I thought it would be kinda cool for you to see my favourite shots from each month and learn why they are my favourite. They may not be what I consider my best work but they will let you in to my head (if you want to go there!!) to learn about my photographic creations and the thinking behind them. Below are January's picks!

If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram you may have already seen this shot. For me it represents the moment where several of the previous months experimentation and practice seemed to come together. I was finally creating the images I was visualizing in my head and using ND filters to help. It was also a location where I planned ahead, considering the tide and where the sun would rise. I then got up at in the dark to drive, then walk (with head torch on) to this spot.

What I love about this shot is how the silky water draws you through the image and contrasts with the rough texture of the rocks. There are so many bright, positive colours in the image, from the red rata petals in the foreground, aqua in the mid ground, and shades of yellow though orange in the sky and rocks. Overall, the image has a warmth and positivity to it, which is what I felt throughout this sunrise shoot. Getting up early is so worth it sometimes - this was most definitely one of those times!

This was another relatively early morning to be beat the heat of the day. Gerard and I have had this walk on our agenda for a while and finally prioritized it in the New Year. I was trailing along behind, stopping to take photos which sometimes works in my favour, especially when shots like this present themselves. I saw this lining up and simply dropped to my knees to get a lower perspective. There are so many things I like about this shot. Aside from the memory, I like how the figures draw you through the scene and provide perspective. The contrasts of soft and hard, light and dark also add to the image. I would love to get back to this location at sunrise or sunset.

I had photographed the outside of this church using a tripod and ND filters, (for 10-Stop ND challenge that I am doing with Marina Mathews) but also saw possibilities in the interior. I ditched the ND filter because the lack of light inside the church meant I was getting long shutter speeds anyway. Instead of using a tripod, I went with a handheld approach and got creative, moving the camera during the exposure. I like this approach because you never know what you are going to get. I converted this shot to black and white to remove the colour distractions allowing the rhythm of the lines and light to do the talking.

If you haven't already, check out my galleries to see more images, I'm always adding new ones as I create them. Thanks for reading!