A bit of Photojournalism circa July/August 2011

Sorry I have been out of blog land for a while, I've been more in photographic mode than writing mode.  I will say though that I have a short story entered in the Katherine Mansfield SS Competition with the results due later this month, and the same story has been picked up by an esteemed literary journal in the USA.

So as another photographic gap filler for your souls.

We Nutters from TNCNZ meeting Mike at his show here in Palmerston North a few weeks back.  Mike was very keen to speak to us all and to have mugshots taken.  Both he and his co comedian knocked the socks off everyone at the show and a great night was had by all.

From l-r:  Myself, Chrissy Lee, Jono Smith-Pula, Jax Burns-Budd, Mike, John Sturmey and Jay Rich.

 Old and New.  The brick building in the left is the original Palmerston North Polytech, with the new building on the right being the "new" UCOL faculty building.  Just loved how this looked in Black and White and how differing styles of architecture actually balance themselves.

 These fountains are located in the south western corner of the park in The Square.  It took me over three weeks to actually be there when the fountains were running for a night shoot.  The colour one of this is nice, but the softness of the fountains in long time exposure made this a very good B&W.

This is a shot of the rusted sculpture in the middle of the roundabout on The Square and Main Street West with the Civic Building in the background.  The red or white squiggly lights are vehicles going around the roundabout as this shot too was long exposure.

This great shot was taken at Kelvin Grove Cemetery about two weeks ago.  It's entitled Tombstones as it sets the actual tombstones as displayed foreground against the "tombstones" of the wind turbines on the hills.  The white Pagoda was a very definite bonus.

Amazing how things just work out right.  The tall stands of Macracarpa with the hillock poking up above, the ramshackle old stables (turned into a garage) long since used, and the two poplars, one uprooted by the wind, the other one stoic, yet leaning, soon to join his brother.

 This 1892 church is at a litle farming community called Ballance (near the Manawatu Gorge).  Funny story, my brother chose this site due to it's age to do some metal detecting around.  We'd been on the property for about 45 minutes and had found lots of stuff, when up rolls the Devils Henchman, well OK, two ladies from the Church Preservation Society wanting everything we had found (church property).  We gave her a useless penny and a broken child's ring, and scarpered to more friendly environs.

Just down the road from the Weber Pub, this long forgotten Tedder Rake was wallowing away in a field.  We're pretty sure it was horse drawn, showing it's age.

The remnants of the sawmill that used to be behind the pub.  The belt wheel suggest that was powered by a steam traction engine back in the day.

Outside the Crosse Farm south east of Weber, this bygone relic of horse and cart days.  The timber has eroded away and lichen covers most of the frame.

 This shot is of a sculpture by renowned sculptor Dibble of Palmerston North outside the Regent Theatre on Broadway Avenue.  The lady is dancing to an interested Tuatara.  This shot is soon to be used by a leading accommodation centre in the city to grace their brochure.

 

And last but by far not least.  I entered my photographic forums Night Time is the Right Time challenge last month with three shots taken at night (of course) and with long exposures.  This shot was voted second best (by one point) so all my efforts to date are coming to fruition.

Ok, one more.  This facade is from the original DIC Importing Company building, which now fronts the very modern City Library.  This too was a long exposure shot and I have sent it off to the Library to use as they see fit (if at all).







Why is photography fun?  Like anything you have to keep at it.  You have to take opportunities when they arise, and you have to create opportunities.  I don't use a big DSLR camera, nor is it a point and shoot.  My camera is an Olympus SP570UZ Super zoom camera that does pretty much what a DSLR does but in a smaller package, which is just fine for me.  But now I'm getting to the stage where I'm asking the question, what if i had a DSLR?  Sadly this will only be solved with lottery prizes, lol (any sugar mommas out there??)

I do hope you enjoyed the small world through my eyes and mind..