On the other side of the world, low in the southern hemisphere, a chain of islands sits, snuggly nestled in the Pacific Ocean. One of the youngest landmasses on the planet, its rugged landscapes and pristine natural state present a splendor rarely seen. Its volcanic origins and isolation helped to foster a robust variety of climates and ecosystems: green rolling hills, low lying grasslands, rocky cliffs, desert, rainforests, and alpine mountains, all in close proximity to one another. I was fortunate enough to spend June & July of 2010 there (winter for Kiwis), an experience that will remain with me forever. These photographs are my humble attempt to capture and pay tribute to the simple yet elegant grandeur I witnessed there. It is my hope that these images will give a fleeting glimpse of this undeniable beauty.

The Máori call it Aotearoa, which loosely translated means land of the long white cloud, but no matter what the name, there exist few places on Earth that are quite as remarkable as New Zealand.