By LIZ LEWIS

I’m not a bad photographer. But I’m not a great one either. So when the opportunity arose to take part in a photographic workshop focusing on vineyards and wineries, I jumped at the chance.

Living in the heart of a wine region, it’s easy to just hop into the car and head out for a spot of wine tasting or lunch at one of the many wineries surrounding my hometown of Christchurch. But to actually get a chance to wander among the vines and watch the wine being bottled was a novelty. And to learn how to take better photographs at the same time – what more could a dedicated wine drinker ask for.

Turns out one could ask for a whole lot more, starting with sunshine and warmth. The day of the workshop was wet, cold, and windy.

No sunshine. No warmth. But that didn’t stop a group of keen photographers.

We loaded up our gear and headed north out of Christchurch on State Highway 1 to Waipara Valley.

First stop was Sherwood Winery for an indoor session on taking pictures of wine bottles. Easy, you might say. Not quite. Trying to get just the right angle, background, foreground, and the label in focus really is a work of art. But after many attempts and some tips and pointers from David, ex-photo editor of The Press, I finally managed to shoot an ‘almost’ magazine quality photo (except I cut off the first two letters of the label)

From there we headed out back for some reality ‘behind the scenes’ shoots of the Winery. Nothing was missed – empty wine bottles, boxes, and old labels, machinery, even gum boots – in our attempt to capture the winery experience.

Then it was back on the road to Muddy Water Winery to watch the bottling process and take more ‘behind the scene’ images for the pretend magazine spread that we were creating. An hour later, the camera warm from overuse, it was time to move on.

Final stop was the Waipara Springs Winery. Too wet by this time for any outdoor shoots, we settled for lunch instead. Although settle might not be the right word. A diverse lunch menu stirred up lively discussion on the merits of pizza vs salad and what wines to try.

Along the way, I learned some new photo techniques, discovered what my new camera – a Canon SX10 IS – is capable of doing, and have decided that I needed to spend a lot more time around the wineries, sampling the wines and getting the shoots.

(originally posted on Perceptive Travel Blog)

by LIZ LEWIS

Clean. Green. Extreme. That’s how New Zealand is often summed up by those who have visited. With it’s breathtaking scenery, adrenalin pumping activities, and easy access to both sea and mountains, New Zealand is the ideal travel destination. It is also home to a thriving wine making industry that is always on the look out for seasonal workers.

So if you’re in the mood for a working vacation in one of the world’s most scenic locations, then head for New Zealand.

New Zealand’s clean-green image is maintained by the wine industry through it’s sustainable winegrowing initiative. A framework of industry standards was developed over 10 years ago to ensure that winegrowers focus on improving and maintaining the environmental integrity and ‘clean-green’ image of their wine production. Most wineries and vineyards around New Zealand now have accredited vineyard status which allows them to display the Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand emblem. A list of these accredited wineries and vineyards can be found at the Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand website.

There are hundreds of vineyards and wineries in New Zealand and most are on the lookout for seasonal workers to prune the wines and help with the harvests. But remember, the seasons are reversed in the southern hemisphere, with harvesting occurring in between February and April and pruning from June to August. However, workers are also needed from November to March for general tidy up and vineyard maintenance.

Because New Zealand’s ten wine regions are spread from the top of the North Island to the bottom of the South Island, it’s possible, with careful planning, to follow the ‘harvest trail’ and pick up vineyard jobs in different parts of the country. For example, chardonnay grapes are harvested in the warmer and more humid northern regions (Northland, Auckland, and Gisborne) in late February and early March whereas further south (Central Otago), these grapes are often not harvested until mid to late April.

To help decide when and where to go, your first port of call should be the Horticulture New Zealand website to look at the Seasonal Work Brochure. This brochure provides a comprehensive calendar that highlights what seasonal work is available where each month of the year. It also has a list of contacts that can help with your search for work and accommodation.

Other useful websites include Seasonal Work NZ who maintain a Harvest Trail list where you can type in the location and month to get current job openings, Wine Jobs Online a database of viticultural jobs ranging from winemaking to harvesting, Seasonal Jobs in New Zealand, and Backpackerboard.co.nz which maintains a list of seasonal jobs, as well as providing everything you need to know about transport and accommodation.

But not all resources are online. Once you are in the country, a great way of finding seasonal work is by checking out noticeboards. Target your wine region and once you’re there, head for the local New Zealand Employment Service and eyeball the noticeboard. At harvest time, there should be plenty of jobs to choose from. Noticeboards can also be found at supermarkets, shopping centers, and backpacker hostels.

Other effective ways of finding seasonal work include looking for signs on the local road, reading local newspapers, and knocking on doors. Many of the areas will also have a Seasonal Work Co-ordinator – just ask at the local tourist information center.

The Working Holiday Visa is a necessity for anyone considering seasonal work in New Zealand. No one will employ you without it. The visa is available to those between the ages 18 and 30 and lets you live and work in New Zealand for up to 12 months. The specific requirements vary, depending on your citizenship. But the New Zealand Immigration Department website has an easy to follow page dedicated to the Working Holiday Scheme outlining these requirements. Simply click on your country and all is revealed, including how to apply. It’s also important to note that you will need a New Zealand income tax number in order to be employed.

So what are you waiting for?