Getting Lost - August

August totally got away on me this year - I didn’t even take my “August” photos until yesterday! But I’ve got the best excuse… I became a Nana again!

We’ve welcomed a gorgeous little girl, Violet Kathryn, thanks to Krystal and Dave. She’s absolutely adorable and her mum and dad are head over heels in love with her (and so are the rest of us!).

Pretty much every weekend lately has been baby-related - whether it was our “fill the freezer” day to get Krystal and Dave stocked up, the baby shower, hanging out at Maternity waiting for things to kick off, or finally getting to meet Miss Violet herself.

I’m not sharing baby pics just yet, but I can share this one from the baby shower that I know Krystal really likes:

 

I’ll share this photo too because it has a lot of sentimental value. The cradle (or bassinet, depending on what you like to call it!) is the very same one Krystal and Mikayla both slept in as newborns. Three of my nieces also had their turn in it when they were tiny, so it’s definitely got some family history.

And then there’s the teddy. My sister Kate bought it for me only about six months after Heini and I got married - as a bit of a “bribe” to hurry up and have a baby so she could be an auntie! I’ve looked after it carefully all these years, knowing that one day I’d want to pass it on to Krystal.

The quilt is special too. The little cross-stitched bunnies are from the original quilt I made for my babies over 30 years ago. When Krystal found out she was expecting, she asked me to remake the quilts (there’s a cot one as well) using new fabric but keeping the bunnies. So now baby Violet gets to sleep under a quilt that ties our family’s story together in the loveliest way.

Keeping with the whole “Nana” theme, Miss Chloe came to stay on Friday night and we decided to do my August photos together on Saturday morning. I used my camera and she used my iPad - she’s such a little digital native that it didn’t faze her one bit. And honestly? Her photos are gorgeous!

Chloe even picked all our cards this month, read them out to me, and then we each took our own shots. At one point she told me, “I love taking beautiful photos with you.” My heart just about melted. She’s already asked when we can have another photo day, so I’m pretty sure you’ll be seeing another Nana-and-Chloe joint effort in the coming months.

Now onto the prompts!

#1 Cloudy day, head for the coast. Sunny day, head inland. Honestly, the weather couldn’t make up its mind - there was a bit of sun, a bit of cloud, a touch of wind… and then, right after we got home, a lot of rain!

We decided on Centennial Park (better known around here as the Tree Trust). I’ve been plenty of times, but this was Chloe’s very first visit and she was absolutely blown away by how beautiful it all is. For our first photo we headed to the lookout, snapping shots across the park and all the way over to Mount Ngongotahā.

Chloe

Shelley (Nana)

#2 Take the hour of the day your last photo was taken and head south that many kms. Since we were happily spending the morning at the Tree Trust, Chloe and I decided to adapt it a little - we went 12 GIANT steps instead!

It’s funny how much of a difference a few giant steps can make. Instead of looking out towards the mountain and trees, suddenly we were surrounded by daffodils and people wandering around enjoying the park. Totally different vibe, but just as lovely.

Chloe

Shelley (Nana)

#3 Use camera blur to make something look different from what your eye can see.

I already knew from past attempts that doing camera blur on an iPad can be a little tricky… but Chloe gave it a go anyway. She didn’t quite nail it this time, but (spoiler alert!) she absolutely nailed it perfectly on one of the later prompts!

Chloe

Shelley (Nana)

 #4 Get macro and portray the season you are in with just a leaf or flower.   

What says “spring” more than a daffodil? Technically spring doesn’t start until September, but since the daffodils have been out for weeks already, we didn’t mind bending the rules a little. Getting up close and personal with them turned out to be so much fun!

Chloe

Shelley (Nana)

 

 

#5 Put a frame around a landscape using what ever you find around you.  

I wasn’t sure we’d manage this one with the wind blowing as much as it was… but then, as we walked into the park, we spotted the gated opening. It turned out to be the perfect natural frame for the view!

Chloe

Shelley (Nana)

#6 Take as many steps as you have battery percentage left and frame your shot. 

 

Since it was the very start of our photography adventure, we still had 98% battery left. To make it more fun, we counted in tens - 10 steps, then another 10, which Chloe happily added up each time. She thought it was hilarious that we were doing maths on the weekend! By the time we’d reached 98 steps, we’d arrived at a beautiful tree, which became the perfect subject for our photos.

 

Chloe

Shelley (Nana)

 

#7 Take 3 photos of the same thing with shadows or light changing how it looks.  

 

This one was a bit tricky for an eight-year-old, so we tweaked it to: Take 3 photos of the same thing from different angles. Chloe picked a bench seat and got straight to work, while I focused on a beautiful fern koru I’d spotted nearby.

 

Chloe

Shelley (Nana)

#8 Take a photo from the perspective of a flower.

 

Hmm… how to explain perspective? Easier than I thought. I asked, “Chloe, if you were a flower, what would you be able to see?” She got it immediately... dropped to her knees, and captured an amazing shot! And remember how I said camera blur can be tricky on an iPad? Well, Chloe absolutely nailed it this time. Honestly, I was enjoying watching her have so much fun even more than taking my own photos… she really is a natural, if I do say so myself (biased Nana alert!).

 

Chloe

Shelley (Nana)

#9 Find a busy spot. Set a 10 second timer and see what wandered into your shot.

 

Right away, Chloe suggested we head back to where the car was parked. “It’s really busy there, Nana,” she said - and she wasn’t wrong! As we went through the gate into the car park, two young blokes walked past, so we stepped aside… and just like that, they became the perfect subjects for our photos!

 

Chloe

Shelley (Nana)

#10 Take a photo of a living thing.

 

I had wondered if this prompt would come up... and if it did I was pretty sure we would get a photo of a lamb... but Chloe spotted something quite different.  A wee sparrow sitting on a post right beside the car park.  He was just hanging out minding his own business... possibly hoping that someone might have a picnic so there would be some tidbits but I suspect with the wind he might have been out of luck!

Chloe

Shelley (Nana)

 

#11 Find a line in nature to draw you in to the heart of the picture.

Chloe wanted to take Alfie for a little walk around the park - he’d been in the car up until now so we could focus on our photography. I knew just the spot for a great “line” - not exactly natural, but definitely photo-worthy. Alfie was more than happy to join us and discovered a whole new world of smells… including sheep poo, which apparently fascinated him!

We strolled over to the Peace Garden, a beautiful corner of the park. The cherry blossoms aren’t out yet, but Chloe was captivated by the engraved quotes on the large central stone. She ran her fingers over every word, and I was so pleased she loved it as much as I do.

Chloe

Shelley (Nana)

While we were at the Peace Garden, I took a moment to do a little “Chloe watching.” She’s such an empathetic little human, full of compassion, and she really wanted to understand what the different quotes on the stones meant. She’s not one to talk a lot, but I could see the cogs turning in her mind - I’m sure the Peace Garden will come up again in conversation sometime. I also snapped a photo of her with Alfie. He absolutely adores her and lights up whenever she comes to stay.

 #12 Stop for a treat (and take a photo of it).

Chloe had actually chosen this card about six prompts earlier, but I suggested we save it for last so we could stop at a cake shop on the way home. She decided Alfie deserved a treat too, so she picked him a nice stick from the park to take home.

Knowing Chloe, it was no surprise when she went for a huge raspberry lamington - pink, of course! I treated myself to a slice of black forest cake… absolutely delicious.

Chloe

Shelley (Nana)

 

What a wonderful day Chloe and I had at Centennial Park! From exploring the Tree Trust to snapping photos of daffodils, sparrows, and even a beautiful tree, we had so much fun following the prompts and seeing the park through Chloe’s eyes. Alfie got to join in too, discovering new smells and loving every minute of the walk.

Alfie was thrilled with his stick treat, though Chloe decided that cleaning up the inevitable crumbs and bits of mess was definitely a “Nana job”!

All in all, it was a perfect mix of creativity, laughter, and little moments of connection. I’m already looking forward to our next photo day!

 

Of course, no month is complete without a title card! This month, I featured one of Chloe’s photos - taken as we were heading back up to the car park. The glorious greens and blues she captured are just perfect and really sum up our day beautifully.

 

 

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

Getting Lost - July

Good grief - somehow we’re already halfway through August and I still haven’t shared my photos from July’s Getting Lost session!

I’ll admit, I didn’t get through as many prompts in July as I usually do. Life felt a bit 'time poor' with weekends filling up quickly, so instead of my usual wandering, I grabbed my camera (and Alfie!) and headed to the Te Puke Dog Park. We met up with Krystal and Sadie for a big play before we had to dash off to other plans.

The day couldn’t have been better – sunny without that harsh glare, barely a breath of wind, and plenty of canine friends for Alfie and Sadie to run around with. It was such a fun morning, and an added bonus was having two tired pups later in the day when things got busier. Always a win!

Now, onto the prompts…

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

This was such an easy one to kick things off with. The dog park was buzzing, so pretty much anywhere I pointed the camera counted as “busy.” The trick was remembering to switch over to sports mode so I actually stood a chance of catching something in focus. Totally worth it though – a handful of dogs dashed straight into frame, and the result feels full of energy and life.

 

#2 Find a line in nature to draw you into the heart of the picture.  

The dog park doesn’t have a huge amount to break up the space – just a couple of trees, a few water fountains, some tussocky plants, and a few things for the dogs to climb over or dash through. Among them were some wooden beams that caught my eye, creating the perfect natural line to draw you straight into the heart of the photo. The beams gave the shot structure, while the dogs provided all the chaos and movement around it. And sure enough, not long after, they all made their way over to the tussock patch for a big communal sniff – the doggy version of signing the guest book.

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

No buildings at the dog park, of course - but there are a couple of doggie-doo bag dispensers at the entrances. They’ve weathered over time into this gorgeous rusty shade that really pops against the green of the landscape. Since the prompt was all about angles and drama, I figured they’d make a fun stand-in for a building. I zoomed in tight, played around with the shapes, and ended up pretty happy with how the shots turned out. Sometimes the best results come from improvising!

#4 Take a photo of a moving object while panning to blur the background.

No shortage of moving objects at the dog park! With dogs tearing around, sniffing every corner, and chasing each other, there was action everywhere I looked. Miss Sadie, though, was the absolute star for this one. She’s lightning fast and absolutely lives for being chased. If you sit back and watch, she’s usually the one stirring things up - swiping toys and dashing off just to tempt the others into running after her. She knows they won’t catch her, and she’s more than happy to prove it!

Trying to pan along with her was a challenge, but it couldn’t have been a better fit for the prompt. Honestly, if you keep your eyes on Sadie, the whole world feels like a blur anyway.

 

#5 – Close your eyes, spin, stop and shoot.

There was absolutely no way I was closing my eyes at the dog park - unless I wanted to be taken out by 20 to 30 kilos of zooming canine! So instead, after finishing up with Sadie’s photo, I spun around and looked behind me… and there was Mr Alfie, charging straight towards me with that “Here I am, Mumma – take my photo too!” look on his face. I barely had time to focus, but honestly, the shot captured him perfectly. The way he runs with his tongue lolling out never fails to make me laugh.

#6 Take as many steps as you have battery percentage left and frame your shot.

This one was such a fun prompt. My battery still had plenty of life in it, so I set off for 86 steps. Turns out that’s not actually very far when you’re in the middle of a busy dog park! Before long I’d looped back to a more central spot, and there was Miss Sadie staring straight at me with the most expressive look on her face - as if to say, “WHAT are you doing walking around in circles, Nana?”

Her personality comes through in every photo, but this one really makes me smile. Sadie’s face says it all.

#7 – Stop, look behind you and take a shot.

It felt like Alfie and Sadie had been tag-teaming the camera all morning – both of them love having their photos taken, and to be fair, they’re pretty good little posers. This time, though, when I turned around, Alfie wasn’t striking a pose at all. He was nose-down, hot on the trail of some mysterious scent. I’ve no idea what had caught his attention, but he was completely absorbed in it.

The dog park must be absolute sensory overload for them - so many smells, sounds, and friends to play with. No wonder Alfie is usually ready for a nap in the car on the way home!

#8 Use camera blur to make something appear different to what your eye can see.

I was really pleased with this one. My goal was to get a clear shot of Alfie with the background fencing softly blurred - and it worked perfectly. The bonus was that another dog in the frame (Max) also ended up out of focus, which really made Alfie the unmistakable star of the photo.

One thing I always notice at dog parks or the Redwoods is how everyone knows the dogs’ names before they know the owners’. It’s funny how the dogs become the real celebrities while we humans stay mostly anonymous in the background!

#9 Use the ‘wrong’ lens to photograph this scene.

I wouldn’t normally zoom in so close on the dogs while they’re racing around, but this ended up being such a fun shot. I love how it captures the soft brown of Alfie’s eyes and the glossy shine of his coat. Other dog owners often comment on just how shiny he is, and I’m pretty sure it comes down to his diet. His absolute favourite is Kooky Kibble, and since he’s been enjoying it, his coat has never looked healthier.

As always, I like to finish the month with a title card or photo from the session, and this one was a complete no-brainer. I had to feature Alfie, and this shot captures him perfectly in one of his favourite spots near the tussock. His tail is up in the air, and you can tell just how happy he is. I know he had an absolutely wonderful time playing with all his friends - both old and new - and it feels like the perfect way to wrap up July’s Getting Lost session.

It was such a fun month capturing Alfie, Sadie, and all the action at the dog park. Even with a few prompts tackled a little differently than usual, I love how the photos turned out and the little stories they tell. July’s session reminded me why I love these outings so much – the movement, the joy, and, of course, the personalities of the dogs. I’m already starting to plan my August photos for next weekend, and next month won’t be about dogs – I’m excited to see what new subjects and moments will inspire me!

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

Getting Lost - June

Where Did June Go?

I feel like I say this every month… but seriously, where did June go? Maybe it’s a sign of getting older, but 2025 seems to be flying past at record speed.

June is always a full month for me. It’s the time I complete another trip around the sun, and it usually marks the end of Term 2 as well. If you know any educators, you’ll understand that we tend to measure time in ten-week blocks (give or take), punctuated by what we used to call "school holidays." These days, I think of them more as "non-contact time" - because let’s be honest, I often find myself still chipping away at work tasks even during the break.

I can officially confirm that these photos were taken in June - on the very last day, to be exact - even though I’m posting them now. With the month slipping away, I decided to keep things simple and local. All of these photos were taken right here in Rotorua, in one of my favourite places: Kuirau Park.

If you’re familiar with Rotorua, you’ll know Kuirau Park is a bit of a gem - a geothermal wonderland right in the heart of the city, where locals and visitors alike can dip their feet in the hot thermal waters. I gave myself a little creative challenge this time: take all my shots within a limited geographical area. Every photo in this set was captured within the park itself.

A reminder, as always, that you don’t need to go far to find something beautiful. Sometimes, the magic is right on your doorstep.

#1 Get macro and portray the season you are in with just a leaf or flower.
I've long admired these unusual shrubs... and I've often wondered - are they covered in cones or flowers? After snapping a few close-ups, curiosity got the better of me, so I uploaded one of the images into Google Lens. Mystery solved: they’re called Banksia 'Giant Candles'. The name couldn’t be more perfect - tall, striking, and full of character, just like winter’s quiet beauty.

According to Wikipedia: It looks like a shrub, and this form, that is equally broad as tall, can grow up to 5 metres. It is well known for its extremely large flower spikes, which easily can become 40 cm long. They have a habit of drooping or bending occasionally. The flowers are a bronzy-orange and will be showy from late autumn through winter. They grow in most well-drained soils, and will flower best if grown in full sun. 

#2 Leading lines or rule of thirds?
I’ve completed this prompt a few times throughout 2025, and somehow each time I manage to find a fresh way to interpret leading lines. This time, it was the pergola over the bridge that caught my eye. Although… is it still called a pergola when it’s built like this? I’m not entirely sure - but I really loved how the overhead beams echoed the lines of the bridge beneath. The biggest challenge? Trying to capture the shot without a parade of random people in the frame!

#3 Take a photo from the perspective of a flower.
It was a lovely day yesterday—no wind, no rain, and just enough cloud cover to make photographing a dream. The greens felt extra vibrant, almost glowing. But what really caught my eye were the unexpected pops of orange scattered throughout the park. From the Giant Candles I mentioned in prompt #1, to the warm-toned leaves on the trees, and finally this stunning marigold… orange seemed to be the colour of the day.

 

#4 Take a photo of a living thing.
I was actually lining up a shot for prompt #5 when this guy made a dramatic entrance. He was absolutely determined to be seen - strutting all over the statue I’d been eyeing up, preening, posing… basically demanding a photoshoot. So what could I do? I’ve decided to call him Fred. No particular reason - it just suited him. And I think he approved, because he let me get surprisingly close. No macro lens needed for this confident character!

 

#5 Put a frame around a landscape using whatever you find around you.
I spotted this statue while crossing the bridge and immediately noticed the hole in the centre - it looked just like a perfect little window, almost like a porthole. It felt serendipitous that I happened to pull the “frame” card from the deck. As if on cue, Fred (from prompt #4) was still in full photoshoot mode, treating me like his personal paparazzi. He even brought a couple of friends along to make a cameo in this shot!

#6 Drive until you see water and then stop and take a photo of the reflections.
Luckily, I didn’t need to drive anywhere for this one - Kuirau Park is full of thermal pools, and they definitely count as water! Of course, these ones are far too hot to dip your toes in - most average around 100°C. What I really love, though, is the way the wispy steam floats across the surface. It adds such a dreamy, otherworldly feel to the reflections in the water.

 

#7 Stop, look behind you and take a shot.
I’ve been listening to Mel Robbins' podcasts lately, and she often talks about focusing on what’s ahead - reminding us that our windshield is much bigger than our rear view mirror. But this prompt had me turning around and taking a moment to look back. I’m glad I did! What I found was this stunning tree, its bare branches perfectly framing the crisp winter sky. The absence of leaves really highlighted the beauty of the season - quiet, still, and full of its own kind of wonder.

 

#8 Use camera blur to make something appear different to what your eye can see.
This was another one of those mystery plants that had me turning to Google Images for answers. It turns out to be Edgeworthia chrysantha Grandiflora - also known as Yellow Daphne or Paperbush. I was really intrigued by the large buds, each with just a hint of yellow peeking through. Using blur gave the image a dreamy softness that made it feel even more otherworldly. This particular plant lives in The Scented Garden, a part of the park designed especially for the blind. I’m definitely planning to return later in the season to see it in full bloom. 

 

#9 Find a busy spot. Set a 10-second timer, and see what wandered into your shot.
This was the one prompt where I was actually hoping for people to show up in the frame. I set myself up well back from the foot baths, hit the 10-second timer, and just let the moment unfold. There were plenty of people enjoying a soothing soak, but I made sure to stay out of everyone’s way. It was a nice change to simply observe and capture the everyday rhythm of the park - no posing, just real life in motion.

#10 Take 3 photos of the same thing with shadows or light changing how it looks.
Over the years, Rotorua has hosted a range of outdoor sculpture installations - some temporary, others becoming permanent fixtures in the landscape. While walking through Kuirau Park yesterday, I happened to notice the way the light was falling across one of the sculptures. The shifting shadows and highlights gave it an entirely different feel depending on the angle. When this prompt came up, the timing couldn’t have been more perfect!

"Kuirau" by Takutaimoana Harawira:

This sculpture is part of the "Sculpture Symposium" installations and is dedicated to Kuirau, the young woman for whom the park is named. It acknowledges the legend of Kuirau and her connection to the sacred waters and geothermal activity of the area. 

 

#11 Take a photo upside down (you or the camera).
I’ve played with this prompt a few times before, and I usually end up pointing my camera up into the trees. There were certainly plenty of trees around in the park, but this time I decided to try something a little different. I focused on some of the stone structures scattered throughout Kuirau Park, flipped my camera upside down - and was pleasantly surprised by the results. Sometimes a simple shift in perspective is all it takes to see something familiar in a whole new way.

 

#12 Close your eyes, spin, stop and shoot.
This is a prompt I’ve done a few times before, and it’s always interesting to see what ends up in the frame - it’s a little like photographic roulette. This time, the camera landed on a sign. What surprised me most was that I hadn’t really noticed it before, despite the fact that Kuirau Park is filled with similar warnings about the hot water and steam. It felt like a timely reminder - sometimes we miss the most important details simply because we’re used to seeing them.

#13 Time to start editing all those photos – head for home.
I have to admit, I was pretty grateful to draw this card - I was done, ready to put my feet up, and definitely curious to see how all the photos turned out on the computer. As I was making my way back to the car, I happened to glance up and spotted one of the many murals scattered around Rotorua. It’s one I’ve driven past countless times and always thought, “I should take a photo of that.” But I never actually did - until now.

The mural features a pōhutukawa flower and a piwakawaka (fantail), both iconic symbols of Aotearoa. The artist, Jonny4Higher, has captured them beautifully. It felt like the perfect image to finish the day - something familiar seen with fresh eyes, much like the whole experience of this photo challenge.

 Here's a full version of the mural from the artists website:

 

Once I got home, it was time to choose one final image for my June title photo - and this one, with its vibrant greens and those gorgeous trees, felt just right. It perfectly captured the essence of the day and the quiet beauty of winter in Rotorua. A fitting way to wrap up another month of creative prompts and local adventures.

 

Looking back, I’m so glad I decided to stay local for this month’s challenge. Kuirau Park offered more than enough inspiration - with its steamy thermal pools, quirky sculptures, unexpected bursts of colour, and familiar sights seen through new eyes. It reminded me that creativity doesn’t always require travel or grand scenery - sometimes it just takes a camera, a curious mindset, and a willingness to look a little closer. June may have raced by, but this photo walk helped me slow down, take notice, and appreciate the beauty right on my doorstep.

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