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By mtumasz

DSC_3661Kia Ora Mates! In case you guys didn't know, I'm really into photography, and this is one of the reasons I picked New Zealand to study abroad. The scenery and landscapes are simply breathtaking here. You don't need to have a nice camera to take a good picture though. Document everything. Even if it doesn't seem that cool to you, everyone back home will still be totally jealous.

I have probably taken over 10,000 pictures since getting to New Zealand, and I can say for a fact that not all of them are good. But I feel like it's important to document things, even if they don't look cool. Yes, you may look like an idiot taking a picture of a random sign, but years from now, you'll look back on this picture and remember exactly what that area was like, simply by looking at that sign, or whatever other random object you took a picture of.

Also, I prefer being behind the camera, taking the picture, instead of being in the picture. My friends started demanding that I get in some pictures too, and I'm so glad they did. It did look kind of odd on my Facebook where I was tagged in no pictures but posted a ton of pictures of my friends!

On another note, if you want a really good picture, it might take some dedication. I have woken up early for several sunrises on the beach, or went on hikes to watch the sunset from the top of a mountain. Or maybe you have to get a little down and dirty to get just the right angle on a picture of that waterfall. Don't be afraid to try something new. Worse comes to worse, you delete the picture and no one even knows!

In this waterfall picture, it was pouring rain, freezing, and all the rocks were very slippery. But did I rough it to get a good picture? You betcha.DSC_3763

And that second picture? Taken at the halfway point on a 19.4 kilometer, 7.5 hour hike. Chilling a couple thousand meters up and freezing cold, but was it worth it? Or course.

So just remember, don't be afraid to snap a couple pics for you. If something looks cool to you, who cares if your friends think you look dumb, studying abroad and traveling is for you, so take pictures for yourself!

Cheers!