Captivating Photography Journal

30/09/2026

📷 Issue 21 of Captivating Photography Journal is here!

https://photographyjournal.org

Get ready to travel, explore and see the world a little differently. 🌍✨

This issue takes us from the deserts of Oman and the Central Asian steppe to the mountains of Norway, the Southern Alps and the fascinating abstract world of water.

Meet photographers Alex Pansier, Lukas Trixl, Marcel van Beek and Bailey Reinke, join Peter Laurenson on another photographic adventure, and discover some of our favourite images from recent weekly photography challenges.

Plenty of beautiful photography, inspiring stories and new ideas to get you reaching for your camera.

☕ Grab a cuppa, find a comfortable spot and enjoy Issue 21!

Captivating Photography Journal is the only New Zealand bi-monthly publication featuring stunning photographs, in-depth interviews, and engaging articles.

01/08/2026

📖 Issue 20 of Captivating Photography Journal is out now!
https://photographyjournal.org

What if photography isn't just about capturing what we see... but about expressing how we experience the world?

Our latest issue explores photography beyond technique, taking a closer look at visual perception, creativity, emotion and the many ways images can communicate when words fall short.

📷 Inside this issue:

- Karen Waller shares how her background in painting shapes her unique photographic style.

- Helmut Pilò explores abstraction, movement and creating photographs that express feeling rather than simply record reality.

- Frank Muldowney offers a remarkable insight into living with Wernicke's aphasia, revealing how visual expression became his way of communicating when language no longer could.

- Peter Laurenson takes us on a demanding climb to Mt Royal in the Richmond Range, where breathtaking alpine landscapes reward those willing to put in the effort.

- We also celebrate our annual Mindfulness Month Challenge, showcasing inspiring photographs and reflections from community members who spent July slowing down, observing more deeply, and discovering beauty in everyday moments.

We hope this issue inspires you to look beyond simply taking photographs, and instead explore what your images can say about the way you see the world.

01/06/2026

Issue 19 of Captivating Photography Journal is now available!

If you are a subscriber - check your email for direct link or read online version at https://photographyjournal.org

This issue takes us from the tiny hidden worlds of flowers and plants to rugged mountain ridges, painterly landscapes, and the streets of Wellington after dark.

🌿 Finnish photographer Taru Rantala shares her beautiful dreamlike macro photography and explains how she finds inspiration in the smallest details of nature.

🎼 Swedish photographer Erik Malm discusses his unique approach to photography, combining his background as a symphonic musician with abstract imagery that he describes as "making music with images".

⛰️ Peter Laurenson takes us into Kahurangi National Park on a journey to Mt Lockett, proving that some photographic locations really are worth sweating for.

🌙 We also join the Wellington Photo Explorers as they venture into the world of night photography. What began as a simple experiment quickly became an addictive challenge, producing everything from quiet and mysterious scenes to creative long exposures and camera movement techniques.

As always, you'll also find inspiring photographs from our community and plenty of ideas to encourage you to pick up your camera and explore.

Happy reading and photographing!

Captivating Photography Journal is the only New Zealand bi-monthly publication featuring stunning photographs, in-depth interviews, and engaging articles.

31/03/2026

Issue 18 of Captivating Photography Journal is here, and it marks three years of sharing inspiring photography and perspectives!

https://photographyjournal.org

This special issue features a curated selection of our favourite quotes from the past 18 issues, paired with powerful images you can revisit anytime.

We take you into the rugged terrain of Mt Alexander with Peter Laurenson, and explore the world of New Zealand’s geckos with wildlife photographer Tara Swan.

You will also find highlights from our weekly challenges, showing how one theme can lead to completely different ways of seeing.

Plenty here to inspire you to pick up your camera and look a little closer.

Happy reading and photographing! 📷☺️

Captivating Photography Journal is the only New Zealand bi-monthly publication featuring stunning photographs, in-depth interviews, and engaging articles.

01/12/2025

✨ Issue 16 of Captivating Photography Journal is out now ✨

Our latest issue is ready to read, and it is full of inspiring stories and fresh perspectives!

https://photographyjournal.org/issue-16-of-captivating-photography-journal-is-here

Here’s a peek at what’s inside:

📸 Peter Laurenson takes us up into the alpine world of Rotomaninitua/Lake Angelus with stunning views and quiet high-country moments.

🌍 Ilona Korneva shares her travel stories from more than 30 countries and shows how powerful simple phone photography can be.

⛈️ Kaitlin Groom brings wild weather, glowing bioluminescence and rare cloud formations to life through her nature photography.

🚶‍♀️ We feature a beautiful mix of street images from our Wellington photo walks that prove how differently we all see the same city.

Grab a cuppa, dive in, and enjoy Issue 16. 🙌

01/10/2025

✨ Issue 15 of Captivating Photography Journal is out now!
https://photographyjournal.org/issue-15-captivating-photography-journal

This issue brings together four incredible photographers, each with a unique perspective:

- Rebecca Bijl on floral photography, mindfulness, and storytelling through blooms
- Alex on the hidden worlds of macro photography, from insects to mushrooms
- Richard Hume on his journeys across New Zealand and turning landscapes into art
- Tara Swan with practical tips for mastering natural light in wildlife photography (useful far beyond wildlife too!)

We also feature a special showcase of Wellington’s City to Sea bridge, capturing one of the last photographic memories of this iconic landmark.

The web version will be available later today, 1 October — keep an eye out and enjoy this visual feast!

17/08/2025

Here are some of the most captivating, honest and thoughtful images from this year’s entries. Let them inspire you to find stillness in your own surroundings.

Which one is your favourite?

You can see all photos featured in the August issue of our Journal on the website (https://photographyjournal.org) or in the pdf version if you are a subscriber.

🗓 Although the mindfulness challenge happens in July, we invite you to join our weekly challenges happening now in the Community Hub (hub.excio.io). Keep creating, exploring and connecting.

Photographs by:

Cynthia Stoks
Sandy McCleary
Rudolph Kotze
Lorraine Neill
Mike Milsom
Mathias Ellis
Gavin Murphy

13/08/2025

Have you ever wanted to photograph wild horses? 🐎

In this article Karen Miller takes us into the remote home of the Kaimanawa horses - a place few people get to see.

She shares what it’s like to photograph them in the wild, the deep respect she holds for their world, and the quiet moments that stay with her long after the shutter clicks.

This story captures more than animals. It captures freedom.

📖 Read the full story at https://photographyjournal.org

11/08/2025

What does mindfulness look like through a lens?

For the fourth year running, our Mindfulness Photography Challenge brought together photographers from all walks of life to pause and reflect each day in July.

With a new theme daily, this challenge isn’t just about taking better photos. It’s about seeing differently.

Here are some of the most captivating, moody, and thoughtful images from this year’s entries. Let them inspire you to find stillness in your own surroundings.

🗓 Although the mindfulness challenge happens in July, we invite you to join our weekly challenges happening now in the Community Hub (hub.excio.io). Keep creating, exploring and connecting.

Photographs by:
Murray Lowe
Heather Mickelson
Sandy McCleary
Mark Chivers
Lorraine Neill
Stephen Garner

10/08/2025

Have you read Erin’s story in our latest Captivating Photography Journal?

Based in Palmerston North, Erin’s journey started with her dad’s old SLR and grew into a deep love for capturing everything from tūī in the garden to family portraits and planes in flight.

She taught herself through endless trial and error, hours of flicking through photography magazines at the library, and simply following what caught her eye.

In her interview, Erin shares how photography has shaped her life, why community matters, and the quiet joy of seeing the world through a lens.

📖 Read the full story in Issue 14 – available now at photographyjournal.org