Getting Lost - November

Last weekend I popped over to Te Puke to spend time with some of my favourite people. It was technically still November (just!), and I was determined to capture my final photos for the monthly Getting Lost project - 11 months in and there’s no turning back now!

Krystal had the brilliant idea that I could photograph the festivities while they put up their Christmas tree. That meant ticking off my challenge and getting a whole day of cuddles with the newest member of our family - an absolute win-win!

Of course, as family days often do, the plans took a little detour. But what I did get was even better: a day overflowing with love, laughter, and baby snuggles. Honestly, what more could I ask for?

Prompt #1 - Take a photo of a living thing

Sadie and Alfie are the definition of chaotic besties. They chase each other like their lives depend on it… Sadie nibbling Alfie’s neck or ear in the name of “play,” while Alfie gets his revenge by attempting to destroy every one of Sadie’s toys. They’re wild, hilarious, and tiny terrors wrapped in fur - and we absolutely adore them for it.

On Sunday, Sadie’s beloved pool was set up in the backyard. Sadie LOVES the pool. Alfie… not so much. I stepped outside to “supervise” and found Sadie launching a one-pup mission to get Alfie in the water - splashing, flopping, coaxing, doing her best impression of a sea creature.

Is it a fish?
Is it a seal?
…Nope, it’s just Sadie being Sadie! 

P.S. All water is wonderful according to Sadie… except bath water. Baths are an absolute betrayal.

Prompt #2 - Stop, look behind you and take a shot

I could hear Dave rummaging around in the garage for the Christmas decoration boxes, so I headed out to check on progress. Naturally, Sadie and Alfie trotted after me onto the deck - because supervising the humans is very important work.

When I went back inside, they didn’t follow. I turned around to see them both pressed up against the deck railings, stretching and squinting to get a better look at what Dad/Dave was up to below. Those two are ridiculously nosy - they need to be involved in absolutely everything!

Little detectives in fur coats!

Prompt #3 - Find a busy spot. Set a 10-second timer and see what wanders into your shot

There was absolutely no way I was setting up my camera on a timer with these two around - it would either get knocked over, stolen, or used as a chew toy! But finding a busy spot? Easy. The backyard is basically a non-stop action zone.

So I adapted the prompt a little. Instead of the timer, I simply camped out in the backyard for 10 minutes and snapped away as Sadie and Alfie tore around. They get so completely wrapped up in their play that they forget the humans even exist… unless we dare to step inside, in which case all chaos pauses until we return.

Puppy mayhem at its finest!

Prompt #4 - Cloudy day, head for the coast. Sunny day, head inland

Meanwhile, Dave was still buried in the garage hunting for the Christmas boxes. Krystal had them all clearly labelled… but there were lots of other boxes (also labelled) stacked in front of them - just full of non-Christmas things. A festive treasure hunt, if you will.

With time ticking on (and stomachs starting to grumble), I volunteered to grab pizzas for lunch - plus, a little food motivation never hurts when you need someone to hurry up! I grabbed my camera and my prompt cards on the way out, just in case.

Once the order was in, the wait time was 20 minutes. Perfect! I pulled another prompt card - and it couldn’t have been more spot-on. Cloudy skies make the best soft light, so I headed just around the corner, parked up, and captured my next shot. Sometimes the best photos happen in those in-between moments.

Prompt #5 - Take as many steps as you have battery percentage left and frame your shot

Te Puke has so many hidden gems for photography, and my remaining battery took me straight to one of my favourites - the display of different countries. These installations are genuinely impressive and such a cool part of the Te Puke Heritage Walkway, a 4km trail that doubles as a walkway and cycleway.

Wandering past all the artwork made me think… I definitely need to come back over the summer break and do the entire walkway, camera in hand of course! Alfie can even tag along - as long as he promises to stay on his leash and not try to add “art critic” to his résumé.

Exploring, walking, photographing - sounds like a perfect summer plan to me!

Prompt #6 - Leading lines or rule of thirds? Or can you do both?

This time, I went all in on leading lines. With a little time still up my sleeve, I wandered further along the walkway and noticed a fence curving beautifully around the edge of the park - the perfect visual guide straight into the scene.

A couple of seagulls were loitering nearby (or “bin chickens,” as Chloe affectionately calls them). They were completely unfazed by me creeping closer with my camera - either very chill… or secretly hoping I’d brought snacks. Probably the snacks.

Prompt #7 - Put a frame around a landscape using whatever you find around you

Just a little further along from my last prompt, I found the perfect makeshift frame - the entranceway to the pathway, complete with a sign marking the Heritage Walkway route. It even included a bit of local graffiti. Not exactly my favourite kind of “art,” but sometimes it’s good to keep things real and capture places exactly as they are - quirks and all.

Prompt #8 - Get macro and portray the season you’re in with just a leaf or flower

We’re well into late spring now, and these little violas are some of my absolute favourites. I love using them to decorate baking treats - though maybe not the ones growing in the local car park! Still, they add such a cheerful pop of purple, brightening up even the most ordinary corners.

Prompt #9 - Find a building. Zoom your lens to the widest angle. Move in close to make dramatic angles

On my way back to the car - just as my phone dinged to say the pizzas were ready - I spotted this prompt in my hand and thought, “Perfect! Let’s see what I can find.”

The little art gallery near where I’d parked immediately caught my eye. A small side building, securely locked up, provided just the right lines and angles for a dramatic shot. Wide-angle, close-up, a little tilt here and there… suddenly, even a tiny gallery outbuilding felt like a statement piece.

Prompt #10 - Use a camera setting you wouldn’t normally use for this type of photo

After all that exploring, Krystal, Dave, and I finally settled in for pizza lunch - complete with garlic bread and onion rings! By this point, it was already 2pm, and the Christmas tree decorating hadn’t even started… though at least the tree was up.

Alfie and Sadie were eager to join in on the feast, but sadly for them, the humans decided pizza wasn’t on the menu for pups. After all their chasing, pool splashing (for Sadie, anyway), and general mayhem, they were completely worn out.

I switched up my usual camera settings, zoomed in close, and captured a few shots of our sleeping fur babies. A quiet little pause in the middle of a lively, fun-filled day - but definitely not the end of the adventures yet! 

Prompt #11 - Close your eyes, spin, stop and shoot

I didn’t actually close my eyes - far too risky with two playful dogs and stacks of Christmas boxes all around - but I still managed to capture something truly special.

Our newest family member was placing her very first Christmas decoration on the tree: a tiny, delicate Christmas angel. Such a precious moment. After all, one of the greatest joys of the season is spending time with children, and a new granddaughter is certainly someone to celebrate!

As always, I like to create a title card for the month, and this time I picked something I’d normally never use - but somehow it felt just right. While looking through some of the Christmas ornaments, I spotted the deer tags I had made for Krystal and Dave last year. I propped them up on the tree and snapped a few photos “just because.”

Funny enough, I didn’t realise that the camera had focused on the tree rather than the deer, leaving them slightly blurred. Surprisingly, I quite like the effect! That soft, dreamy look has earned this photo pride of place for November.

What a truly wonderful day it was - filled with family, laughter, and the simple joys of spending time together. From chasing, splashing, and playful chaos with Sadie and Alfie to exploring Te Puke with my camera in hand, every moment was a little adventure.

The absolute highlight, of course, was getting to share precious time with our newest family member. She brought so much joy to the day, and capturing her first Christmas decorations on the tree was a memory I’ll treasure forever. Out of respect for how some people use AI, I’m not showing her face here - it’s entirely up to Dave and Krystal if and when those moments are shared.

This day reminded me how special family time is, how little moments can become lasting memories, and how photography can help capture the laughter, love, and life that surround us every day.

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