Box of Light is made possible thanks to these visionaries:
This past week's east swell was a slippery little sucker. Trying to find windows for a cleanish surf meant juggling tides and winds. We never really found anything amazing, but Keo managed to find his way into a few big open caverns at times.
He turns 16 today. When I first started Box of Light, he was just 1. Back then, his older sister Taya was 5 and Rewa was 3. Given how many Box of Light readers have been with us since the very beginning, many of you have watched my kids grow up through this very blog. I find that quite fascinating. I never thought it would last that long. We've survived a few recessions and have managed to raise a family through my photography work, though it has been extremely tough at times.
Like many things in our modern world, photography is facing unprecedented change. Visual storytelling has never been more important, but AI and a flood of young "content providers" are changing the game. Add to that the slow collapse of the news media world, and the picture becomes a little more harsh.
I really don't know what the future might hold, but for now, I'm happy to keep sharing a dozen or more images from my week with you all right here in Box of Light.
See you at the beach, Derek
PS The New Zealand Sea Lion Trust has increased its reward for information that leads to the successful conviction of those responsible for the deaths of three female sea lions in the Catlins last year. Female sea lion Jade and her 8-month-old pup were both shot in the back in September 2024, and in November 2024, a young female sea lion died at Waipati Beach due to injuries most consistent with a human-induced stabbing. Thanks to a generous anonymous donor, the reward has jumped to $50,000. You can increase that reward further right here.
Box of Light is made possible thanks to these visionaries: