Jemma Wells | Images

"To do something worth remembering, with a photograph or a scar" - Mickey Smith

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This is Ben.  Ben got a new bike; it probably costs three times as much as my camera. Ben rides stuff I can only dream of riding. It was so much fun capturing it though. Shredding by association? Signal Hill, Dunedin.

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Marko + Brittany were married in the Winter Gardens earlier this year.  They are both pretty private people when it comes to social media, so I have tried not to give too much away, but they were kind enough to let me share a few moments from their big day.  This brief was quite different to others I have shot, in that the couple were keen to have their day captured in a style I hadn’t previously gone out to emulate before. Dramatic, cinematic, and bold. However, I’m now confident it won’t be the last time I look to capture something this way! It was a fantastic challenge, and the wonderful people involved made it so much fun to be a part of. Even a slight hitch with one of the wedding cars, with bridesmaids arriving in an Uber, couldn’t break the swagger of this stunning couple. 

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The Urge 3 Peaks Enduro, Dunedin, NZ. In 2016 the Urge 3 Peaks Enduro will become an EWS qualifiying event, but even in 2015, it had a vibe, culture, and atmosphere, that most enduro events could only dream of. Lovingly cultivated by Kashi and his Bike Otago crew, the event goes from strength to strength, and will no doubt see yet another surge in popularity this year. Get amongst it here. 

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The wedding of Ben + Catherine. It’s pretty awesome when you can show up to a wedding as the photographers, but leave as mates.  We knew Ben + Catherine wanted the fun, relaxed, and candid nature of their day captured, so we were conscious of trying to fit in, and simply capturing things as they happened. We shouldn’t have worried. The couple themselves, the wedding party, and their family and friends, made the day so much fun to be a part of.  Besides, anything that involves beach, bikes, and a few beers, was always going to be our sort of day!  Congratulations you two! And thank you so much for including us in your big day. 

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Coronet Peak is one of many ski fields in the Queenstown area that lend themselves to adventure, no matter what season it is. In the last few years Coronet and Cardrona have been opened to Mountain Bikers during the summer months; and the good people of the Queenstown Mountain Bike Club have certainly worked their magic a Coronet.  Whilst the lifts may not be running, the rewards make the grind to the top very worthwhile! 

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Mike + Ju were married on Ju’s family farm, near Ponatahi. There is something incredibly special about a farming family’s love of their land, and this was so very evident at this particular wedding. The gardens were immaculate, not a petal out of place; the trusty Hilux were sparkling, proudly sporting their white ribbons; and we were treated to the most incredible scenery and shooting locations you could ever hope to find! There were dogs, kids, family, friends, and even a few sheep and cattle; but above all, there were just so many happy faces!  What a fantastic, fun, first wedding for @alexlsphotography and I to capture together.  Thank you Mike + Ju for letting us be a part of your special day. 

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This is the Alps to Ocean (A2O) cycle trail, which runs from the Southern Alps of New Zealand (Aoraki, Mt Cook), to the ocean, in Oamaru, North Otago.  Over Labour Weekend this year, I tackled a couple of the top sections of this trail, with ALS and his parents.  To simply describe this region as ‘scenic’ seems like a massive understatement. Sure, we had great weather; and were lucky to have the wind at our backs when it eventually got up; but you feel so deep in the mountains, it would really be a humbling experience in any weather.  The best bit is, although you feel deep in the mountains, the trail is more than manageable for all levels of riding, with well formed trails and gradual climbs. We opted to drive up the Braemar Station side of Lake Pukaki and ride the ‘up and back’ to Tasman Point on day one. I would highly recommend this! It’s so nice to be able to ride up the valley, as well as down it, as you have the most fantastic view of the mountains, including our tallest, Aoraki Mt Cook. Find out more about this cycle trail, and the whole NZ Cycle Trail network, here. 

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Immense beauty. Is that a thing? It is now... Moke Lake, and Lake Sylvan, near Glenorchy, NZ. 

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A Winter’s Eve - Dunedin, NZ

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Sometimes the best spots in New Zealand’s biggest city, are those where you forget you are in New Zealand’s biggest city. Introducing, North Head and Okura Bush; two places that do exactly that. 

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What do bikes, beer, fairies, and Captain America have in common?  Well, yesterday they all came together to make the fantastic atmosphere that was the 2015 NZ National Cyclocross Championship. A truly awesome balance of: good fun and tough competition; fast open gravel and deep sticky mud; electrolytes and alcohol; puffer jackets and lycra; wide eyes and skinny tyres.  Events like this don’t just happen; it takes months, even years, to build up a reputation for holding well-run events, all with the support of volunteers, competitors, sponsors and supporters; and this weekend that meant competitors came from all around NZ to compete in this unofficial ‘National Championship’ event. Knowing this - along with the fact that brightly coloured cycling outfits against the deep green bush of the Waiora Scout Camp makes for great images - I headed along with camera in hand, to help ensure that many more people find out about this fantastic winter sport.  Congratulations to Tristan Lawrence and Anja McDonald who came away with the National titles. These two really are the power couple of the NZ CX scene, and it was great to be able to see them doing their thing.  Ask around your local cycling clubs to see if there are CX events in your area! Support the businesses that support neat local events like this: CycleWorld, Specialized Bikes, Emerson’s Brewery, Hasler Builders and Ricoh.  Also shout out to Smallercopter for getting the pictures that move, and a bird’s eye view of proceedings. 

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From the Blue Pools, to bonfires at Boundary Creek; Lake Wanaka and it’s varied surroundings are irrefutably stunning in any season. 

But don’t just take my word for it...

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Craigieburn, and the Rameka Pack Track.  The only two days of single track on our summer road trip, but it felt like a lot more!  Only two different areas, but so much variety! Berms, rocks, streams, beech forest, pine forest, boardwalk, bridges, hike-a-bike, pinchy climbs, flowing downhill; what more could you want!?

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Castle Rock. Made famous recently through it's role in Lord of the Rings, Castle Rock was a well-known climbing mecca long before the Orcs arrived. It's somewhat alien forms protrude from an otherwise lush hillside, creating an abundance of strange surfaces and shadows. Monochrome images were the winner on this gloomy, brooding, day. 

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The Cobb Valley and Lake Sylvester.  What a way to spend the first day of 2015! This has to be one of the most breath-taking, yet accessible, Sub-Alpine/Alpine treasures I have ever come across.  Sure, the drive in is a little hair-raising, depending who you meet coming the other way. But a relatively short uphill slog, transports you to a completely different world to the one in which you left your car.  Every metre ascended sees towering beech trees slowly shrink to become a mythical miniature forest of bonsai-sized beech, and pillows of moss (apparently quite prickly pillows). Soon after, forest becomes tussock, littered with delicate alpine flowers, and a final push off the marked track takes you up again to the scree and jagged rock of Iron Hill.  It is a big, but achievable, day trip and one I highly recommended.  If you're anything like me, you'll want to pack your 'big' camera. 

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Able Tasman and Golden Bay.  Add it to the list.  Whether it's on land; or under it; there are so many magic spots. These few shots include the Rawhiti Cave, Totaranui, Awaroa, and the walk in between.  Golden. 

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It wouldn't be a true Kiwi summer without a healthy dose of water-based activities.  We sure found a few.