Saturday 8 May 2021 saw ideal marathon conditions with a cool temperature, intermittent light drizzle and most importantly, no wind. Having completed 5 Rotorua marathons in the past I feel a connection to the event so enjoy attending, even if only to document it photographically.

The challenge is to try and get images that capture the spirit of the marathon as well as making sure that it is clearly Rotorua. The traditional Māori performers encouraging participants on their way is an obvious element to include in an image.

This year there were some large traditional Māori carvings next to the start/finish chute so I looked for a way to combine them with the bathhouse as two typically Rotorua elements into an image with the winning runner in his finishing sprint.

It was a bit of a gamble as I wanted to drag shutter enough to convey movement but not so much to completely blur out the features of the carving and building. There was no opportunity to practice as the runners completing their half marathon were running at a slower pace and further away in their chute. I decided 1/60 would probably work while panning at 24mm and kept my fingers crossed. I’m satisfied with 2 of the images and the first in this post is my favourite capturing the winner in flight under the gaze of a traditional carving and against the backdrop of the iconic Bath House building.

Photos with Nikon Z7 and Nikon Z series 24-200mm lens