A photographer says a bioluminescent display he captured on Friday night at a North Auckland beach was “the best show” of the spectacular natural light show that he’d ever seen.
Matthew Davison captured the display at Stanmore Bay after noticing conditions were right for bioluminescence using a tool he built that uses satellite imagery to spot algal blooms.
"That gave me the heads up during the day that the entire shore around Stanmore Bay was a brilliant red/pink, which is a sure sign something is on the way."
Spectacular bioluminescence display stuns onlookers - watch on TVNZ+
Davison caught the phenomenon between 9 and 11pm.
He said word spread fast on social media, with hundreds of people flocking to catch a glimpse.
"It started off with just a few, then people posted their images on social media and it took off big time. I would say at least 500 people gathered there.
"Plenty of families, heaps of screams of joy and even people swimming in it!"
Davison enjoyed the moment himself, he told 1News.
"It was such an unforgettable evening. Brilliant blue and neon green bioluminescence stretched as far as I could see, illuminating the entire shoreline.
"I've been chasing bioluminescence for over a decade, and this was easily the best show I've seen."
Bioluminescence is produced by an enzyme system (luciferin/luciferase) which emits light and is also used by other organisms, like bacteria and fireflies.
It can be tricky to photograph without the proper setup and camera settings.
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