Red Checkers over Lake Rotorua

Kia Ora Fellow Gallopers,

The Red Checkers is the only aerobatic team of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Using Harvards, the RNZAF first flew display aerobatics in the immediate post-WWII years. In 1967, the Central Flying School (CFS) team was officially called the ‘Red Checkers’, the name being derived from the red and white checkered cowls on the five Harvards that made up this team. After being disbanded in 1973, the team reformed in 1980 but this time flying the CT-4B Airtrainer. The first Airtrainer team comprised four aircraft but this was soon increased to the current team size of five. In 1999, the team moved onto the aircraft that is currently used – the CT-4E Airtrainers. The aircrafts used by the team had a nose painted in a red and white checkered pattern but this has now been reduced to a small checkered stripe. Red Checker pilots are senior flying instructors from the RNZAF Central Flying School and the Pilot Training Squadron situated at RNZAF Base Ohakea.

On 9th April, 2013, the Red Checkers performed a 15 minute flying display routine over Lake Rotorua as part of their tour of the North Island. The display comprised of the mirror maneuver (seen below) – a maneuver the team is well known for.

You can see all the images from the 15 minute routine here. Enjoy!!!

Till next time, take care and gallop free.

Karearea – The New Zealand Falcon

Kia Ora Fellow Gallopers,

The Wingspan National Bird of Prey Centre was established in Rotorua, NZ in 2002 and at Wingspan’s core is a commitment to the conservation of the threatened ‘Karearea’ New Zealand Falcon.  Being part of New Zealand’s unique natural heritage, falcons are a taonga (treasured) species to tangata whenua (Māori, people of the land).

A few days ago I visited the Centre to see these magnificent birds. In addition to getting up close with the falcon, the pièce de résistance of my visit was the one hour flying display – that’s held every single day – when one gets to see, first hand, the speed and agility with which these birds fly. The accompanying talk is highly informative and complements the flying display very well.

If you live in Rotorua or happen to be passing through Rotorua and you’d like to see the New Zealand Falcon, then a visit to New Zealand’s first and only Bird of Prey centre is a must. In the meantime, feel free to click here to see all the images from my recent visit to Wingspan.

Till next time, take care and gallop free.

PS: If you’d like to see my latest images including the birds I’ve been studying and photographing of late, why not follow Black Stallion Photography’s Facebook Page…

2012 (Part 2)

Kia Ora Fellow Gallopers,

Another year’s come and gone – a year that was packed with events ranging from the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee to the London Olympics to the US Presidential election. The aftershocks of the economic crisis continued to rock the world economies and the world was to have ended this year.

While being a silent spectator to the atrocities that one fellow human inflicts on another, this beautiful planet that we call Home sent out very clear signals to us, by way of storms and super storms,  that we will have to bear the consequences of our bad and reckless stewardship of her.

Following on from yesterday’s post – 2012 (Part 1) – here are the rest of our most highly rated* images from the past 12 months. Hope you enjoy these images as much as I enjoyed making them:

July 2012:

August 2012:

September 2012:

October 2012:

November 2012:

December 2012:

As we all ‘Gangnam Style’ our way into the Year of the Snake, here’s hoping that it’ll be a good one…

Thank You so much for your support in 2012. We’ve loved having you around in Black Stallion Country.

See you all in 2013.

Gallop Free.

* – All the images in this post were showcased on our Facebook Page as part of our ‘Picture of the Day’ feature and were highly rated by the most important and valued viewer of all – You.

2012 (Part 1)

Kia Ora Fellow Gallopers,

Another year’s come and gone – a year that was packed with events ranging from the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee to the London Olympics to the US Presidential election. The aftershocks of the economic crisis continued to rock the world economies and the world was to have ended this year.

While being a silent spectator to the atrocities that one fellow human inflicts on another, this beautiful planet that we call Home sent out very clear signals to us, by way of storms and super storms,  that we will have to bear the consequences of our bad and reckless stewardship of her.

As the curtains come down on 2012, I thought I’d showcase some of our most highly rated* images from the past 12 months. Hope you enjoy these images as much as I enjoyed making them:

January 2012:

February 2012:

March 2012:

April 2012:

May 2012:

June 2012:

Look out for Part 2 tomorrow…

Till then, take care and gallop free.

* – All the images in this post were showcased on our Facebook Page as part of our ‘Picture of the Day’ feature and were highly rated by the most important and valued viewer of all – You.

Merry Christmas

Kia Ora Fellow Gallopers,

Season’s Greetings from our new home, Aotearoa…

Enjoy the festive season and stay safe.

Gallop Free.

Royal Botanic Garden Photo-walk – Edinburgh (Part 2)

Hello Fellow Gallopers,

Following on from yesterday’s post, here are the rest of the images from the Photo-walk at the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh organised by the Edinburgh Digital Photography Meetup Group.

Till next time, take care and gallop free.

Royal Botanic Garden Photo-walk – Edinburgh (Part 1)

Hello Fellow Gallopers,

Last Sunday was a glorious day weather-wise and hence decided to go along to a Photo-walk at the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh organised by the Edinburgh Digital Photography Meetup Group.

Showcased below are a few images I managed to capture during the Photo-Walk. Hope you enjoy viewing them as much as I enjoyed making them:

Feel free to drop by tomorrow to see Part 2 of this post wherein I’ll post up the rest of the images from the Photo-walk.

Till then, take care and gallop free.