First Light

Resources

A curated collection of external resources that I reference regularly or recommend to readers. All links are to New Zealand services or internationally respected resources.

Camera and Gear (NZ Retailers)

  • Photo Gear NZ -- New and used cameras, lenses, and accessories. Good range of mirrorless bodies.
  • Camera House -- Nationwide chain with physical stores for hands-on testing.
  • Photo Warehouse -- Competitive pricing on popular camera brands available in NZ.

Printing and Albums

  • Queensberry -- NZ-based album company. Beautiful handmade albums, popular with professional photographers.
  • Photobooks NZ -- Affordable photo books for families who want something tangible.

Safety and Professional Standards

Learning and Inspiration

  • Cambridge in Colour -- Excellent free photography tutorials covering technical fundamentals.
  • Strobist -- The original lighting education blog. Dated interface, timeless content.
  • Nikon School NZ -- In-person workshops around New Zealand for various skill levels.

Free Editing Tools

  • Snapseed -- Free mobile editing app. Surprisingly capable for phone photography.
  • RawTherapee -- Free, open-source RAW photo editor for desktop. Good alternative to Lightroom.
  • darktable -- Another free RAW editor with a photography workflow focus.

Know of a resource that should be on this list? Let me know.