Kiwi

Feilding Plane Crash

2012-01-23T12:07:00.003+13:00

One minute he's doing barrel rolls and living the dream. Then in a horrible moment is the certainty there's nothing to be done. I arrived at the plane crash just minutes later.. he crashed about 500 metres from my house... yet there's a sense of shock, of loss, and inappropriate voyuerism. He and his family are in our prayers today. Ray and Kim

BeePee at rest

2012-01-18T17:07:00.001+13:00

2012-01-18T17:02:00.001+13:00

Very recently someone said to me "I'm just an amateur" - but the word Amateur is highly under rated, because it means "for the love".

I can't think of a better reason to do anything at all, than for the love or sheer pleasure of it

Digital cameras and software like Photoshop, Lightroom, Paintshop, level the playing field to some degree with professionals. It certainly helps to know the rules in order to break them, but never let inexperience stop you from leaping out of a plane - amateur or pro - you are still going to learn alot on the journey!

So no matter how good you are or how crap, give it a try- if something you see moves you, then do your best to capture the moment and represent it. Ray

2012-01-16T16:27:00.000+13:00

Fan Club

2012-01-15T17:14:00.000+13:00

Its been so hot the fan has been out to move air around at night. This image is actually the shadow of a fan, which has distorted the image giving a slightly eeirie feel. Highly overprocessed to torture the pixels.... just the way I like it

December Moon

2012-01-15T17:10:00.000+13:00

This shot was totally handheld, but has been manipulated to give it a grainy sinister look. I love grain... its good for you :-). The tall tree adds to the effect

Makino Road

2011-02-05T18:03:00.003+13:00

I use HDR photography carefully being an old school guy trained in the dark arts of Darkroom, and the belief that you get the exposure right at time of taking.. and the rest follows from that. Digital breaks all of the rules around tonal ranges, but Im still careful not to shoot with an expectation of fixing mistakes later. This shot was taken on Makino Road near Feilding, and would have been too difficult to achieve in the darkroom. Process steps include shooting RAW, multiple expoures 2 stops apart, sandwiched in Photomatix with tonal adjustements and HDR applied. From there transferred to PSP3 and layered several times to achieve exposure and tonal banding.

The fishermans glove

2011-01-02T08:54:00.001+13:00

Photography is the art of translation, taking what you see and interpreting it for others, either completely and faithfully - or with your own interpretation.
An old discarded fishermans glove buried in the sand can still live on in a new form....

Old Mesilla

2010-11-16T18:54:00.000+13:00

Usually Im not a big fan of HDR images, but the age and grittyness of Mesilla required some thinking about. Lovely old town

Poppy and her Boys

2010-11-05T14:32:00.000+13:00

To you? Shes just a sheep, but I remember when she turned up as an orphan lamb needing 2 hourly feeds from a bottle and living in a cardboard box by the fire. The two littel rams behind her are this years lambs. Poppy eats plumbs, mandarins scones and bread. No wonder shes a podgy girl.

London's Ford

2010-11-05T14:28:00.000+13:00

London's Ford crosses a stream near Kimbolton, and is a happy place in Summer with people camping near the water, swimming and fishing

2010-08-07T09:12:00.001+12:00

I love Wellington... As the sun was setting in a cloudy sky, this image of silver on dark grey just popped ina quik flash if sunlight. Two minutes later it was all over.. photography is about 'the instant'

The Cuba Street Carnival- Wellington

2010-08-07T09:08:00.001+12:00

I like that this image is grainy and washed out, it had just rained, the colours were amazing, and if you know Cuba Street, then you can imagine the smell of the street- something like Bananas' mixed with pee and coffee.

2010-08-07T08:56:00.002+12:00

On the Desert Road in July, winter, temperature at -2 with the sun going down, Mt Ruapehu looked pretty in pink.. I wasnt outside long, but got an amazing set of images beofre, in an instant, the magic was gone

2010-08-07T08:43:00.003+12:00

Its been awhile, work so busy, but I have been taking photographs! The danger of digital - so many images, and so little time to publish. These two are colour, justto show Im not so biased about black and white. At Omokoroa on a cloudy heavy morning, the dampness darkens the greens and makes the other colours pop nicely. The top one is slightly manipulated to take out an ugly tarpaulin..otherwise they are much as I saw them

The Water Series

2010-01-03T11:43:00.004+13:00

These three pictures were taken as part of a larger series using warm and cream tones. L very patiently wore a heavy evening dress in the ocean, peeling the outer layer and using the under-petticoats for the final shots. There were around 80 images in total...

I would like to recreate these shots using some different techniques with a different model. Overall some of the photos (not shown) were rather stunning, and this set has remained a favourite since they were taken in 1998.

New Mexico - Mesilla and San Xavier del Bac

2009-02-06T16:35:00.005+13:00

Antique Store, Old Town Mesilla, NM.

San Xavier del Bac Mission. The light here was amazing in the early morning.

I imagine about 4pm would be an exceptional time also with the angle of light passing in the sky

Turkey Run State Park, Indiana

2009-02-06T13:35:00.003+13:00

These two images, originally in colour, have been given a slight warm tone, similar to Agfa Fibre-based papers that I have used. Warm toned papers are more sympathetic to the eye than pure black and white for some subjects.

Walking near this lake, we had stood a moment in the silence watching the wind patterns on the water shifting, when a young buck deer quietly trotted into view about 10 metres away, looked right at us, stopping briefly, and then continued on into the trees. Disappeared in moments like he had never been there at all. Somehow, it made the silence around us more complete

My Favourite place in America ?

2008-05-24T20:02:00.002+12:00

In California I saw lots of pretty girls and fancy cars, fine houses. I've already commented below that we found exceptional hospitality in Arizona New Mexico and especially Texas. We saw some great stuff in Indiana, met a bubbly Navajo Indian, met firemen, Policemen and Border Patrolmen, total fruitloops and genuine folks. We saw folks smoking in gas stations and had the biggest damn breakfast on the planet, but my favourite place was this stretch of road between Douglas and Lordsburg, where Arizona becomes New Mexico at a little town called Rodeo.

This was Geronimo's hide out, and the place he surrendered, which is now Coronado National Forest, and not far away from where Cochise hung about. Tombstone and Bisbee are testament to the harshness of the frontier as it was not that long ago, and not very far from here either.

I step out of the car and onto the road, hear total silence. No trees, no birds, no wind, no cars, nothing moving except the big sky ..... and I realise that what I see hasn't changed much for hundreds of years. Looking up I noticed the sky. It goes from blue to grey really fast. The road stretches towards Granite Gap ghost town in front of me somewhere, behind me was Rodeo.

I'm all alone, yet there is a sense that this is not a lonely land. Somewhere beyond the foothills, perhaps in that canyon or along the prairie ,life is steadily and quietly going about its business without me. Here are just five images that tell the story

If I could go anywhere by closing my eyes, it would be here - in the middle of nowhere I feel I have found the faded glory, the heartland I sought when I started this journey with Kim. Nowhere tells me more strongly that the heartland beats and is alive, long after I am gone the rhythm will continue.

Auburn and the far north of Indiana

2008-05-24T19:50:00.003+12:00

Okay, so this picture is of an Indian motorcycle I took at the Indy 500 racetrack. I realise I didnt tell you Stubby and I had gone there and although some cars were racing around, the action was pretty quiet on the day as the qualifying times and poll positions had been set the previous day. But the museum on site was fun with all kinds of hot stuff to see.

But we also ventured into the far north of Indiana, again taking the small roads and small towns from Nappanee across to Auburn where the Auburn,Duesenburg and Cord Car Museum is. WOW! There is a 1928 Cord in the Southwards Museum at home but nothing prepared me for the sheer opulence of cars made in this era - 1920's and 1930's mostly. Style, elegance and freakin gorgeous! Why can't someone make cars liek this anymore ? I though the line up of straight eights and straight twelves was stunning but there were also some 16 cylinder engines as well

and to give you a sense of size, here is a sixteen - admittedly made for an aircraft but you still get the picture

Nappanee

2008-05-24T19:41:00.002+12:00

Nappannee was not the only town we saw Amish, but this photo is classic because it shows that this town has hitching rail, so people can leave their carriages tied up outside supermarkets to go grocery shopping. Some carts had small trailers for groceries, and on some roads they have their own "lane" so they dont hold up traffic.

At Amish Acres we took the tour and leant about some Amish ways of life and culture....

The boys are chatting. The turkeys and rabbist were less inviting but you really have to watch out for the geese and goats - they bite!

Turkey Run

2008-05-24T19:31:00.003+12:00

Turkey Run State Park is over near the border, and a really pretty spot. I finally got to see Racoons, squirrels,chipmunks and deer, even a buzzard along the highway

The old covered bridge in the State park which you can walk on. Later Kim and I also drove over the Cox Ford covered bridge which was as solid as the day it was built in the late 1870's.

There were also some little cabins like this one in the forest, but although it was boarded up it obviously belonged to someone, and I didnt want to trespass. But really pretty in the State Park

We spent all day here, and its beautiful. I took so many photos of the swing bridge, the limestone rocks and the sunken forest.. far too many to add here

Meeting in Indiana, and off to Turkey Run

2008-05-24T19:15:00.005+12:00

So here we are - the family around a barbeque meeting for aslmost the first time. Its really weird to have been married eight years and only just getting to meet your father in law and brother in law over a few beers and a BBQ, but we seemed to get along just great !

And then there were more introductions to Kims old friends from Indiana University.

A few days later we headed out to Turkey Run State Park. Indiana is damn flat in the central part, lots of dutch barns because of the population of German settlers with Amish and Menonite communities scattered about all over the state

We came across these two wee men taking a roll of fencing material somewhere. The boy driving the cart may have only been 12, with dark hair and the brightest blue eyes. The little fella was hanging on for dear life

Deep in Northern Texas across to Graham,Jean and Jermyn

2008-05-07T05:13:00.004+12:00

Kim Jean Jermyn in Jean...just down the road from Jermyn.

Named from someone in the distant long ago family. Not much here anymore....

If you're stopping around Graham - WOW. Pretty little town, green, lush, lakeside. This is Civil war and Indian war territory, alot of proud history here. Elm Street Bed and Breakfast run by Karen McMillan we would highly recommend to anyone. This is a beautiful home , well appointed and a real treat. She was a gracious host who teed us up with a visit with her friends Caroline and Fred Mayo at the Paradise on the Brazos.

We spent a lovely night with Fred, Caroline and guests with Texan hospitality. I cannot speak highly enough of Texan hospitality and manners. I guess further South the state is dry dust, but this far north its greener than at home in some respects. But its the people we will take away as the standout feature.

The morning we left I wanted to photographed more of Graham, but it was softly raining and the light was too poor. I regret that a great deal... the main street was pure hometown Americana and exactly what we have been chasing this whole journey. The "Faded Glory" is still alive, we followed some of Route 66 early on in this trip ,visited some backwaters and dying towns, but we have also seen some stunning scenery and met some darn nice folks. Some of these small towns are far from dying or still

We left for Kansas City and Indianapolis sorry to say goodbye to Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. Adios....

Claremont and Aspermont Texas onward......

2008-05-07T05:04:00.002+12:00

When we got to Claremont we found this old jail and a courthouse. You can walk inside and the cells are all iron banded, the locks still work.. Amazing really. Claremon is an officially listed ghost town although we could hear someone on a drumset somewhere in the mesquite down the country road.

We also kept coming across old cars just parked up all along the roads in Texas..... I took hundreds of photos and have attached a few here for the auto nuts amoungst you

A funny stop for us was at Aspermont Tx. A truck was delivering fuel at the local shell when we gassed up and went inside to pay. Guy standing inside smoking looked and sounded alot like Cooter from Dukes of Hazzard (the original series) I'm not running this guy down, because he was just being himself and he was nice and polite as pie, though he did ask where y'all from, discovered my wife was a damn Yankee, vowed the South was 'just restin' . We were incredulous to say the least, but the folks here were genuine friendly and down to earth which we respect.

Just down the road we came across the old gas station... I guess times have changed somewhat.

Artesia NM to Post Tx, Post,

2008-05-07T04:39:00.006+12:00

Artesia is a mixed town in New Mexico ...... with lots of pretty houses and some a little rougher.

If you need a place to stay here, stop with Sue Keho at the Heritage Inn. The Hotel was comfortable, cosy and Sue very helpful and welcoming. She recommnded the Wellhead as a great place to eat, and she was dead right - the food was excellent

As we left town, some of the locals watched us to ensure we left the property....

In Post we couldnt believe how pretty the town was. We had planned to stay at the Hotel Garza, but stayed instead at Rusty's Cottage as the Garza was packed. The hosts here Jim and Janice Plimmer, a lovely couple but I have to say....Rustys Cottage was perfect for a romantic weekend away ! You can find out more through the Garza website - they teed everything up for us...

The roads in Texas stretch forever. I thought New Mexico was empty but when we crossed the state line to Tx, the grass greened up yet the roads just seem to go forever........

Whte Sands,Cloudcroft,Mayhill,Artesia NM

2008-05-04T03:10:00.003+12:00

Fine beautiful day to leave Las Cruces... New Mexico's lowest point is just 2800 ft above sea level and the highest around 13,100. I think Las Cruces and Mesilla sit around 3500 ft.

Over the San Augustin pass to the White Sands Missile testing range.....

and into the White Sands Desert Musuem. Well worth the visit.. the sand is blindingly white and the total complete silence incredible... no wind, no birds, no people... just total silence in a happy kind of way

I got stopped between White Sands and Alamagordo in a Border Patrol checkpoint. We've seen a few but this was the first time Ive had to step out of the car and produce a passport and drivers licence. Lunch at Alamogord and the climb to Cluodcroft. Pretty little ski village about 9000 ft. We got stuck behind this little school bus much of the way....

After Cloudcroft we got to Mayhill, tiny little place beyond the mountains. Met two really nice folks - Jen and Butch. Jen runs this cafe thats haunted somewhat.

Butch is a volunteer fireman who was off home to wash his truck, a Navajo gentleman with a warm and generous character we chatted for awhile and was one of the most decent people Ive met on the trip so far.

Jen made us Root Beer floats with chocolate ice cream which strangely tasted just like a Tootsie roll.! Mayhill is where the Mescalero Apaches fought the Army in the 1850's

Passed through a small town called Hope, which was poor looking and just a few miles down the road came to Artesia , which was our stop for the night. Artesia is an oil town, hosts a Police college as well, so plenty of fit young men in The Wellhead restaurant. Great meal, but if youre staying in Artesia, we recommend the Heritage Inn. The Hotel is old and lovely, run by Sue who made us feel very at home. She had a full house... testament to her facilities.. We leave here today and cross into Texas, the final leg of our journey before Indiana.

We've seen so much, eaten alot of fab food, been disappointed rarely - but most of all have met some great people, witnessed some beautiful country and achingly serene panaromas that phtos do not do justice. So far Ive taken over 1300 photos... what is here is a small slice only and randomly picked to tell the story.

Lordsburg,Truth or Consequences,Hatch to Mesilla, NM

2008-05-04T02:55:00.004+12:00

Lordsburg NM has certainly seen better days, but the people were friendly and the Comfort Inn was a great night sleep. Everything here is big -including the trucks. We spotted a new dump tray heading for the mines

Steins Ghost Town was a little bit weird. Heavily advertised and promoted, we arrived to find it "closed" behind gates and fences.... more ghostly than most

The desert throws up huge dust storms about 15 days of the year, and we drove for hours in swirls of sand that reduced visiblity. You ould then come out the other side into bright blue sky.

We chose a smaller road to get to Truth or Consequences. The most boring mindless drive with nothing to see, with the exception of Hatch. Chillies everywhere ! and right on the banks of the Rio Grande....

Truth or Consequences was fun. We sat in a private hotpool naked in 106 degree water watching the Rio Grande pass by, we also had some terrific Mexican food at a diner picked at random. It didnt look much from the outside but we have learnt that doesnt mean alot - some of our best meals have come from scary looking exteriors.

Las Cruces was dull overall, and not what we expected but then we did get lost a few times and the dust was still blowing. But we stayed at the Meson de Mesilla in the old town. The boutique hotel was hugely disappointing, and a series of problems mean we would never return. However we had a great meal at Paisano - pecan crusted chicken salad with raspberry sauce.Oh yum ! click the link and check out the menu - not open for dinner - just lunch.

Old town Mesilla was beautiful, and the surrounding countryside pretty. A little run down in places but that was the charm ,and it made up for Las Cruces. We spent large at Stahmans Pecan farm - the largest growers in the world. The trees made the surrounds shady and green.

San Diego, Yuma, Bisbee to Lorsdburg

2008-04-30T16:00:00.003+12:00

Loved San Diego, and catching up with John and Tom, Lauren ,Sean and Mimi over dinner. I loved the food at Casa Guadalahara, and all the margaritas. Oh, Oh !!!

From there next day we headed over the mountains East, climbing to 4100 feet and down below sea level, and stopped at Yuma in Arizona. WOW. Stepped out of the car and opened my mouth, and found the air so hot my mouth dried instantly. It was 37 degrees, dead dry. The whole time we walked around we couldnt sweat. There are parts of Yuma that are run down, and great just the way they are.

Reluctantly, we pushed on for Tucson and stayed at the Hotel Congress

The Congress is an old timer, with a helluva past and a current hotspot every night. Quirky, lousy shower, fabulous food and great hospitality. We'd stay there again anytime !

From Tucson we checked out the Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum. Well worth seeing,stunning scenery and staffed by alot of volunteers who donate time to educate all the people who visit. Its reached on the really narrow-assed road, where its possible to try the local sport - cactus slapping.

The cactus grows so close to the road that if you stick out your hand you can slap it real hard on the way past - but only recommended if you have a very high tolarance for pain, and exceptional medical insurance !!!! Cactus slapping is not a pussy sport

We left Tucson today, the 29th April, visiting San Xavier Bac, the Titan Missile Museum ( Kim launched a missile and killed the world). Whoa - very cool!

Still no sweat in the 35 degree temperature. To Tombstone (over rated and living on its past reputation), to Bisbee - the Copper Queen is a grand old lady, then down to Douglas, taking the minor road to Lordsburg. Highly recommended ! At first the views aren't great, but the vistas as you close Arizona and head to New Mexico become stunning. Lonely roads, we passed just 12 cars in all those miles, but the views are to die for.

Laguna Beach

2008-04-27T04:09:00.005+12:00

Drove from Santa Monica to Long Beach to see John and Tiffany. Had brunch at the Bonanza grill - a greasy spoon diner that had great food. Long Beach is lovely and warm, but busy and urban.

This wee wee house has a tag of around $1m for a one bedroom ..... location,location ! (nowhere near the beach by the way - just lots of apartments being made over).

Then drove to Laguna Beach on the way to San Diego. Have seen some amazing sights, and talked to some very cool people.

The newspaper in Santa Monica tells me the average price for a small family home locally is around $2 million, so I guess we wont be living there! However Laguna Beach blew me away.

So totally the Southern California lifestyle, relaxed, warm and quirky. Shopping is amazing, we came across this sweet store. This is just one ailse of many with lollies just spilling out, tempting fatties everywhere with calories

But you just couldnt live here without very deep pockets. We checked a few house prices and they start around the $4m mark upwards.

Then down to Oceanside, and a Malted shake at Rubys on the pier. Reluctantly rejoined the crazy traffic and headed towards San Diego. Time already slipping through our fingers..... but having so much fun, eating lots of Mexican food and naughty things. More Later.

The US trip- Arriving in LA

2008-04-24T16:42:00.004+12:00

Finally made it to LA! We flew business class and had a fabulous sleep in the pod chairs that let you lie fully down... but I was still really tired when we ate at Mariasol's on the Santa Monica Pier at 6pm Tuesday. Due to the differences in timezones we managed to arrive in the US before we left NZ.

So whats different? Weird driving on the wrong side of the road and legal red light turns. Seen many bizzare and funny things but my favourite in this first 24 hours is this photo of the Brennans saloon that offers turtle racing near the Marina del Ray. Outside there is an imposed speed limit though it is unclear whether the speed applies to the traffic or to the turtles

I think the other strange thing is being surrounded by so much affluence in Santa Monica and surrounding neighbourhoods like Beverley Hills, Cheviot Hills.... and seeing so many people living on the streets of all ages, young and old, male and female. Disturbing that so many people live on the edges.

The other sign that seemed a little strange was this one to calm traffic. Not sure quite what it did for the cars, or the drivers but apparently advice is available on remaining calm while in traffc. Kim also reminded why its important not to drive around LA with the car windows down - people get offended if they think you're staring or talking about them. Much,much safer to wind up the windows and turn on the AC !

Poppy

2008-04-16T20:36:00.003+12:00

This is my Poppy, when she was an orphan lamb, bottle fed by the fireside on cold September nights, I could pick her up and let her feed greedily. Now she is five years old, far too heavy to pick up, but still comes running if you appear wit bread, lemons, plums or anything at all.

We havent seen Pops for a long while, and it was hard to say goodbye when she was calling out. You might say shes just a Sheep, but Ive come to learn they have personailities, character and can definately remember faces. To me, not all sheep look alike.........

Tiakitahuna Rocket Launch

2008-03-29T10:12:00.002+13:00

Driving along the State Highway outside of Palmerston North and approaching Tiakitahuna, tourists often blink twice at the sight of a rocket launch right from along side the road....until you realise it ain't moving !

The rocket was a symbol from the 1960's - of the hope for a bright tomorrow. Somehow a different message is conveyed by the faded beer advertsing for Lion Red along its flanks. Still.. a quirky welcome to the Manawatu region.

28 Days

2008-03-26T20:07:00.002+13:00

Well, after a whole year in the planning our holiday to the US is finally just 28 days away. We never really set out to create A THEME for the trip, it just kind of happened. I needed to meet my parents -in law. ( I've been married almost nine years and haven't met them yet !) and I knew I wanted to see Jermyn,Texas.

From there, with the aid of travel sites, Google Earth an a vivid imagination, we have managed to create five weeks of touring on the road less travelled. After Tucson, we have deliberately chosen the smaller roads, the smaller towns and cities and looked for interesting, quirky things to do - like Titan missile silos, drive in movie theatres, Wooden Roller Coasters - while avoiding Roswell and the kitchy stuff. Staying at hotels like The Hotel Congress and the Garza, the Meson de Mesilla and the Heritage,,,, and avoiding Best Westerns and luxe hotels......

The aim is to meet genuine, real Americans. The lifeblood, the heartbeat... the fading innocence of the Old America. We have invites into homes and schools, and hearts already - and we hope to share the journey after the 22nd April 2008 once we hit the road.....

Hot fins

2008-03-01T16:48:00.003+13:00

A baby shark lying dead on the beach in itself isn't very sensual, but this shot with the ribbon of sunlight on the shallow pool of water, the warm tone of the sand, the sleek silver flesh proves pictures worth taking are all around us

From beyond the grave

2008-03-01T16:44:00.004+13:00

Walking along the beach so many discarded items can make fun subjects when shot in different contexts. I shot this specifically to concentrate on the textures, devoid of colours....

Oh, Relax !

2008-01-21T14:00:00.000+13:00

This little man just turned up one day last week, and doesnt seem in too much of a hurry to leave. I think he's ours, or maybe we belong to him?

Reflections of Summer

2007-11-19T20:13:00.000+13:00

For Sale $20,000 . Yeah? Yeah......

2007-10-28T12:53:00.000+13:00

Lest We Forget

2007-10-06T08:12:00.001+13:00

On the anniversary of the battle at Passchendaele in 1917, I thought it was appropriate to share this image. The historic, bloody disaster from the First World War cost the lives of 450,000 men from both sides - all for just an 8 kilometre ( 5 mile) stretch of soil in Belgium. What the Allies took was all recaptured within weeks by the Germans, all for so little. It doesnt matter what side you were on back then, the message today remains clear - so many died in vain.

In New Zealand, one person in 1000 of the total country's population was committed and lost in this campaign far away in Belgium- and their names appear in every small community war memorial, like this one. To put that in perspective in todays terms, it would mean the loss of 250,000 Americans in one battle ( 1 in a 1000), for a battle lasting just several months. Lest we forget...

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.

Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,

They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them.

The Great Thing about Weddings

2007-10-01T19:34:00.000+13:00

The great thing about photographing weddings is... the quiet special moments when the formal people let down their guard just a little. This wee flower girl was absorbed in the process of signing the marriage register, and it gave her a far-away look. Of the hundreds of images taken by me at the weekend this is a personal favourite. Kim and wish Mike and Sue all the best for their life together.....

Mt Ruapehu Eruption

2007-09-26T19:48:00.000+12:00

Some of you may have heard about Mt Ruapehu "erupting" on Tuesday night. Sure there was some smoke and a little ash, but the truth is we never knew anything about it at the time.

Ruapehu has erupted several times in living history, including the mud lahars last year. Because this mountain is just 60 odd miles (120 kilometres) north of where we live, there is always the thought in the back of our mind that this active volcano will lose its temper in our lifetime.

This picture is from Google Earth,and shows how barren the ash and some of the desert surrounding the mountain. In the 1800's, this was forest before the big one that killed everything for hundreds of miles around.

Jewellery

2007-09-15T22:23:00.000+12:00

I've been taking pictures of jewellery for Kim's work website.Almost looks like edible candy

Slumber

2007-09-10T09:13:00.000+12:00

A quiet Sunday morning, birds singing, not much to do for these people camped at the Feilding Motor camp. Most trailer parks are slightly depressing places, this one most of all because its surrounded by big old Macrocarpa trees - not alot of Sun on any Sunday

Apiti Windfarms

2007-09-07T13:13:00.001+12:00

These Wind Turbines sit on the hills behind Palmerston North and can be seen for miles. By world standards they overgenerate - due no doubt to the strong winds that pass difrectly from either Australia or deep in the Southern Ocean, pass over this thin strip of land on their way to Argentina which is the next landfall. Over 100 of these turbines exist with more on the way. New Zealand has no nuclear energy, relying on Hydro, Coal and Gas for most of our needs. Each of these blades is 45 metres long (about 130 feet) and the nacelle (little house behind the blade) is the size of a single-car garage

Sun Spirits and Moon Spirits

2007-09-04T06:12:00.000+12:00

In my opinion there are Two kinds of people out there - Sun spirits and Moon spirits.
There is a question at the end of this rant for you , so keep reading!

Moon spirits are cold and dark, and have no inner warmth of their own. They have no life or colour. All in their life comes from others. They are the takers with small compassion for others. They are the needy friends, the dejected who will not help themselves, the victims who will not become survivors.

Sun spirits warm those around them with their energy, they give and radiate. No matter how much they give, there is still more.They burn with a fire inside that you can't help but see, and the energy is all around. They give life, they provide hope and colour. They do not seek reward.

The two work together in the heavens and on this Earth. Suns can make moons radiate and glow for awhile, but moons will never have a life or light of their own. They need Suns to brighten their life, or all turns to darkness, and hope is lost.

Suns will brighten Moons, not because they have to, but because they cannot help but radiate for themselves. Suns can live without moons, their spirit is undeniable.

So which are you today - a sun or a moon? Even a small amount of sunshine can take away someone's darkness, even for a little while.

Our Babies

2007-09-03T15:06:00.000+12:00

Kim and I went to 'Te Rimu' farm where our sheep went after we sold our small farmlet. These three sheep were our very first, and always stick together like a rat-pack.
Heavily pregnant right now, they tuck into several loaves of bread and lemons - some of their favourite food! This was a special afternoon for us, and many thanks to Mike and Jan Holdaway - 'Te Rimu's' owners who put on a much belated farewell community tea.

In such small, remote places like Umutoi, everyone looks after their neighbour. We are each others firemen, ambulance drivers and helping hands in times of good and bad. We will always remember this community no matter where we go.

Kimbolton Library

2007-08-28T15:50:00.000+12:00

The Kimbolton Library was established in 1927, and is still in operation today. Its very small as you can see - but then so is the little town of Kimbolton wiht a population of around 100 people. Books come from a larger Library in the city so the local people have plenty to choose from.

An Old Hay Shed, Kiwitea

2007-08-24T16:53:00.000+12:00

Tightly cropped because it sits hard against the roadside, I passed this old shed every day on my way to work for almost five years watching it slowly sag and bow to the wind and rain. Ive artificially given the digital image a warm tone since the sky was so washed out and uninteresting. Leica V-lux1 and 85mm lens. Not a good image, but in response to the request for one such as this.

The Ribbon

2007-08-22T14:37:00.000+12:00

This is an old picture, taken of my father on Te Horo beach. The image has special meaning for me because it was taken shortly after we reconciled. I finally had the courage to forgive him and tell him I loved him. Long story of stubborness between proud men...

I knealt on the wet sand and shot towards the light, the setting sun making the foam and sea irridescent. He appears to be "listing" because of the wide angle lens ( Nikon 20mm on uprated Tri-x)

The photo reminds me that we are, as people, often alone with our thoughts and feelings following an invisible ribbon in our life that cannot be explained to others. It is our path, unravelled behind us and extending into the future.

Just a few months after this image was shot, my father died. But I will not forget this day when we walked together, spoke together and our ribbons entwined for the first and last time.

Totara Stump, Pongaroa

2007-08-20T10:19:00.000+12:00

This old stump was on my Granny's 60 acre farm. As a boy I loved going there in Summer. She kept just a few cows so the grass was always long and dry, and when the breeze blew it waved like the ocean. I'd be gone for hours, called back for huge lunches and home made cakes in the afternoons, to the tiny farmhouse my Grandfather had built for her during the depression.

Shepherds Cottage, Kiwitea

2007-08-18T19:18:00.000+12:00

Thousands of these old Shepherds Cottages, hay sheds and old milking sheds can be found in rural New Zealand and mostly built of timber until you head for the South Island where stone becomes the material of choice the further south you go. Leica with 200mm

Distant Rainbows

2007-08-16T12:33:00.001+12:00

The odd colouring in this shot comes from the sheet rainbow surrounding this distant ridge, several kilometres from where I was standing. Taken almost the same time as the image below, it has a totally different feel and look. To give you an idea of perpective, the small white dots on the grass are sheep. The mountains behind climb to over 3500 feet.

Delivering Snow

2007-08-15T09:56:00.000+12:00

The Ruahine Ranges are very close to home and until a few months ago we lived 600m up the slopes just to the right of this image. It's winter of course in the Southern Hemisphere giving this picture a very moody and almost monochromatic look. Leica with 400mm telephoto

Kieran

2007-08-13T16:18:00.000+12:00

One of a series of models taken at a burnt-out bus depot in Palmerston North. All natural light and warm tone Agfa Fibre Based paper. The heavy blackened walls made light fascinating inside this building . I shot Kieran on just one photo shoot , and someone I remember kindly as a strong individual with a sad tale in her years ahead. Agfa100, Nikon 85mm

Comments

2007-08-11T10:07:00.000+12:00

Lately my images are all digital as there was an extended period where I could not operate a darkroom, and I detest other people processing my film. So there is a large gap between my old arty work and what I do now. Ive gone from shooting over 500 films per year and hand creating a small number of prints -to managing just a few thousand digital captures per year. Digital is quicker,far more 'disposable' and I like it for that.

But some of the black and whites I will share here have taken hours/days and many sheets of paper to produce what you see. They are not accidents, but carefully crafted. While I like to paint Im not very good, and photography remains my best medium.

PekaPeka Beach

2007-08-11T10:00:00.000+12:00

I went through a stage of gritty looking images where film was tortured to produce very strong blacks with long tonal ranges. All of these images exist in negative or print only,so I have to scan them for you to see. Alot is lost in translation, but you get the idea, and I still like the work I did in this period of the 1980's early 1990's

George Street 1988

2007-08-10T10:15:00.001+12:00

Scanning this image from 1988, I realise how badly scanners capture the true depth of tone and detail of original images. This one was part of a series of 6x8" prints taken from 6x7cm negatives that were sold fully matted, and its my regret I cannot show you the original with all the glorious shadow detail. Ansel Adams would have been happy. Warm tone Fibre-based paper

The Estuary, Paraparaumu

2007-08-09T09:24:00.000+12:00

Water has a fascination for a photographer as does Glass, for the purity of light and handling of colour.Here the intensity has not been enhanced -just well exposed

Water Hyacinth Roots

2007-08-08T21:16:00.000+12:00

Feilding

2007-08-06T14:06:00.000+12:00

This is our home-town Feilding, pop 8,000. Feilding is an old farming town that still relies heavily on the surrounding areas like Apiti to send Beef, sheep and deer to the saleyards for auction every week. On those days when the smell hangs cloyingly over town, it is said to be 'the smell of money'. The hills in the background are far beyond the neighbouring city of Palmerston.

The Butcher Shop, Apiti

2007-08-06T09:22:00.001+12:00

Once a thriving town hewn from rugged bush in the late 1870's Apiti, like many isolated rural towns, has fallen from grace. What you cannot see is the great community spirit of the farming families that remain. There is still a pub, a gas station, a hall and a school. The nearest town is still 40 minutes away.

Consequences

2007-08-04T10:51:00.001+12:00

I visited the Blog of Katie Azar recently , who was commenting on the price of coffee. It got me thinking about what has value in our lives. Im a caffeine fiend ( a caffeind?) and would pay any price for a good coffee that brings my DT's to bay.
You should visit Katies site (listed on my Blogroll) - she and her husband have a healthy perspective.

But everything we do in our lives carries a price, everything we do not do; say and do not say. A recovering alcoholic pays the price daily trying to hold on to the 12 steps. A mother pays the price in sorrow and joy for having kids . Having a job to pay the bills means a sacrifice in free time. Saying harsh words we later regret but do not retract, carries a price. Faith has a price...

Sometimes the price is one we can afford,sometimes it's not. When I was 18 I had a son who died sadly three months later. He would have been 28 this year ! I thought I had reconciled my sorrow, yet all these years later the price still weighs with me in those quiet moments. The debt though old, is unpaid on some level, unreconciled. No regrets or guilt, just loss.

The point I'm making is - be sure the price of your actions, the value of your words, are affordable. Be honest in dealings with people, stand by your word, say what you truly feel and live without regrets. Now in my mid 40's, I am at my most happy and content in the whole of my life.

Rust Never Sleeps

2007-08-03T12:08:00.000+12:00

I like taking images of everyday objects - the small things that it is easy NOT to see. Life envelops us, yet daily we miss the small details.There is a simple pleasure discovering it....

Victoria Park, Feilding

2007-07-31T08:56:00.001+12:00

3

2007-07-29T16:26:00.001+12:00

The Face

2007-07-29T16:17:00.001+12:00

Te Ohu and Pamuiti , Ruahine Ranges

2007-07-27T09:59:00.001+12:00

This was our backyard up until a few months ago. The Ruahine Ranges in the background up in the Pohangina Valley. Pretty rugged up there - deer and pig to be hunted in the backcountry. I have very mixed feelings about these images - for me , I can smell the warm grass, hear the crickets signal Autumn approaching , see the clouds blow through, and distant sounds of cattle.

No matter where Kim and I go in this world, the five years we spent here will go with us always.
We learnt an awful lot about ourselves , and the goodness of people that still exists in the remote countryside........

Painting, with light

2007-07-24T13:57:00.000+12:00

The Stump

2007-07-22T12:45:00.001+12:00

I've always taken photographs. Its about elements and contrast - hard/soft, smooth/rough natural/manmade curve/line monochrome/colour .... A good photographer breaks everything down into smaller relationships, detailing that which escapes the hurried eye.

When in my 20's I would come home from work and grab something quick to eat, be in the darkroom until 2 or 3am when my eyes wouldnt focus anymore, hung over from the chemicals... and be happy that my whole nights' production amounted to one or two "keepers". I would take excess of 500 rolls of film a year, print perhaps 10% of the negatives, keep just one or two prints as my total output. Of those, only 5% or so would ever be framed or galleried for other to see.

There are two kinds of photographer - the selfish ones and the sharing ones. Back then it was an immensely private, personal experience and the opinions of others were unimportant. Because it was not about creating for others, but about the involvement in my own life and the minute detail around me.

Bees

2007-07-22T12:31:00.001+12:00

Did you know there are five varieties of Bumble Bee? My parents told me they were the "boy bees" that get thrown out from the hives of honey bees- which I've now learned is totally not true.

Bumble Bees live in very small hives of usually less than 300 bees each, and collect pollen on their back and legs (like this girl here).They have a much simpler life than Honey Bees, which have a complex social hive of 50,000 bees at a time.

As a beekeeper for several years, Ive come to appreciate just how hard bees have to work. This picture was taken with a simple Panasonic Digital camea with a Leica Lumix lens. It did a pretty good job overall

2007-07-20T09:58:00.001+12:00

These are two of last years lambs. Despite the tireless bottle feeding, the extra medication warmth and love they received, one of the little girls didnt make it (top photo). The one looking at you in the bottom photo was quite delicious at Christmas.

Lambs are funny things - even the healthy happy one sometimes lose the battle for life, and we learnt the hard way not to get too attached to them, just in case. Living in the country for five years was a huge learning curve neither of us will ever forget or regret. It taught us both the value of simple pleasures - like the smell and sounds of wee woolies like these

2007-07-19T10:20:00.001+12:00

This image is from a beachside community called Foxton. When I was a kid, a tall tree stood on this spot, and I cant help but wonder if this is a remnant of it. There was an estuary where I collected crabs and shells in the smelly grey mud. Its all silted up, the smell has gone, but the memories are far more vivd than the colours

Fulfilment

2007-07-18T12:07:00.001+12:00

Why is it that my eyes look to the horizon ? I seek the unknown, as if what I have already is not enough; As if I doubt the value of all that has gone before in my life and need the reassurance of that which I do not yet possess.

Standing on this hilltop near my home, the wind savages me, my eyes blister from the cold and I am refreshed. Yet I am not renewed.... there is a question unanswered,beyond reach in my wakeful state and haunting in my sleep. What lies beyond the horizon looking North?

An Introduction

2007-07-18T11:26:00.000+12:00

Beyond the house under the shady trees, sits the old barn. Its really a shed with a tongue and groove floor, covered in straw and hay for the animals to shelter when the weather turns cold. There's a lean-to for the firewood and a tiny tractor. A 1951 truck waits restoration in vain.

There is no colour in this photo,because its all about the textures and proportions. Monochrome gives the image the haunting feel I want, a sense of desperation and solitude. So deep in the country the loudest sound standing right here is the sigh in the high trees, a faraway tinkle from the stream, and a peace that wraps around me like a blanket. What you see if different to what I feel.