New Zealand-born landscape photographer Peter Latham’s first attempt at photography was of the family dog at the age of seven (he admits to chopping him in half). In the years since, he joined the high seas as a cruise ship photographer, circumnavigating the globe and photographing some of the world’s most incredible scenery. “It helped me appreciate just how precious New Zealand really is,” he says.
Looking for the Light is Peter’s first book of the New Zealand landscape. This epic collection presents his most popular gallery fine art prints, together with numerous new images of the New Zealand landscape, never released before.
Throughout 224 stunning pages, Peter shares how he captured each image along with a short narrative about the location. In this short extract, we take a look at a small selection of images from this stunning book.
Extracted with permission from Looking for the Light: Landscape Photographs of New Zealand by Peter Latham, published by New Holland, $69.99.
Peter Latham
Shooting kiwi footprints at Mason Bay, Stewart Island. The previous day had been very windy, discouraging the nocturnal kiwi from venturing onto the dunes at night. But the evening before, the wind settled and the next morning I rose before dawn to check for any fresh footprints. There were so many kiwi tracks everywhere, it was hard to know which to photograph.
Bach on Rangitoto
Nestled on the edge of the world’s largest pohutukawa forest on Rangitoto’s volcanic cone, lies one of the historic baches dating back to the 1920s and 1930s (luckily, the last few were saved from demolition).
Raining jewels
I discovered these sensational trees by accident one morning, as I followed a dirt track along the shores of Lake Pukaki, searching for a body of water that might offer some unique reflections of Aoraki Mt Cook. I initially drove past this spot when these trees had been in shadow and was forced to stop as a tree had fallen across the track.
Discovering a mass of toadstools under some trees, by the time I had photographed these and reversed back, the sun was higher in the sky and was now lighting this view from my driver’s side – “Quick, STOP!” It was the most brilliant display of light and colour, the leaves sparkled like jewels in the sunlight.
Awaroa Beach
Awaroa Beach is a national treasure and its protection was assured in 2016 following its crowd funding purchase. It is part of the Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand’s smallest but most visited park.
Routeburn River
Crystal clear waters of the Routeburn River, the beautiful turquoise is due to ‘rock flour’ minerals in the melted glacial ice.
Loisels Beach, East Cape
The east coast north of Gisborne offers many beautiful sandy beaches and a series of idyllic campgrounds to choose from. For generations it has been a Kiwi tradition to enjoy a summer holiday camped beside the beach. Don’t forget to pack your jandals!
Silence
Dusk fell in Carey’s Bay at the end of what had become a beautiful afternoon and such a serene evening. There’s something quite timeless about boats and wharfs, they’re a classic subject and make me yearn to be on the water.
Tin and timber
Central Otago is one province where I believe the landscape has really been enhanced by man. The early settlers’ rustic cottages, such as this one, tell a rich story while the deciduous trees that these pioneers introduced and which have since colonised this dramatic land, light up the region with their golden hues each autumn.
Available from all good bookstores or special collector’s edition available online at peterlatham.com.
Win!
We have a copy of Looking for the Light to give away to one lucky reader. Enter the form on our competitions page by 9 February 2018.
