Julia Rae Photography & Art

06/06/2026

These wax-eyes/tauhou have been frequenting the persimmon tree, and I've been endeavoring to capture them while navigating the obstructive branches and foliage.

I love how their feet are touching...little lovebirds who actually stayed still for a few frames. 💛🧡

In post-processing, I incorporated an unintentional intentional camera movement (ICM) shot of my garden, which I believe adds a layer of subtle texture and muted tones to the overall image.

01/06/2026

Thank you to all the young talented riders who gave us a great display of skill at the pumptrack in Rotorua, while you had many camera's pointing at you!

01/06/2026

Had so much fun photographing the Cateye Moonride 24/12/6hr Race, as part of the PSNZ Convention. Panning with flash...once I got into the rhythm I just did not want to stop so here are a few of the many I clicked as they raced past.

28/05/2026

An excellent write up regarding the achievement of two of our Gisborne Camera Club members being awarded their Licentiate! Congratuations to Sandy and Kate!

Sandy Jones and Kate Snow submitted 10-image portfolios for the honour.

24/05/2026

Pause: A Photography and Mindfulness Workshop with Cliff Threadgold at Eastwoodhill Aboretum yesterday. A time of Pausing before the photograph...slowing down, breathing, observing, being curious and connecting not only with your subject but your environment, your senses and your emotions. Cliff ran us through a serious of "pause" activities and here are two images from the day. They are not "competition" images but a reflection of me, slowing down and being intentional with my camera.

1. A Flash of Perception: After stilling yourself the task was to take a short stroll with eyes "wide open" and see what strikes you. Let the image come to you. I was struck by how the light played on the leaves - how the filtering of light through one impacted the other. I am sure there is a message there!

2. Sensation and Emotion: Recognising how we feel can shape the way we see. The task was to sit quietly, eyes closed, breathe, acknowledge our current emotion and then capture that emotion in one image. I was feeling "Free" . I wandered for awhile and then spotted a swing and knew instantly that I wanted to have a slow shutter speed and capture the swing up high... the feeling of freedom, wind in my hair, like flying free!

22/05/2026

"Anemone", on left, achieved Honours and was the top open image at camera club last night. I created it for a High Key inter-club exchange (image on right) but then added the texture to give it a bit more interest. Which do you prefer texture or not?

13/05/2026

King Kina. New 8x10 print.
A giclee archival ink print on soft white etching decor 275gsm textured matte.

Now available or by contacting me direct.

11/05/2026

I’ve just returned from the annual Photographic Society of New Zealand (PSNZ) convention in Rotorua— a fantastic three days immersed in every genre of photography, learning from leaders in their fields. Now comes the time to let it all sink in.

At the convention, I was proud to be awarded a Bronze Medal for The Art of Indulgence.

This image began at Tracey Scott’s workshop last year. The zebra-patterned chaise lounge set the perfect stage, and the model fully embodied the brief—opulence, extravagance, and a sense of “living it up.”

When I returned home, I took it further, op shopping for gold and lavish props to build the scene. I was also fortunate to know a person who just happens to have a taxidermist peacock! This image became one of my most involved composites to date, with 134 layers across 14 groupings—so I’m especially pleased that the effort was recognised with an award.

I hope the model loves the finished image as much as I had fun creating the indulgence.

See comments for all the original images that were incorporated.

22/04/2026

New in store The Aviary Collective. Cosmic Cosmos A2 Canvas....some close up snippets.

18/04/2026

The Awakening: I saw this technique so wanted to give it a go - one light in front and one light each side and me spraying water... had to be a composite as I had to use one hand to spray!.... would have been so much easier with a model!
HC in Gisborne Camera Club.