Getting Lost - December

Back in January I wrote about the 15:3:1 Project.

In a nutshell, this approach is about nurturing wairua and hinengaro - our emotional, physical, and spiritual wellbeing - by intentionally making time for ourselves in three different ways:

• 15 - something you do for 15 minutes every day to support your wellbeing

• 3 - something you do for 3 uninterrupted hours once a week

• 1 - something you do for 1 full day each month

For me, that looked like this:

• 15 minutes a day journaling

• 3 hours on a Saturday morning doing something creative just for myself

• 1 day a month devoted to Getting Lost

Over the course of the year, both my “15” and my “3” evolved - and I think that’s exactly how it should be. But I’m really pleased to say that I made it all the way through 2025 keeping my one day a month, using the Photography Getting Lost cards.

For December, I chose one of my favourite places in Rotorua: the Redwoods Forest.

I actually ended up visiting the forest twice in one day… because the photos from my first visit were pretty awful.

I was shooting in auto mode (landscape), but the images came out washed out and flat. So I did what many of us do - I started pressing buttons and changing settings to see what would happen. Thanks to poor eyesight, rain, and reading glasses that kept fogging up, I somehow landed on a setting that gave beautiful colour… but when I got home and uploaded the photos, almost all of them were out of focus and completely unusable.

Out of 144 photos, only 58 were even in focus - and most of those still felt dull and uninspiring.

I knew I could do better.

So I turned to ChatGPT (say what you like - AI can actually be pretty useful). I fed in where I was going, the weather, the type of photos I wanted to take, and what had gone wrong the first time. It spat out a set of camera settings for me to try.

Alfie and I headed back to the forest.

This time, I took 157 photos, and almost every single one was usable - although don’t worry, I’m not about to make you look at all 157 of them.

To show just how big the difference was, here’s a comparison:
first visit vs second visit, of the same seat in the forest.
No editing. Just different camera settings.

 

Sometimes getting lost - and starting again - is exactly what’s needed.

So, let’s get on with the December prompts.

Prompt 1: Spell your name by photographing items that start with each letter.

I tweaked this one slightly. Just after we arrived in the forest, I spotted a pile of sticks someone else had left behind. Instead of hunting for objects, I grabbed the sticks and started writing my name on the forest floor - all while holding Alfie’s lead in one hand.

Naturally, Alfie decided this was a game just for him.

He kept stealing my sticks. I was lucky to get as far as “Shell” before he made off with the “ey”.

This photo was taken on the first visit… and yes, you can probably tell.

Prompt 2: Take a photo of a living thing.

I can’t remember ever taking Alfie to this part of the Redwoods before. We usually head to the dog park side where dogs can be off-leash, so this was all new territory for him.

Alfie was in absolute heaven - so many smells, so many things to investigate, and far too many pauses to take it all in properly.

The only moment of drama came when someone had closed their umbrella and leaned it up against a tree. Apparently, this was deeply suspicious. Terrifying, even. We were completely unable to move forward on the track until the umbrella was retrieved and removed by its owner.

Once the forest was safe again, Alfie happily continued his explorations.

Prompt 3: Leading lines or the rule of thirds?

If ever there was a place made for leading lines, the Redwoods is it. Tracks and trails branch off in every direction, constantly drawing your eye forward and deeper into the forest.

This particular photo was taken on one of the boardwalks that crosses a stream - a perfect example of how the lines naturally guide you through the frame and into the scene beyond.

Prompt 4: Drive until you see water, then stop and photograph the reflections.

There was no driving involved for this one - and no reflections either - but there was water, so I’m counting it.

This photo was taken further along the boardwalk, where it crosses a stream. The water here is surprisingly warm, bubbling gently from the geothermal activity underneath. As you walk past, there’s a definite geothermal smell in the air - a quiet reminder that this forest sits on very active ground.

Prompt 5: At the next direction signpost, take a photo - then head that way.

The Redwoods is criss-crossed with an incredible variety of tracks. There are easy paths for those of us who just want a gentle stroll, slightly more challenging tracks for a bit of exercise, and more demanding routes for hikers looking for a proper workout. There are also dedicated tracks for mountain bikers, and even some specifically for horse riders.

Whatever your fitness level or pace, there’s a place for you here. If you’ve never been to the Redwoods, I highly recommend it.

Prompt 6: Stop, look behind you, and take a shot.

Despite the drizzly rain, the forest was surprisingly busy. There were plenty of people out walking the tracks, and lots of friendly greetings exchanged as we passed each other.

For this photo, I waited until someone walked past me, then turned around and took the shot. I did this a few times, just to see what I might capture- and this group, with their bright splash of red umbrellas, quickly became my favourite.

Prompt 7: Find a busy spot. Set a 10-second timer and see what wanders into your shot.

There are a few major tracks in the forest that are always fairly busy, so I didn’t have to wait long for something interesting to wander into frame.

For the truly adventurous, there’s Redwoods Altitude - a treetop experience 25 metres above the forest floor. That’s a firm no thank you from me; I don’t do heights. For those who do, it involves navigating 25 jungle bridges and 3 ziplines, very much in an Indiana Jones style.

I spotted the next group of adventurers gearing up and was more than happy to capture them just as they set off on their own forest adventure.

 

Prompt 8: Use a camera setting you wouldn’t normally use for this type of photo.

To be honest, my second trip was all about using different camera settings, so I could have chosen almost any photo for this prompt. In the end, I chose this one because it felt a little unexpected.

It’s just the end of a tree that’s been cut down - but the circles, the missing pieces of wood, and the contrast between the deep browns and the vibrant greens of the forest really caught my eye.

I remember seeing this photo for the first time on my screen and thinking, I took that photo.

Prompt 9: Get macro and portray the season you’re in using just a leaf or a flower.

I’m not entirely sure that a koru from a fern frond represents any particular season - I’ve seen them year-round in the forest - but I couldn’t go past this image.

The droplets of water, the tightly spiralled koru, and the delicate feathery “hairs” all came together beautifully. It’s another one of those photos that I took purely for myself.

Prompt 10: Find a building. Zoom your lens to the widest angle, then move in close to create dramatic angles.

I’ll admit, I hadn’t been to the Redwoods for a few months - we usually stick to the dog park side, so I was genuinely surprised to stumble across these strange-looking metal “igloos” tucked into the forest.

It turns out they’re part of the latest activity on offer - Redwoods Glowworms. I had to Google when they started, and thankfully I’m not too far behind the times; they only launched in September/October this year.

In the end, I didn’t even bother moving in close. Those igloo-like shapes create dramatic angles all on their own.

Prompt 11: Take as many steps as you have battery percentage left, then frame your shot.

This is always a fun prompt, because you never quite know where you’ll end up.

For this one, I wandered a little off track trying to avoid the crowds gathered around the more touristy part of the forest. Quite unintentionally, I ended up on the other side of the glowworm igloos.

It’s a spot I’d like to come back to - preferably when it’s a little quieter.

Prompt 12: Take a photo from the perspective of a flower.

There aren’t many flowers in the Redwoods, but the prompt said from the perspective of a flower, not of a flower - so I interpreted that as getting low and looking up.

From ground level, the trees feel even taller, stretching skyward in a way you don’t fully appreciate when you’re standing upright.

As with previous months, I needed a title card - and once again I found it hard to choose just one image. This one, though, really stood out.

I love the vibrant greens, and I still can’t quite believe that simply adjusting my camera settings took my photos from flat and washed out to bold and alive. It’s a good reminder that I need to spend more time behind the camera, really getting to know it and what it’s capable of.

So that really is the end of my year of Getting Lost.

Back in January, I wrote: “None of the photos have been edited in Photoshop etc. I just want this to be a fun ‘take it as it is’ project.” (I definitely stuck to that!)

I also said I was thinking about turning the photos into a coffee table book at the end of the year.

Now, with 2025 almost at a close, that idea feels just right.

Apart from January, all of the monthly cards now feature one of my own photographs, so I’ll be replacing that original downloaded image with one of mine. After that, it’s time to collate my selected photos and turn them into a book. 

It’s been a huge amount of fun - taking me as far north as Waitangi and as far south as Whanganui, and giving me the chance to take photos alongside family and friends.

All in all, it’s been a really meaningful and enjoyable part of my 2025 - one I’m very glad I said yes to.

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

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

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