While living in Muriwai for 10 years Judy transitioned from being a classical musician to a photographer. Muriwai was simply a place that set all her visual creative juices alive and she fell in love with expressing the moods of Muriwai through the lens of her camera. Judy honed her craft as a photographer in a few different directions. Primarily she feels that the technique of Intentional Camera Movement(yes simply moving your camera as you take an image) suited her impatient and free spirited character. She feels the technique simplifies scenes down to their essence and mood resulting in an evocative, artistic expression that looks more like a painting than a photograph.

Muriwai with its powerful and moody scenes also called to be captured in other ways and for many of her land and sea scapes Judy expresses her love of the ocean and wildness of the west coast in a more traditional style but still equally as evocative.

Judy competes regularly in competitions throughout New Zealand and Internationally and won awards for her landscapes, her black and white images and her impressionistic work. She also gives workshops and loves encouraging others to lose themselves behind the camera and find the magic of creativity.

To see more of Judy’s work or enquire about a workshop contact her on 021 0488469 or visit her website judystokesphotography.com.