STORY BEHIND THE SHOT - ' C L A S H I N G S E A S '

Welcome back!

This week tells the story of the photo above, captured at Te Rerenga Wairua (Cape Reinga) with my trusty Sony A6000. I chose this image to give away and talk about for a couple of reasons; the first being that it looks stunning printed (I had it custom framed for a client and of all my seascape images I've had printed, this is by far my favourite); and the second relates to the mythological narrative of this spectacular place (particularly to Māori).

To cut a long story short, to the ancient Māori, the name Te Rerenga Wairua translates to leaping-place of the spirits and it's from the cape where the spirits of Māori deceased begin their final journey. According to Māori mythology, the spirits descend into the underworld (reinga) via the roots of the ancient Kahika tree (below) and into the ocean to return to their ancestral homeland of Hawaiki. Guided by te ara wairua (the pathway of spirits), the spirits are led out to Manawatawhi (Three Kings Islands) which translates to "Last breath" - and it is here where they take one last look at their island home before departing these lands.

Te Aroha - the ancient Pohutukawa tree 📷 REUBEN JAMES

Cape Reinga is also the separation marker between the Tasman Sea to the west and the Pacific Ocean to the east and it is this that I really wanted to capture. For Māori, these turbulent waters are where the male sea Te Moana Tāpokopoko a Tāwhaki meets the female sea Te Tai o Whitireia. The whirlpools where the currents clash are like those that dance in the wake of a waka (canoe). They represent the coming together of male and female - and the creation of life.

The story behind this shot isn't as epic as say my "POUAKAI" yarn, though, to reiterate what I said at the start, its the story of the area that makes this image so special. In keeping with the Māori world view, this image (for me) represents my marriage and the ever-changing challenges my wife and I face every day. Most day's are beautiful and calm while others can be dark and stormy, though like the 2 sea's, we embrace and face the good and the bad together.

Well thats it for this week - make sure you follow this link and follow the rules for your chance to win an A3 sized copy of 'Clashing Seas.'

Ma te wa.