Laurie Winter (@laurie_winter) is a landscape photographer based in Wellington, New Zealand. Initially drawn to photography to capture the beauty of New Zealand’s scenery, Laurie aims to produce bold and vibrant images that will stand the test of time. Her work features a dynamic colour palette that showcases the best of Aotearoa’s majestic landscapes. Earlier this year she won the landscape category at the 2021 Sony Alpha Awards with this beautiful shot of Lake Wairarapa titled "Vanishing Point."
Sony Alpha 7R III with FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM lens. 30 sec, f/11, ISO 200
Setting the Scene
Lake Wairarapa is a 70-minute drive from Wellington and a prime location for enjoying the Wairarapa region’s wildlife and wetlands. In order to catch the first light of dawn, Laurie travelled to the location the night before and stayed at a freedom camping spot nearby.
“The forecast was for clear skies, which for a landscape photographer isn’t ideal, but I decided to shoot the sunrise anyway,” Laurie recalls. "When I got up it was still dark, and I could see that there was this hazy mist. That morning, seeing the way the light was forming, I knew straight away that it was going to be something pretty special.”
To get the best angle for the shot, Laurie climbed down between the posts of the broken jetty and stood in the water. Getting into the water is something that she typically prepares for in advance, often bringing with her gumboots and waders.
Despite the lack of clouds, “the simplicity of the scene is what made this shot so effective, giving it a sense of tranquillity,” Laurie explains. “Even a slight breeze would have ruined it.”
Gear & Camera Settings
To capture this image Laurie used her Sony Alpha 7R III paired with a 24-70mm F2.8 G Master lens, a combo she uses for 80% of her photography.
“The ISO was at 200, the aperture f/11, and it was a 30-second exposure. I used a graduated filter and a circular polarising filter as well.”
For post-production, Laurie describes herself as an “easy editor” stating that the “real joy of photography is being out there and taking the photos.”
She does the bulk of her editing in Lightroom because of its simplicity. “With this particular photo, there was very little editing. I removed some dust spots and some white paint on the jetty, and I added a bit of vibrancy and clarity.”
“Nature put it on for me that day, the conditions were really good, and it ended up being quite a simple photo that didn’t need much editing.”
To see more of Laurie’s work you can find her on Instagram as @laurie_winter, or visit her website, www.lauriewinterphotography.com.
