Award-winning Otago fine art and aerial landscape photographer Emma Willetts-Smith is drawn to abstract forms and waterways. Awaroa Inlet, with its tidal channels winding through sand flats, captures the natural beauty of Abel Tasman National Park.
Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself and your art?
I’ve always been fascinated by the natural world and the way a change in perspective can reveal something entirely new. A flight above the Waitaki River first sparked my fascination with aerial photography a few years ago, showing me a landscape I thought I knew well in a way I’d never seen before.
That experience opened my eyes to the incredible patterns, textures and artistry hidden within our landscapes and ignited a passion that has stayed with me ever since. From above, rivers become abstract works of art, coastlines reveal intricate designs and familiar places can become almost unrecognisable.
I love sharing these perspectives because they encourage people to slow down, look closer and experience a landscape with a renewed sense of wonder. Today, I sell my photographic prints to collectors around the world and it still amazes me that an image captured here in New Zealand can end up hanging on a wall on the other side of the globe.
What draws you towards photography and landscapes?
Aerial photography can completely transform the way we see a landscape. A place that seems familiar from the ground can become something entirely different from the air, revealing patterns, textures and relationships that would otherwise go unnoticed.
Photographing from a Cessna or helicopter means working around changing weather, vibration, reflections and the fact that both the aircraft and landscape are moving quickly, which adds another layer of challenge and excitement. The conditions are rarely perfect and often you only have a few seconds to capture the image before the moment disappears.
I love that combination of creativity, adventure and problem-solving. When everything comes together, you’re able to capture a fleeting moment and reveal a side of the landscape that few people get to experience.
What is the story behind Awaroa Inlet?
Awaroa Inlet was photographed from a small fixed-wing aircraft above Abel Tasman National Park in the middle of winter. What immediately caught my eye as we approached the inlet was the intricate network of tidal channels winding through the sand flats below.
From the air, the landscape transforms into something abstract. Flowing shapes, sweeping curves, and vibrant turquoise water create patterns that resemble a painting more than a photograph. It’s a perspective that reveals the remarkable artistry of nature and reminds us that some of the most beautiful details are only visible when we step back and look at the bigger picture.
This flight remains one of my favourites. There was something magical about watching the landscape unfold beneath us and discovering a place I’d visited before in
a new way. It’s a reminder of why I love aerial photography so much.
Where in the home would the print look best?
This image sparks curiosity and conversation, so I think it works beautifully in living areas, an entranceway, or dining spaces. Its peaceful, almost meditative quality brings a sense of calm to a room, while the unique aerial perspective invites people to discover something new each time they view it.
Click here to find more of Emma’s work and purchase a copy of the August 2026 issue of Your Home and Garden to collect your very own Awaroa Inlet print.
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