Photography by Krisdjansen
inspired by the native flowers, native bees and of our beautiful country.

Email Kris directly if you would like a print
from this selection of photographs.
sales@krisdjansen.com

Landscape Photography

Kris walks up Pāpāmoa Hills on most mornings
and often brings her camera to capture nature as well as the stunning sunrises and sunsets.

See poem “On Pāpāmoa Hills”

  • Pāpāmoa Hills at Sunrise on 1/1/2025

  • View of Mt Maunganui from Pāpāmoa Hills

  • The Summit at Pāpāmoa Hills

  • "Two Trees" at Pāpāmoa Hills

Native Bee Photography

With her camera and macro lens, Kris follows the native bee during the summer months, mostly up the Pāpāmoa Hills.
New Zealand only has a total of 28 species of Native Bee and of these,
there are just three bee families: lasioglossom, leioproctus and hylaeus.
See if you can spot them below.

  • Lasioglossum on a Koromiko at Pāpāmoa Hills

  • Lasioglossum with pollen on legs taken at Pāpāmoa Hills

  • Hylaeus (Masked Bee) taken by the bridge at McLaren Falls

  • Lasioglossum on a Koromiko taken at Pāpāmoa Hills

  • Lasioglossum on a Koromiko taken at Pāpāmoa Hills

  • Lasioglossum on a Koromiko at Pāpāmoa Hills

  • Leioproctus on a Koromiko taken by the bridge at McLaren Falls

Native Mistletoe Photography

Native bees have had a symbiotic relationship with native flowers for millions of years but many of these flowers have disappeared
over the years with deforestation to farmland, and to some extent, the impact of the introduction of the larger exotic honey bee around 1840.

With her camera in hand, Kris seeks the plants which native bees have relied on for their nutrition,
like the rare pikirangi (mistletoe) below when she camped nearby in a DOC campsite at Lake Ohau.

  • Pikirangi (Red Mistletoe - Peraxilla tetrapetala) at Lake Ohau, Central Otago

  • Mistletoe is a semi-parasite, seen growing quite high up on a silver beech.

  • It's specialised roots wrap around the host tree to get water and nutrients without causing harm to the host.

  • Honey bees from a nearby apiary site compete for nectar with native bees.

  • Scarlet Mistletoe Peraxilla Colensol) is similar to Red Mistletoe, but has larger flowers and leaves.