The brilliant thing about New Zealand’s most famous church is that finally someone has thought about photographers.
Situated on the banks of Lake Tekapo in New Zealand’s South Island, sits The Church of the Good Shepard. As churches go, it small and quait. But it is the amazing scenery that its nestled amongst that makes it one of the most photographed churches. If a stunning glacial lake wasn’t enough, the breath taking snow capped mountains really are the icing on the cake.
Due to the stunning scenery it makes it quite the challenge during the day to capture. Bus load after bus load of tourists pour out of tour buses to catch a glimpse and for anyone wanting to capture a people- free image its virtually impossible and somewhat frustrating.
The next best thing to do is to wait until dark after the last bus has gone and capture the splendid Milky Way.
Once you know the technique capturing the Milky Way isn’t that difficult. Winter time is when it appears in the Southern Hempisphere, so don’t venture out during summer months or you won’t see it.
When shooting the Milky Way, you need to shoot at least two hours after sunset and the good people of Lake Tekapo have made life easier by making sure there is no articical light around the church, so that you won’t be affected by light pollution. Having said that be prepared for the occasional tourist to show up with car headlights on to view the church. This can get frustrating at times especially when you’re 10 seconds into a 30 second exposure.
Camera Settings and gear
Shooting at night will mean that you will need a sturdy tripod and if you want to minimize camera shake then a remote is essential. Most camera brands make wireless devices that plug into your camera and via an App you are able to control your camera all through live view on your mobile phone. For this shoot it came in very handy as the exposures are long.
Set your tripod and camera up in the position that you want. The church will have to be facing you with the lake behind it to make sure you are in position for the Milky Way. Be careful of rocks and the like, the ground can be fairly uneven in places, so sturdy shoes is a must.
Why I use a wide lens.
The galactic core spans across the night sky, and you will need a wide lens to capture it all. The benefit of a Samyang 14mm is that the lens is manual focus, so you can ensure your image is in focus. Autofocus will struggle in darkness, and the Samyang is easy to focus and holds its focus easily.
Camera Settings
Mode: Manual
Lens: 14-24mm at f/2.8
Shutter Speed: 20 seconds
ISO: 3200
Focus: Manual, on infinity
White Balance: 4000K
These are starting points, and it's always best to take a few test shots and adjust based on the conditions (ambient light, moon phase, location).
Shoot in RAW
Shooting in RAW format is crucial for Milky Way photography. RAW files capture more detail and give you greater flexibility during post-processing, especially for adjusting exposure, contrast, and color balance.
Use a Sturdy Tripod
A solid, stable tripod is essential to avoid camera shake during long exposures. Any movement of the camera will blur the stars and ruin your shot
Camera Gear:
Samyang 14 mm
DSLR
Benro A2573F (S6PRO Head) Aluminium Video Tripod Kit
New Zealand is a stunning place to capture, it holds many possibilities and a stop over at Lake Tekapo to capture the Milky Way is an absolute must.
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