NIWA staff capture incredible images

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2018

Video of images: https://vimeo.com/290812848/05e5a1907e

Once, or twice a year, when the tides and moon align, the brightly coloured jewel anemone will spawn, sending trails into the ocean in a spectacle that few get to witness.

Each spawning lasts just 20 minutes and is rarely photographed. NIWA specialist diver and underwater photographer Crispin Middleton has captured this incredible natural event taking place on the wreck of the Canterbury in Deep Water Cove, Bay of Islands.

His photograph was a winner in the annual NIWA staff photographic competition which captivated the judges with its “gorgeous light and colour”.

NIWA staff work in many of New Zealand’s most stunning natural locations, from the bottom of the ocean to the mountain tops. These beautiful land and seascapes form the backdrop for the vast array of environmental science undertaken by NIWA researchers.

This year the competition attracted more than 400 entries from staff capturing the beauty of New Zealand’s natural features, NIWA’s work and rarely seen creatures.

Peter Marriott is also a specialist diver who dives under the ice in Antarctica undertaking ecological research. His photograph entitled Where the Land Meets The Sky, was taken after Marriott descended through a hole drilled through the ice in New Harbour.

Marine ecologist David Bowden took his shot from the bridge of NIWA’s research vessel Tangaroa in the notoriously rough Southern Ocean when a swell of nine metres from the north west combined with a swell of six metres from the south. Dr Bowden was the leader of a six-week research voyage.

At Little Pigeon Bay on Banks Peninsula, hydrodynamics technician Jo Bind was undertaking a survey following a tsunami caused by the Kaikoura earthquake. He used a strong neutral density filter to create his image using a long exposure to create the dreamy, soft water and sharp, defined land features. This image received the Special Award in the competition.

Crispin Middleton was back diving at the Blue Maomao Arch, Poor Knights Marine Reserve which he says is particularly stunning in winter.
“The low light beams through cracks in the roof of the arch although timing is everything – it’s only like that for an hour or so.”

And environmental monitoring technician Elliot Bowie climbed to the summit of Barrier Knob in Fiordland to capture the magnificent view that lays out the landscape of the area in all its rugged glory.

The judges of this year’s competition were Ross Giblin of Stuff, Gerry le Roux from Science Lens and NIWA photographer Dave Allen.

Still images https://www.niwa.co.nz/static/media/2018_9_photo_comp/

Captions in order:

Cloud over Kaikoura moon. Photo: Adele Dutilloy
This is Owha, the leopard seal. Photo: Alvin Setiawan
Hummingbird feeding on nectar. Photo: Alvin Setiawan
Sea urchins have a point to make. Photo: Chris Woods.
Blue Maomao Arch, Poor Knights Marine Reserve. Photo: Crispin Middleton
Spawning jewel anemone, Bay of Islands. Photo: Crispin Middleton
Eagle ray party. Photo: Crispin Middleton
Tangaroa bridge off Cape McCormick, Southern Ocean. Photo: David Bowden
Barrier Knob provides a true Fiordland experience. Photo: Elliot Bowie
A calm day at Little Pigeon Bay, Banks Peninsula. Photo: Jo Bind
Crinoid Promachocrinus kerguelensis under the ice. Photo: Peter Marriott
Where the Land Meets the Sky, New Harbour, Antarctica. Photo: Peter Marriott
NIWA divers in Lake Sylvan. Photo: Tracey Burton

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