I took this back in November 2008 and it's still one of my favorite shots. This is a sunset at Auckland's Muriwai beach, a beautiful but rugged beach and a popular spot for local photographers.

Canon 40D, Sigma 10-20, Hitech GND filters, Adobe Photoshop CS3.

A classic shot of the gannet colony at Auckland's Muriwai beach. About 1,200 pairs of gannets nest here from August to March each year. Each pair lays one egg and the parents take turns on the nest. A few weeks after hatching, the chicks begin to exercise their wings in preparation for the one-shot jump off the cliff. Once airborne, the young gannets leave the colony and cross the Tasman Sea to Australia. A few years later, surviving birds return to secure a nest site at the colony.

Canon EOS 40D, Sigma 10-20, Singh Ray Reverse GND, Adobe Photoshop CS3.