This article discusses using Live ND in New Zealand during a photography tour my wife and I did in late 2024. Live ND is a computational photography technology that is available on a number of Olympus/OM cameras. It provides an in-camera effect similar to using a neutral density filter.
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During our recent self-guided tour of New Zealand my wife and I had the opportunity to use Live ND a number of times when photographing waterfalls. I hate using a tripod and we both like to travel with as little gear as possible. Live ND technology is an ideal solution for us.
My wife captured the above image of Purakaunui Falls which is located on the South Island of New Zealand. It is one of the most photographed waterfalls in the country, and accessed by a well maintained 15-minute forested trail. This image was captured handheld using Live ND, at a focal length of 20 mm (efov 40 mm), f/8, 1/5, ISO-200. My wife’s E-M1 Mark III does not have built-in GPS as found in my E-M1X.
The image of McLaren Falls was captured handheld using Live ND at a focal length of 20 mm (efov 40 mm). I used an aperture of f/14, 1/2, ISO-100. The waterfall is located on the North Island about 1.5 hours from Hamilton.
We were extremely fortunate to visit McLaren Falls during one of the 26 days of the year when water is released from McLarens Dam for recreational users. This increases the water flow from 1 cubic metre per second to 14 cubic metres per second. On previous visits to McLaren Falls the water was flowing at a low level and people were sunbathing on some of the rocks in the current.
Wairere Falls is situated on the North Island and is the highest waterfall on the island. The track to reach Wairere Falls can be challenging and takes 3 to 4 hours return to complete. Our schedule did not afford sufficient time to make it halfway to the lookout… let alone to the summit.
We did enjoy the portion of the trek that we did complete. Part way up the track we crossed a footbridge over the stream pictured above.
Owharoa Falls is close to Karangahake Gorge, and is one of the popular waterfalls to visit in New Zealand. It is located on the North Island about a 2 hour drive from Auckland.
McLean Falls is absolutely our favourite waterfall in New Zealand. It is situated in the Catlins area on the South Island. McLean Falls combines an upper and lower falls, both of which are accessible. It takes about 40 minutes to make the return trek in and back… and is worth every step along the way. The forested trail has almost a magical quality. Something that my wife and I have enjoyed on a number of visits to the South Island.
The Lake Marian Falls Track is located about 30 kilometres from Milford Sound on the South Island. The falls are a short 20 minute trek, consisting of easy to intermediate hiking. We did this trek as part of our guided tour to Milford Sound and quite enjoyed it.
Of course Live ND can be used for more than just to create a blurred effect with moving water. The handheld test image above of a ‘disappearing person’ was captured while we were having a picnic lunch in Akaroa on the South Island.
If you own an Olympus/OM camera and have not tried the Live ND computational photography technology… it may be fun to give it a try. Combined with the excellent IBIS (in body image stabilization) found in Olympus/OM cameras, Live ND can expand what is possible with handheld photography.
Technical Note
Photographs were captured handheld using camera gear as noted in the EXIF data. All photographs were captured using Live ND computational photography technology. All images were created from RAW files using my standard process in post. This is the 1,479 article published on this website since its original inception in 2015.
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Hi. Thanks for publishing the article and images. I love using Live ND w/ my OM1.2 & OM5.2. I use a similar shutter speed, preferring a little texture in the flowing water.
With MFT lenses, I rarely use apertures greater than f5.6 due to diffraction and my lenses are sharpest at or close to wide open.
I am curious why you chose to stop the lens down f8 to f20 with all the images, even those with no discernible close objects in the foreground. I wasn’t sure if the sun was too bright since your ISOs were occasionally higher than 100. FWIW, I carry Kase Wolverine Revolution Magnetic filters … a CPL (about a 2-stop equivalent) and a ND64 (6-stop) for overly bright days and the filters will work in conjunction with Live ND. Regards, Bill
Hi Bill,
I need a lot more ongoing experimentation and practice. Prior to our trip to New Zealand in late 2024 I don’t remember doing any landscape photography for a year… maybe longer. 🙂
The images were captured midday, often in very bright conditions.
Tom
Interesting piece Tom as my wife and I are off on Nordic cruise to celebrate our upcoming 40th anniversary.
I wanted to have a go at the stern of the ship to photograph
the sea being churned up in slow motion.
Your piece was perfect timing many thanks!
Mark
Hi Mark,
I’m glad the article was helpful for you. Have a wonderful cruise with your wife celebrating your 40th anniversary!
Tom
Thanks Tom!