MITIMITI

It’s been a long (long) while since I’ve been here but rest assured, plenty of photos have still been taken in the last year. With Auckland in our second lockdown of the year (thanks for coming back, Rona, ya turd), it was the right time to deep dive back into the archives for a little re-edit of some favourite shots.

These were taken in Mitimiti, in the far north of New Zealand. It is home for a dear friend Pio Terei, and after years of hearing stories about the land, we managed to wrangle together a spontaneous team trip to see it in person. To get there, we drove four hours to Rawene and caught the ferry from there to Mitimiti.

Never before (or since, for that matter) have I seen such wild, rugged fauna. It felt like I was catching a sacred glimpse into what ancient New Zealand looked like before colonisation happened. The landscape is mostly untouched and has been given the room to do as it pleases.

We drove 4WDs on the beach, picked mussels and soaked up a place layered in a friend’s history.

PAULUS AND SHIERLY | ENGAGEMENT SHOOT

This little adventure out to what I affectionately call ‘the set of Jurassic World’ on Auckland’s west coast feels like it happened a lifetime ago. It would be my first time meeting the lovely Paulus and Shierly (whose wedding I was lucky enough to shoot earlier this year) amidst a flurry of final getting-ready touches.

We trekked out to a local waterfall before heading out to the sand, joking the whole way that we were ready for Chris Pratt to pop out at any moment - followed closely by Blue, of course. On our way back out and one (very swift) outfit change later, we spotted a field of yellow flowers, which the wading through cold water would prove to be absolutely worth it for. Thanks for dancing on the beach for/with me, guys!

THE DIEKEMAS

As I post this, we are fast approaching the middle of August, which, honestly, is a little hard to believe. I was chatting with a good friend of mine the other night over McDonald's hot chocolates and we agreed that we both love the second of years more. Being based in New Zealand and having an annual trip to California for Thanksgiving means I do get the best of both worlds, I suppose - summer weather, fall weather, Thanksgiving and the holidays. 

I've just returned from a 10-day trip to Singapore to hang out with my Grandma (who is doing great) and in that time, the sunset that I had been tracking long escaped my mind. But fast forward to last Friday and I was that girl who stepped out of the car at boxing grinning at the weather. Why? Well, because it's beginning to feel like spring. I can confidently say that the worst of winter is over and waiting for me just around the corner are longer, lighter evenings. I can't wait.

This was not, in fact, the weather when I headed out to Whenuapai to shoot with the Diekemas. Sarah is a beloved former colleague of mine and a friend (obviously). Muriwai beach (pictured) has been a special place for herself, Ken and River (the beautiful giant dog in the photos) for years now and so to get to be there with them and their new little babe (Eli) was extra special. This photography thing gets you into some pretty humbling and precious places of people's lives and it will never stop being an honour.

SAM AND SOFIA | WEDDING

One of the coolest things I get to do with my time is second shoot for my legendary photographer sister, Rachel. (You have got to see her work, if you haven't already)! Her off-seasons from tour and music photography happens to be when wedding season is in full swing in New Zealand, and I am lucky enough to get to tag along to a few of these.

She's generously letting me share a few shots from Sam and Sofia's recent wedding, so here they are. I had met Sofia at a BSSM alumni event a few months ago and was so happy when I figured out that it was Rach who would be documenting her big day. 

Near the end of the evening, we hurried our way down to the black sand beach adjacent to the venue. We made two great decisions that night. One, to wait for that moment the sun 'pops' as she set for the day. And two, to take our shoes off and run shortly after when we discovered some locals playing with coloured smoke bombs (what's happening in that first photo there). I mean, just look at these love birds and those colours. 

SNEAK PEEK: NORTHLAND

A few weeks ago, I got the privilege of hopping in a car with a couple of colleagues and driving five hours up North to beautiful Opononi. Here's what we got to see from a spectacular lookout. Isn't she a beauty? More to come.

WEST IS BEST

I am two and a bit weeks into my three week Christmas/summer break and holy smokes, it was the best thing to hit the 'off' button on my recurring alarm set on my phone that first Saturday. Mysteriously, I did lose my ability to sleep through the night this last week and have since existed in a perpetual state of blurriness. I on a mission to fix this.

Though I would have loved to take a wild trip out of the country, it has been nice to take the days slow and go out on quick photo missions with the sister (Rachel Soh - her photos will change your life) and miscellaneous friends. We have become loyal advocates of the west coast, simply because it is the spot to be as the sun says goodnight (naturally). Thanks to daylight saving and summer, this is now happening at 8.45pm, leaving lots of time in the AM for catching up on New Girl, Modern Family, Friends (re-runs, always) and Quantico. 

Anyway. Dotted along the west coast of Auckland are phenomenal black-sand beaches - Piha, Bethells, Muriwai, Karekare and Whatipu. This here is good ol' Piha. A surfer's paradise during the day and for us Asians dressed totally wrong for the beach, a photographer's dream in the evening. 

THE BAREFOOT BANDITS

Meet the MacCulloch family, now answering to The Barefoot Bandits. In the last few months of being back in New Zealand, I've been working on a magazine and Allie (mum) showed up in my life very much unexpectedly, a whirlwind of minimalist design, enviable wardrobe and utter hilarity as our brand new senior designer.

We churned out four, I dare say, beautiful magazines as part of the team and then she dropped the news. She was leaving. 

She wasn't sick of us (not that she has admitted to, at least). She's off on a grand adventure with her sweet family to live their dream and travel the world. Allie puts it this way - "We are getting rid of our 'things' and re-discovering ourselves for who we are, and not what we have." Starting here in New Zealand, they are road-tripping the country and then have a one-way ticket to Europe where their only firm plans are to buy a caravan. From there? Who knows.

Did you catch the Golden Globes last night? It's the year for dreamers. It's the year for bravery. More on that soon. But in the meantime, these guys are doing just that. So thank you, MacCullochs. Thanks for saying the big Yes to your dreams and making them happen. 

Trek along with The Barefoot Bandits on their blog and Instagram and keep your inspiration tank alive. I sure will be.

PIHA (PART 2)

"A mixed bag" has been the most common response friends and family have gotten from me when they've asked how being back in New Zealand and away from Redding has been going. This last week has been especially rough, particularly on the days that I finally let my heart crack open a little to feel the weight of those 6662 miles. See in those first few days, my response of 'mixed bag' was correct - I was still readjusting physically to a 30 degree drop in temperature and the crossing of very many time zones. But as time went on and we passed the one-month point, I realised that, "Oh, a mixed bag," had become something to hide behind. A numb answer to which I was not required to give much of an explanation for in response to understanding nods. 

But it's time to feel. It's necessary to feel something other than numb in order to move purposefully in any direction. It's time to cry. It's time to whisper those questions to the Lord that are covered in pain and uncertainty. It's time to let them leave my lips and find that He is as kind as I remember. And that's okay. Not forever, but for today at least. It's okay.

"Jesus?" he whispered as his voice choked. "I feel so lost." A hand reached out and squeezed his, and didn't let go. "I know, Mack. But it's not true. I am with you and I am not lost. I'm sorry it feels that way, but hear me clearly. You are not lost." - The Shack