Shag Rock - the modified version!

Shag Rock, standing guard at the entrance from Pegasus Bay into the Estuary, is (or has been) a sigificant landmark for those trying their luck on the Sumner Bar. It's no longer the 20m sentinel it used to be, having been shaken and shattered by the earthquakes. Just a shadow of it's former self, I would estimate that it's a third of the height it used to be. It was a huge shock to see it reduced so catastrophically in February 2011, and then the quake in June 2011 brought it down further. It can never be the same again.

The locals somewhat irreverently now refer to it as Shag Pile, Shaglet, Shag Rocked, or even Shagged Rock. Poor old Shag Rock - it aint wot it used to be.

If you want to see what it used to be like, have a look at http://www.flickr.com/photos/jim_nicholls/5480022461/in/photostream/

Lens used - Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 IF DX, with a 1.8 ND filter, and Magic Cloth technique