zealand, the Chatham Islands, Tasmania, and southern Australia. Little penguins have also been reported in Chile. It has been suggested that there might be a yet undiscovered breeding population in the Chilean part of Patagonia. In 2005 the first record of a living Little Blue Penguin has been reported from Ichaboe Island, Namibia.

You can read more over at Wikipedia.

Little Blue Penguin data. (NZ).

Maori Name : Korora.
Abundance : Common.
Status : Native, protected.
Found : Around New Zealand's entire coastline.
Both the Northern little blue penguin and Southern little blue penguin have a NZ conservation status of "Chronically Threatened". Threat classified as being in gradual decline.
Check out the Department Of Conservation's Penguin pages to learn more about what you can do to help.
http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/native-animals/birds/sea-and-shore-birds/penguins/

Little Blue Penguin swimming photograph information.
Image Description:	Little Blue Penguin swimming, Gulf Harbour, New Zealand.
Camera Make:	Nikon Corporation.	Camera Model:	Nikon D300 Digital SLR (DSLR).	Date:	15th April 2009.
Focal Length:	105mm	35mm Equiv Focal Length:	157mm	Aperture:	f/5.6
White Balance:	Manual.	Flash Used:	No.	Exposure Time:	1/800th of a second.
Light Source:	Cloudy.	Metering Mode:	Spot.	Exposure Mode:	Manual.
Software:	Converted from RAW using Nikon ViewNX. Post editing with The Gimp 2.4.
Accessories Utilised:	Nikon MB-D10 battery grip, Scandisk Extream IV CompactFlash.
Photographer Comments:	None at this time.		Lens Used:	Nikkor 18-105mm VR DX lens. Yes the "kit" lens from the D90. Yes its a good lens.
Model Credit:	Little Blue Penguin.	Photograph Copyright: ©	Glen Webber 2009. All rights reserved.

GCN News:
I have made a number of small improvements in the background for this site. So it should be easier for me to post. Meaning that I should post more often.
We'll see if that works or not.
Also you'll see above that I've added a nice border to this photograph. This lets me display things nicely, while also retaining my copyright info and website URL.
Much better than the nasty was I was doing it before.
Also you'll see I've filed this under my New Zealand native bird photographs section. All going well I'll be adding more NZ sections as I add more pics.

Thats all for now. The Grand Prix is on soon and I'm off to watch that.
Cheers,
Glen.

Like my photos? Follow me on twitter @glen_co_nz.

Thoughts or opinion? leave a comment below, by clicking the comments link.

Ridge line at dusk with high tension line. Newlands, Wellington, New Zealand.

[newlands photo]

So its about time for another photograph.
Today its a photo of a ridge line in Newlands, Wellington. Complete with high tension line.
The picture was taken around dusk. I liked the look of the silhouette, so fired off a couple of frames.
Proof you never know what you're going to get in an image. I'm pleasantly surprised how this has turned out.

You can see another of my photos taken at dusk with my power, church, moon photograph.

Photograph Information
Image Description:	High tension line in Newlands. Wellington, New Zealand.
Camera Make:	Nikon Corporation.	Camera Model:	Nikon D300 Digital SLR (DSLR).	Date:	12th July 2008.
Focal Length:	150mm	35mm Equiv Focal Length:	225mm	Aperture:	f/10
White Balance:	Auto	Flash Used:	No.	Exposure Time:	1/125th of a second.
Light Source:	N/A	Metering Mode:	Spot.	Exposure Mode:	Manual.
Software:	Converted from RAW using Nikon ViewNX. Post editing with The Gimp 2.4.
Accessories Utilised:	Nikon MB-D10 battery grip, Scandisk Extream IV CompactFlash.
Photographer Comments:	I've overdone the USM a little here. Ops.		Lens Used:	Nikkor 18-200mm VR DX lens.
Model Credit:	N/A.	Photograph Copyright: ©	Glen Webber 2008. All rights reserved.

Laters all,
G/

Like my photos? Follow me on twitter @glen_co_nz.

Thoughts or opinion? leave a comment below, by clicking the comments link.

Lightning over capital building and church in Madison, Wi. USA.

[lightning photograph]

Yes its been a while since my last post..
The last couple of weeks I've had that dreaded photographic problem of not being happy with any photos I've taken. I only remembered today I had this picture of a massive lightning clap over the capital building and square in Madison sitting around. Even Olli, has been posting more often than me.

The photo is an exposure blend of a shot with cloud and no lightning, and one containing the massive lightning strike.
I did this to help over come a large part of the frame that was over exposed due to just how powerful this lightning was. Once again HDRsoft's Photomatix Pro 3 was very useful. Even though this is an exposure blended image, its not a HDR shot.

Those who have been here before will recognise the church on the right from my earlier lightning in Madison picture.

Photograph Information
Image Description:	Lightning over capital building in Madison Wisconsin USA.
Camera Make:	Nikon Corporation.	Camera Model:	Nikon D300 Digital SLR (DSLR).	Date:	26th May 2008.
Focal Length:	18mm	35mm Equiv Focal Length:	27mm	Aperture:	f/3.5
White Balance:	Auto	Flash Used:	No.	Exposure Time:	1 second.
Light Source:	N/A	Metering Mode:	Spot.	Exposure Mode:	Manual.
Software:	Converted from RAW using Nikon ViewNX. Exposure blending with HDRsoft's Photomatix Pro 3, Post editing with The Gimp 2.4.
Accessories Utilised:	Velbon DX tripod, Nikon MB-D10 battery grip, Nikon lens hood, Scandisk Extream IV CompactFlash.
Photographer Comments:	This clap of lightning was right on top of me!		Lens Used:	Nikkor 18-200mm VR DX lens.
Model Credit:	N/A.	Photograph Copyright: ©	Glen Webber 2008. All rights reserved.

Till next time,
G/

Like my photos? Follow me on twitter @glen_co_nz.

Thoughts or opinion? leave a comment below, by clicking the comments link.