We are a way for the cosmos to know itself

Mazatlan Lights

The Cosmos is all that is, or ever was, or ever will be. Our contemplations of the cosmos stir us. There's a tingling in the spine, a catch in the voice, a faint sensation as if a distant memory; of falling from a great height. We know we are approaching the grandest of mysteries. The size and age of the cosmos are beyond ordinary human understanding, lost somewhere between immensity and eternity. Some part of our being knows this is where we came from, and we long to return. And we can. because the cosmos is also within us. We are made of star stuff, we are a way for the cosmos to know itself - Carl Sagan

Dawn Ferry

I live on the side of a cliff with a view of the harbour. Wellington harbour is shaped like a fish hook and my view of the southern ocean is obscured by a little isthmus of land. I used to live further up the hill where it is not so secluded, but you could see much further across the Rongotai isthmus and out to the horizon from up there. In the mornings I would watch the ferries coming and going between Wellington and Picton. Seeing the ferry in the dawn light always reminded me of good times; getting up early to catch the ferry across the Cook Straight, a gateway to adventures into the wild. I would think of West coast road trips and long days exploring the wilderness of the South Island. When I moved to the new place I was a little worried that I would miss not being able to see out to infinity and the kind of limitless potential that represents, and I kind of do.

Mangawhero Falls

Mangawhero Falls.

A while back, in the middle of winter, I thought it would be a good idea to spend a night sleeping in my truck half way up the side of Mt Ruapehu. It was unbelievably cold. Never the less, being on the mountain in the mist and the stillness without any other people around is kind of special and I thought it was worth it. Some time after this I told my friend Steve about my excursion, and inspired by this image and my story he decided to try it for him self. Also a keen photographer, Steve hiked up the side of the mountain and camped on the eastern face in the hope of capturing sunrise across the Rangipo desert. He said it was so cold that he had to keep himself awake by doing press ups in his tent all night in fear of dying of hypothermia in his sleep. He also had the ranger chase him down asking him why he would do a damn fool thing like sleep on the side of the mountain in the middle of winter. I cant help but feel partially responsible.

Flinders Ranges, Australia

Into the Southern Flinders Ranges.

Wilpena Pound at dusk.

My grandparents on my mothers side were Australian, they moved to New Zealand before the war and my grand dad joined the New Zealand army. He fought in the Pacific and in North Africa and India. I always thought that was a hell of a thing to be prepared to die fighting for another country. After I finished film school I moved to Oz to see what I would make of the place. I ended up living in Australia for 6 years and  now I have a lot of Australian friends. It doesnt feel like home but I guess the place is kind of in my blood.

Not so long ago while I was back for a visit, I went to the Flinders Ranges in South Australia for the first time. It was the first time I really felt what was going to become a familiar feeling while traveling further afield from the great Australian cities: the place feels old, ancient beyond imagining. You could go to sleep for 10,000 years and wake up and nothing would have changed.