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!
#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
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