A cruddy shot I know - but just keep reading .......it gets better I promise!

I just received the July 2009 edition of National Geographic magazine and discovered an article entitled Land of Lord of the Rings - a photo essay centred upon Tongariro National Park right here in New Zealand.

The photographer, Stuart Franklin (maker of the famous Tiananmen square photos of the single protester stopping tanks) did a nice job of showcasing Tongariro National Park and it's beautiful volcanos - Mt Ruapehu, Mt Ngauruhoe, and the eponymous Mt Tongariro.

I got to thinking about my shots of Tongariro National Park - and I realised that I had none!

Or did I?

Oh yes I did!

In 1995 I was 'living' in Auckland and I shot down with my friend Crispy for day's skiing on Turoa Skifield, (which for non-kiwis is located on Mt Ruapehu - inside Tongariro National Park).  And I took some really quite interesting snapshots of my day on my junky little point & shoot Ricoh FF-7 (I don't think FF meant Full Frame back then!).

Big deal! - you might say - well actually yes it was quite a big deal