Getting Lost - May

It’s hard to believe how fast this year is flying by — somehow, we’ve already landed in June. These photos were actually taken last weekend, on the 24th of May, during a little day trip to Whakatāne. There was a quilt show on, so I convinced Mum to come along for a mix of photography, visiting a quilt show, and a relaxed lunch. It turned out to be a beautiful day filled with inspiration, good company, and a few unexpected photo opportunities.

Mum and I met up at The Hub in Whakatāne and decided to leave her car there — it’s so much easier to find parking for one car, and let’s be honest, it’s nearly impossible to have a proper chat when you’re driving separately! Mum drew the first photo prompt card, and we made our way down to The Heads to kick off our photography adventure.

There was just one small hiccup — once we arrived, Mum realised she’d left her camera behind in her car! As it turned out, that little mishap worked in my favour. Without her own camera to focus on, she became my creative sidekick, offering ideas and pointing out all sorts of interesting ways to interpret each prompt. It ended up being a fun and collaborative start to the day!

#1 Cloudy day, head for the coast.  Sunny day, head inland.  Although the weather in Whakatāne was beautiful on Saturday, there were just enough clouds drifting across the sky to give the day a soft, overcast feel — perfect for photography. It had been quite a while since either of us had visited The Heads, so it felt like the right place to ease into the day and see it with fresh eyes.

 

#2 Drive until you see water and then stop and take a photo of the reflections. There was no need to go searching for water — we were already right at The Heads, with the river and harbour all around us. In fact, we didn’t need to drive anywhere at all during our photo session. There was so much to see and capture right where we were. One of my favourite moments was spotting these stunning reflections of the rocks in the water, with the Whakatāne township rising quietly in the background — a perfect blend of nature and community in a single frame. 

#3 Spell your name by photographing items that start with that letter. This was a brand new prompt for me — I’d never tried it before, but being down at the harbour sparked a bit of creative inspiration. I decided to spell out my name using natural materials, which felt especially fitting given that my name is Shelley! Mum and I had a great time fossicking along the shoreline, gathering bits of driftwood, shells, and stones. It was such a simple idea, but really satisfying to create something so personal using pieces of the environment around us.

 #4 Leading lines or rule of thirds?  I’ve tackled the leading lines prompt before, but since Mum was in charge of drawing the prompt cards today, we went with it — and honestly, it couldn’t have been easier in this setting. The line of rocks stretching from the harbour out toward the ocean created a natural, perfect example of leading lines. To top it off, a scattering of seagulls perched along the rocks added just the right touch of interest and movement to the scene. Sometimes the simplest prompts yield the most striking results. 

 

#5 Take a photo upside down (you or the camera) This was another prompt I’ve explored before — and true to form, I found myself drawn to trees once again. There’s just something about them that always captures my attention. This time, what really stood out was the tree’s exposed roots, almost suspended in the air, clinging on as if defying gravity. It’s incredible how nature finds a way to survive — even thrive — in the most challenging conditions. A quiet reminder of resilience, right there in the sand and rocks.

#6 Put a frame around a landscape using what ever you find around you.  I’ve done this prompt before — though I’ll admit, I’ve usually taken the lazy route by simply finding something naturally framed, like tree branches arching overhead. But this time, I decided to put in a bit more effort and actually create my own frame. I used pieces of driftwood balanced on rocks as supports, and to my surprise, it stood tall for quite a while before eventually tumbling down. Luckily, it held up just long enough to capture the shot I wanted — complete with a shag perched perfectly on a nearby rock, right in the centre of the frame. It was one of those rare moments where everything just came together.

 #7 Take a photo of a living thing.  This prompt was an easy one — mostly because I was already determined to get a better shot of the shag from Prompt #6. I quickly swapped to my long lens and adjusted my settings, hoping he’d stay put just a little longer. Thankfully, he did! The calm water created some lovely reflections that added a peaceful, almost painterly feel to the image. Sometimes it’s those spontaneous moments that turn out to be your favourites.

 #8 Use camera blur to make something appear different to what your eye can see. While I was lining up the shot of the shag, something else quietly caught my eye — a lone seagull standing perfectly still, intently watching a fisherman and his dog across the mouth of the river. I quickly adjusted my settings, took the shot, and crossed my fingers. Luckily, the photography angels were with me that day, because this ended up being my Shot of the Day!

What I love most about it is the subtlety — in real life, the fisherman, his dog, and the background were all clearly in focus. But thanks to my settings, they appear almost ghostlike in the final image — present, but just out of reach. It gives the photo a dreamy, storytelling quality I hadn’t even planned for.

 #9 Use a camera setting you wouldn't normally use for this type of photo.  I’ve been a beachcomber for as long as I can remember. Every family trip to the beach would end the same way — me heading home with pockets full of tiny treasures: delicate shells, smooth bits of driftwood, and just enough sand to drive Mum mad when it came time to do the washing! That little treasure-hunting habit has definitely passed down through the generations — my kids inherited it, and now my granddaughter is a proud beachcomber too.

On this trip, I’d found a particularly beautiful shell I wanted to photograph, so I carefully balanced it on a rock to get the shot just right. The next thing I know, Mum comes along and casually dumps a few more shells right beside it. I was about to protest — after all, I’d placed mine so precisely — but I had to admit (quietly, of course) that her additions actually made the photo much more interesting. Just don’t tell her I said that!

 

#10 Take 3 photos of the same thing with shadows or light changing how it looks.  It always amazes me how simply shifting your position — just a few steps this way or that — can completely change how the light falls and how a subject appears through the lens. Lately, I’ve been reading a book called The Resilience Project, which touches on this very idea: how looking at the same thing from a different perspective can open up a whole new world of understanding. It’s a concept that resonates not just in photography, but in life.

But before I go wandering too far down that philosophical path, here are my three photos for this prompt — each one showing how a small change in viewpoint can reveal something entirely different.

 #11 Take the number of photos you took yesterday, photograph a letterbox with the same number. This was another first-time prompt for me — and I’ll admit, I took a bit of poetic licence with it. Technically, I had already taken more than one photo the day before… but when I spotted this absolutely awesome letterbox, how could I resist? Some things are just too fun to pass by without a snap. Rules are made to be bent now and then, right?

 

#12 Stop, look behind you and take a shot. Of course, I’ve done this prompt before — and it usually delivers some great results — but this time felt different. I’d already photographed around this rock for a few other prompts, but stepping up onto the roadside offered a completely new perspective.

As I mentioned earlier, I’ve been reading The Resilience Project, and this image — a lone tree seemingly growing straight out of solid rock — couldn’t have been a more perfect visual metaphor for resilience. It’s strong, steady, and thriving in the most unlikely place. I loved it so much that I’ve decided to print it out and use it as a bookmark — a daily reminder of strength in unexpected places.

 

The final prompt card Mum selected was 'Time to start editing all those photos - head for home'. What a perfect way to wrap up a couple of hours of photography. Of course, we didn’t head straight home — the day was far from over! From The Heads, we made our way to the quilt show (a feast for the eyes in a completely different way), followed by a relaxed lunch, a bit of shopping, and then finally made our way home.

But before we left, I paused for one last shot — this one for my monthly title image. It was taken from almost the same spot as the previous prompt, but this time I turned my lens up the coast toward Matatā. A fitting final frame for a day full of creativity, connection, and unexpected inspiration.

 

Thank you for stopping by my little corner of the internet.
Until next time,
Shelley