This is another shot I took with my macro lens during the other day's rain - my sister's dog Kado. Thoroughly distracted by the calves wandering in a nearby paddock, he stood still long enough for me to take this shot! Thanks Kado!
Forecast is for more rain tomorrow (but 25 degrees Celsius will be our high, go figure) so hopefully I'll manage to get some more great photos of the rain. Until then, Hasta la vista!
Monday, January 25, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
A Walk on the Beach
Summer, oh how I've missed you! The very poor light yesterday (on account of the copious amounts of rain - it turns out that though every cloud may have a silver lining, sometimes that lining can clock out the sun) made it rather difficult to take photos, but I made up by taking extra today! And where better to welcome summer back (again) than at the Mount? I found this abandoned pool lounger on an equally abandoned main Mount Beach. I think it could be quite good for an advertising campaign, don't you? Something like "All that's missing is you". Though just quite how you would operate a pool lounger in the surf I'm not quite sure!
Our second photo is a sign you'll find at almost every beach in Tauranga - Tauranga is a tourist town by the beach, so our council takes the upkeep of our beaches very seriously! I liked the laid back, offbeat look of this photo - it's not much to look at but it makes you wonder!
As I said before, Tauranga is a tourist town, so cruise ships are regular visitors in our harbour. Today we had the Nautica, back for another visit after leaving two days ago. I've always loved photographs of silhouettes against the setting sun, so when I saw the opportunity to take one of my own, I jumped at it! The result is pretty good - if rather off kilter. I'm just a little annoyed I couldn't get a good shot of the cruise ship at the same time! Ah well, we can't have it all can we?And finally, a photo that I've been dreaming of taking for a long time. I saw something similar elsewhere and have always loved the kind of essential Kiwi-ness of the idea. Many thanks to Giorgio from Venice (I know, I'm jealous too ;) ) for letting me borrow his very Italian Vespa - apparently he was so worried about missing it that he had it shipped over to New Zealand for his six month holiday too!
I have loved the past few days of rain, but having the sun return was a very welcome relief. If only the weather could change on my whim! *sigh*
Our second photo is a sign you'll find at almost every beach in Tauranga - Tauranga is a tourist town by the beach, so our council takes the upkeep of our beaches very seriously! I liked the laid back, offbeat look of this photo - it's not much to look at but it makes you wonder!
As I said before, Tauranga is a tourist town, so cruise ships are regular visitors in our harbour. Today we had the Nautica, back for another visit after leaving two days ago. I've always loved photographs of silhouettes against the setting sun, so when I saw the opportunity to take one of my own, I jumped at it! The result is pretty good - if rather off kilter. I'm just a little annoyed I couldn't get a good shot of the cruise ship at the same time! Ah well, we can't have it all can we?And finally, a photo that I've been dreaming of taking for a long time. I saw something similar elsewhere and have always loved the kind of essential Kiwi-ness of the idea. Many thanks to Giorgio from Venice (I know, I'm jealous too ;) ) for letting me borrow his very Italian Vespa - apparently he was so worried about missing it that he had it shipped over to New Zealand for his six month holiday too!
I have loved the past few days of rain, but having the sun return was a very welcome relief. If only the weather could change on my whim! *sigh*
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Through A Looking Glass
I don't know about you but I'm fed up with the endless sweltering heat here, so yesterday's rain was a welcome relief. It also gave me a fantastic opportunity to dust off my macro lens and get some shots of the rain. A visit to my sister's farm in Pongakawa (about a half hour drive out of the city centre) allowed me to get these fantastic photos. I'm very proud of the first one - what you can't see in the photo is the very inquisitive calf who wandered over and had a go at eating my camera! Despite the rather unwelcome distraction I managed to get the shot. I must have nerves of steel! Although, about ten seconds after I took the photo, the featured dandelion was gone! The second photo was just me playing around but I love the result - the reflection of the sky (during a break in the weather) in the raindrop is beautiful.
I love summer but I think the rain was just what I needed!
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Sublime state of mind...
It's Thursday and nearly time to bid goodbye to what has been a very busy fortnight in our family!
Yesterday I experimented with closeups and some different compositions (I've got some fantastic macro shots to share). Here I present my two favourites!
The first is of the Old Post Office on the corner of Harrington and Willow Street in Downtown Tauranga. Construsted in 1906, for years Tauranga residents visited this building to mail their parcels, send telegrams - even to appear in court before the resident magistrate! The post and telegraph offices occupied the ground floor and the court was located on the first floor, with wonderful views over Tauranga Harbour. In 1999 Grasshopper Properties renovated the building (using all original colours and designs) to provide four office suites. This is the beautiful restored entrance and lighted clock tower at night. A wonderful example of Tauranga's original Edwardian Baroque architecture.
The second is a photo of a water fountain against the sky of the setting sun. I've darkened the water to give a slightly for dramatic style, and I think result works quite well. What do you think?
Thursday, January 7, 2010
On the road again...
One thing I love about summer is that the climate is just right for taking a road trip around our beautiful city. This morning our family did just that - we started the day up in the Kaimai Ranges, to the south west of Tauranga, taking in the sights (and taking a dip!) at one of the many beautiful waterholes. On the way back we stopped at the lookout, over looking the way to Auckland (and acres of beautiful farmland that stretches out for miles), where an interesting sign caught my eye.
Next we were lucky enough to commandeer a friend's boat as they made their way out into the Tauranga Harbour for a fishing trip. These two windsurfers must have had a lot of fun - even if my photo does make it look like they're on a collision course!
We ended the day back at Minden, where I spotted a lone pink flower growing amongst the grass (which is not entirely visible in my photo, unfortunately) and managed to snap a few photos as the sun began to set.
So ends another beautiful day in paradise!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Happy New Year!
Apologies for neglecting to post lately, it seems I let the Christmas rush get on top of me! As a consolation, I bring this scene from sunrise at Minden on January 02 (It was meant to be January 01 but in the rush to get up in time to see the sunrise I forgot to take my camera, so had to compensate). The photo is a bit blurry as I didn't get that tripod I asked Santa for (my birthday is coming up soon though, so perhaps then!) but I think the overall look manages to make up for the lack of professionalism in the photography. I intend to post some more photos I took that morning in the following few days, so keep an eye out! In the mean time, a very happy New Year to you!
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