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Who can be a better guide of New Zealand (Middle Earth) than Tolkien’s Gandalf himself? The guy has been traveling around that place for more than 2,000 years, so he probably knows his way around. That was the idea behind photographer Akhil Suhas’s 6-month trip across the country with a Gandalf costume.

Suhas called his 9,000-mile adventure #GandalfTheGuide and documented it using photos. "I wanted a recurring subject in my photos and with so many photographers visiting the country, I figured that I needed to do something to set me apart!" he said. "I was watching the LOTR for the 5th time when I figured New Zealand is famous for 2 things: its landscapes and the LOTR + Hobbit Trilogies. So why not combine the two by having Gandalf in the landscapes?"

At first, he tried self-portraits: "I tried the camera on a tripod with a timer shot, didn’t work for me," Suhas said. "So, I started asking the people I met along the way if they wanted to put on the outfit." Surprisingly, people agreed, and Suhas created an amazing small-person-big-landscape photo tour of New Zealand.

More info: Instagram (h/t: petapixel)

#1

‎gandalf The Guide‬

Akhil Suhas Report

CizFran Ainedres
Community Member
9 years ago

Can you please tell me where this is?

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    #2

    ‎gandalf The Guide‬

    Akhil Suhas Report

    Brenda Stauber
    Community Member
    9 years ago

    Beautiful country

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    #3

    ‎gandalf The Guide‬

    Akhil Suhas Report

    Karnelia
    Community Member
    9 years ago

    We need locations for these places!

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    #4

    ‎gandalf The Guide‬

    Akhil Suhas Report

    Kjorn
    Community Member
    9 years ago

    "where's the f*cking balrog?" -Gandalf

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    #5

    ‎gandalf The Guide‬

    Akhil Suhas Report

    Fandoms Rise
    Community Member
    9 years ago

    Holy, mother! This is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!

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    #6

    ‎gandalf The Guide‬

    Akhil Suhas Report

    Elizabeth Newton
    Community Member
    9 years ago

    I've been there.. awesome spot. It's actually really close to where Hobbiton is (Matamata)

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    #7

    ‎gandalf The Guide‬

    Akhil Suhas Report

    Amanda Cariker
    Community Member
    9 years ago

    My fave

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    #8

    ‎gandalf The Guide‬

    Akhil Suhas Report

    Fandoms Rise
    Community Member
    9 years ago

    WOW. New Zealand is the place I one day dream of travelling to. After travelling the world (hopefully I will one day have enough money to do so) there is no where else I would rather spend the rest of my days.

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    #9

    ‎gandalf The Guide‬

    Akhil Suhas Report

    Kjorn
    Community Member
    9 years ago

    he missed the boat to grey haven

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    #10

    ‎gandalf The Guide‬

    Akhil Suhas Report

    Fandoms Rise
    Community Member
    9 years ago

    A coastal version of the Shire!

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    #11

    ‎gandalf The Guide‬

    Akhil Suhas Report

    Dávid Kozák
    Community Member
    9 years ago

    Isnt this river from Hobbit 2 ?

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    #12

    ‎gandalf The Guide‬

    Akhil Suhas Report

    Fandoms Rise
    Community Member
    9 years ago

    The tree growing out of or floating in the water makes it appear even more magical. This photo makes me think a grand battle just ended, you can see the flames of war still smoldering in the background. Gandalf is standing on the shore, staring out at the bleak land remembering those who did not survive. Also, why is there a fire in the background. It doesn't look like a campfire, either, more like an actual forest fire.

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    #13

    ‎gandalf The Guide‬

    Akhil Suhas Report

    Michael Worsley
    Community Member
    9 years ago

    That's a sick photo...

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    #14

    ‎gandalf The Guide‬

    Akhil Suhas Report

    Fandoms Rise
    Community Member
    9 years ago

    Gandalf leading the fellowship to Caradhras.

    #15

    ‎gandalf The Guide‬

    Akhil Suhas Report

    Juvie Sanchez
    Community Member
    9 years ago

    They're all beautiful pictures you did great!

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    Never miss a story that brings joy to the world. Add us on Google

    #16

    ‎gandalf The Guide‬

    Akhil Suhas Report

    Fandoms Rise
    Community Member
    9 years ago

    The magnificent rays of sunlight streaming from the clouds make me think this is in the very beginning of middle-earth. Another one of my favorites.

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    #17

    ‎gandalf The Guide‬

    Akhil Suhas Report

    Shakira Derbyshire
    Community Member
    9 years ago

    90 Mile Beach sand dunes, Far North, NZ

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    #18

    ‎gandalf The Guide‬

    Akhil Suhas Report

    Charlene Pratt
    Community Member
    9 years ago

    Narnia! lol. This is the place you see when the kids arrive to Narnia in the Chronicles of Narnia 2!

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    #19

    ‎gandalf The Guide‬

    Akhil Suhas Report

    David Shannon
    Community Member
    9 years ago

    Amazing light and shadows.

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    #20

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    Akhil Suhas Report

    Perlaki Gabriella
    Community Member
    9 years ago

    Misty Mountains :-D Love it!

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    #21

    ‎gandalf The Guide‬

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    #22

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    David Shannon
    Community Member
    9 years ago

    The magnitude of the massive mountains is illustrated by the scale of the buildings across the water.

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    #23

    ‎gandalf The Guide‬

    Akhil Suhas Report

    Grant Horan
    Community Member
    9 years ago

    Northern tip of New Zealand .... Cape Reinga

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    #24

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    Tom Clark
    Community Member
    9 years ago

    Might be Deer Park Heights, Queenstown?

    #25

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    Akhil Suhas Report

    Brenda Stauber
    Community Member
    9 years ago

    Eerie!!

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    #26

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    Akhil Suhas Report

    Phil Fahey
    Community Member
    9 years ago

    Wharariki Beach, near Golden Bay, South Island

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    #27

    ‎gandalf The Guide‬

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    #28

    ‎gandalf The Guide‬

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    Fandoms Rise
    Community Member
    9 years ago

    Travelling to Caradhras.

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    #29

    ‎gandalf The Guide‬

    Akhil Suhas Report

    Phil Fahey
    Community Member
    9 years ago

    Motueka, Golden Bay

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    #30

    ‎gandalf The Guide‬

    Akhil Suhas Report

    Bren Dyer
    Community Member
    9 years ago

    The blue pools, Haast road

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    #31

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    Akhil Suhas Report

    Alejandra GT
    Community Member
    9 years ago

    Waiting for the boat to go with the Elves

    #32

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    Grant Horan
    Community Member
    9 years ago

    NOW he's lost ..... nobody goes to Glenorchy on purpose .... LoL

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