NZ captured in photos

I am New Zealand: Aotearoa Through many Eyes Various authors, Penguin RandomHouse, $45 .. .. .. ..

Yum yum yum.

It's not often you open a book and get actual goosebumps. I am New Zealand is one.

Nikon invited the nation's photographic community to build an image map of the country online. Photographers around the country jumped at the chance to capture their bit of paradise, from the tip of Te Paki at Cape Reinga to the Catlins in the deep south.

Yes there are spectacular seascapes, deserted wilderness and craggy mountains that we're famous for. But there's also a Cuba Street DJ, two old hippies yarned through a window in Thames, a wet night at Britomart. It's all captured in here in glossy colour and the odd black and white. Each is accompanied by a very few words from the photographers — professionals and amateurs — about what they have captured. At the back each thumbnail has photographic technical detail for the purists.

A brilliant and different look at what makes our country unique.

A keen photographer, I read through the whole book with my jaw dropped in envy — and wondering if I should switch allegiance from Canon to Nikon.

There's no point in buying this beautiful book to send to the rellies overseas. You'll just end up keeping it yourself. —