Dylan is tasked with shooting a hogget for diner. Dan is not impressed with Dylan’s choice and decides to shoot his own. Dan, Dylan, a penguin and a couple of seal pups enjoy a Ruapuke Sunset.
If you haven’t seen parts I and II
Catch up on Part I – Ruapuke Island Honey Bees pt I
Catch up on Part II – Ruapuke Island Honey Bees pt II
I was staying with Joel and Kylie, shooting a story about Archery, Photography and Moonshine when Kylie mentioned how her parents celebrate Christmas. I decided I needed to make a Christmas special.
The Gore Santa Parade was on the next day so I went along to that, then met up with Joel and Kylie and travelled to Mokoreta to meet Kylie’s parents.
So here it is, my 2020 Christmas Special.
Part two, of Dan’s Story.
After setting up an enclosure for the hives, Dan goes back to Bluff for more hives and Dylan.
Dan also brings new queens and splits the hives. The bees are loving it…
Dan Tarrant is a bee keeper in Bluff and his dream is to have bees on Ruapuke Island. Ruapuke island is a small island situated off the southern coast of the South Island of New Zealand.
The island is exposed to extraordinarily harsh conditions, so Dan and his bees have their work cut out for them.
I’ve always wanted to visit Ruapuke so when Dan suggested I go over with him, I jumped at the opportunity. I feel honoured to have visited such an amazing place and to archive the beginnings of Dan’s journey.
Getting the hives set up close to the flowering Manuka and protecting them from the feral cattle, is just the beginning.
This video is day one of an incredible 4 day trip and the beginning of life changing journey for Dan and his family.
I wish Dan and his family the best of luck with this venture, I believe the honey will be extraordinary just like the island itself.
Follow Dan…
At his website https://www.ruapukeuncut.co.nz/
or Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ruapuke.uncut/
Enjoy
This was a very impromptu trip. I started out visiting Booboo at his whitebait stand on the Mataura River then onto Tapanui via Fortrose.
I had a shot in mind on the Pomahaka River but events took a turn. I got to see a phenomenon called the Blue Mountain Express and caught up with my Uncle in Tapanui.
I visit Eamon in Gore then visit Joel to taste test some moonshine.
Photographically the trip was a bust but I did catch up with friends and Family and I captured some awesome hyper lapse footage of our beautiful countryside.
Enjoy the video…
I’ve known Kip for while now and I love his music. I asked him if he would let me record him as I wanted music for my videos. He generously agreed.
We managed to organise a day and time.
I had set up to record Kip when the Ramblin Rosies, Kylie and Renee, came over. I improvised as much as I could to document the interactions and make this video.
So make a cuppa tea and settle into a slice of life and history with Kip and Two Rosies
Kip Tipuna smiles his way through bad times and good with a sincerity not commonly seen anymore. His generosity is humbling but what he gives when performing is genuine and powerful. In my book Kip is a legend and deserves good things…
Check out Kips YouTube Channel
Cheers John
Lock down was finally over and I was off. I didn’t have a plan as such but the milky way would be flat on the horizon at around 4:30 am. All I needed was a foreground and a clear sky.
I headed for Wanaka not only because of it’s natural beauty but also to visit my mum.
Just past Roxbourgh a fog layer appeared. It was an inversion layer that ran from Alexandra all the way to Wanaka. It lasted for days.
No sun, moon, no stars, just cold.
I did get to see my mum though and the next time I saw the sky was on the Crown Range over looking Queenstown.
Next morning I drove towards Te Anau, the air was so crisp and clear.
A quick stop at the Wilderness Scientific Reserve to get this shot of Mt Titiroa.
I could see the inversion layer was also sitting over Lake Te Anau, I made the decision to head towards Milford Sound.
I finally found my foreground just off a long straight on the way to Milford.
Man it was cold
Photographing the Milky Way and observing the night sky, in general, may soon be a little easier as people in New Zealand become more aware of the importance of dark sky areas. The Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve is a great example of what can be done when people work together.
I’ve made a small video of the trip…
