Why is the golden hour so good for photography?
The hour before sunset and after sunrise are known as the ‘golden’ or ‘magic’ hours. The sun is lower in the sky, which provides the best light to capture the best photos.
Christchurch photographer Dennis Radermacher regularly shoots at these times. “It’s a magic thing. It’s very pretty light,” he says. “Two effects come together: the angle of the light and the amount of air the light travels through. When the sun is low in the sky, light hits the ground at a flat angle and casts long shadows, and is softened because it travels through a lot more air. Moisture in the atmosphere also helps scatter the light, and you end up with directional sunlight that’s soft and warm.”
Soft lighting is flattering, warm light creates an orange glow often associated with calm and happiness. Colours and contrasts are more vibrant.
“To appreciate light, it needs to be in contrast to something, such as the absence of light, like the shadows,” says Radermacher.
What do walking poles actually help with?
A 2020 review of walking pole research in Wilderness & Environmental Medicine collated many studies to determine whether poles helped or hindered.
The authors concluded that the studies showed poles can provide better balance and reduce load through the hip, knee and ankle joints, but users will burn more energy doing it: ‘Trekking poles decrease lower extremity loading and forces but increase cardiovascular demand. When carrying a large external load, trekking poles may offer benefit by decreasing lower extremity muscle activity and increasing balance and stability.’
Poles can also help you walk faster, especially with a heavy load or when walking uphill. The studies showed that the use of poles allows a more normal walking pattern, including a ‘longer stride length and a less flexed knee at heel strike.’
Do plants really suffer from being walked on?
Len Gillman, recently retired as Professor of Ecology and Biogeography at Auckland University of Technology has a lifetime of experience working with New Zealand flora. He says
