Photo and caption by Emily Parrent

The rain had yet to plaster our pants to our legs as we walked to the Auckland War Memorial Museum. After making a brief stop in the nearby cemetery, a fellow student and I began to cross the bridge above it, Grafton Bridge, where the puddles and grey sky amplified the optical illusion created by the utilitarian overhang. When I went to New Zealand, I was looking out for the flora and fauna, which I found in abundance. What I didn’t expect was to become fascinated by the human element. From Moa times to modern day, I believe we all learned to look for wonder in new places. December 30, 2011

Location: Auckland, New Zealand