Gannets of Muriwai

 Putting the XF 1.4x TC WR through its paces...

X-T1 with XF50-140mm f2.8 and XF1.4x TC - 1/2000th at f5.6 ISO800 at 196mm

The rugged New Zealand coastline west of Auckland is famous for its black sand beaches and Muriwai, a 60km strip between the thundering surf and the dunes, is popular with tourists and locals alike.  At the south end of the beach, Otakamiro headland is home to a small but accessible gannet colony where about 1200 pairs of gannets nest from August to March each year.

Lighting Up 2016

New Year Fireworks at Central Square, Hampstead Garden Suburb, London

X-T1 / XF16-55 @ 16mm / ISO200 / 6.5 sec at f/22

What better way is there to see in a new year than a fireworks display and with the "big" London display being a ticketed only event this year I headed to Central Square in Hampstead Garden Suburb where the residents association put on their own display to welcome in 2016.