Black and white landscape photography of Rotorua and the central North Island captures the region's volcanoes, forests and geothermal country in monochrome. Stephen Milner is a Rotorua based fine art photographer who photographs the area, from the Redwoods and Lake Tarawera to Ruapehu and Taranaki, and sells the work as limited and open edition prints.
I work in black and white because, for me, it is about connecting people with a place. Taking the colour out removes the emotional tension around an image and leaves what matters underneath: texture, tone and shape. That is what connects someone to a landscape they love.
Close to home: the Redwoods and Lake Tarawera
Some of my work is made close to home, in the forest and geothermal country around the city. Transitions, Rotorua Redwoods and Ghostly Remains, Rotorua both come from here, and at Lake Tarawera a lone tree became A Tree's Tale.
The Central Plateau: Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro
South of Rotorua, the volcanoes of Tongariro National Park are among the most striking mountains in the country. In black and white their forms stand clear: the cone of Ngauruhoe, the mass of Ruapehu. Ruapehu, The Floating Volcano, Ngauruhoe Cone and Volcanic Light, Mount Ngauruhoe all come from this volcanic country, the same landscape behind my book Volcanic Aotearoa.
Mount Taranaki
To the west, Taranaki stands almost perfectly symmetrical, and in black and white it reduces to a single form against the sky. The Point, Mount Taranaki and Silent Point, Mount Taranaki are both from there.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I buy black and white prints of Rotorua and the central North Island?
Stephen Milner's black and white photographs of Rotorua and the central North Island are available as limited and open edition fine art prints at stephen-milner.com. Each is made to order, finished under acrylic glass or on alu-dibond, and shipped worldwide with tracking.
Why does black and white suit these landscapes?
Black and white removes the emotional tension of colour and leaves texture, tone and shape, the things that connect you to a place. In misty forest and volcanic country, that lets the eye read form and light rather than colour.
Are the prints limited edition?
Both. Limited edition prints are released in a fixed edition and retire once they sell out, and each comes with a certificate of authenticity. Open Edition Classics stay available at a more accessible price. Every piece is made to order and shipped worldwide.
See more in my black and white collection, or read my story.
