Month: March 2013

The View

The View

 

Moving down the hill a little, and toward the North from yesterdays image, I snapped ‘The View’

One Tree Hill is full of quite little spots where one can relax, sit and take in nature, as well as look out towards Auckland. Unless you choose one of the common trails, you will only be bothered by the local sheep and the odd runner (depending on the time of day). On the sheep note – look where you sit – these guys are not shy in fertilising the whole hillside!

Shot on the Sony Nex and edited in Gimp

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Once was One Tree Hill

Once was One Tree

 

So todays image is what One Tree Hill now looks like (minus the one tree!). There have been a number of illegal replantings of trees on the summit, removed by the local council. It is said that when Treaty claims are finalised, or when local council and Iwi (loosely the Maori group of the area) come to an agreement, we may once again see a tree on the summit.

For now however, we still have the tall obelisk where Sir Campbell is buried.

Although I didn’t grab any shots from the summit on this visit, the view is spectacular from the top. 360 degree all around Auckland!

Shot on the Sony Nex and edited in Gimp.

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Little Sheep Below

Little Sheep below

 

Moving up past the tree in yesterdays posting, the view down towards the southern side of Cornwall Park starts to show our elevation, with sheep turning into small ant size…sheep.

As mentioned yesterday, One tree Hill is covered in Trees. However, back in the day, it had a big tree on the summit of the hill. Visually recognisable from miles around, the tree was cut down in 1852 by the ‘white settler’ either for fire wood, or as an act of vandalism. Sir Campbell attempted to plant new native trees on the summit (Totara being the preference for its cultural value), but they did not survive, and in the 1870’s two radiata pines were planted and grew. Along came the 1960’s and again one tree was felled (but is ok, there was still one left!). We then reach the 1990’s and the surviving tree was subject to a number of attacks from Maori activists (I won’t go into great detail here, but the activists were making a point about injustices from the past). Sadly (regardless of which side of the fence one sits with the activist points), in 2000, after a second attack, the tree was deemed a danger, and a lost cause recovery wise and was felled.

(more tomorrow)

Shot on the Sony Nex and edited in Gimp.

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Tree on the Side

Tree on the side

 

Moving to a more southern point of Cornwall park from yesterday, and slowly progressing up One Tree Hill, I shot todays image ‘Tree on the Side’. Although known as One Tree Hill (or Maungakiekie, or Te Totara i Ahua to local Maori), the hill itself is covered in trees (more about that in the next few days).

Even halfway up the hill here, the view of the surrounding land is both far and wide. Its no surprise that Maori once had a Pa site (village – often with a defensive aspect to it) here! – all around you would be able to see the comings and goings of people.

As with yesterday, the area is populated now with sheep.

Shot on the Sony Nex and edited in Gimp.

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Sloping Green

sloping green

 

Moving a little South of yesterdays image, we are now in part of the active farm/livestock section of Cornwall Park/One Tree Hill. Way back in 1844 Thomas Henry of Ireland purchased the area to farm. It changed hands and management many times since then, even being used for growing potatoes during WW2 under a government emergency regulation.

Todays image ‘Sloping Green’ is one of such areas of active livestock today. At the time of visiting, home to a number of sheep having their early morning snack.

Shot on the Sony Nex 5N with 18-50mm lens and edited in Gimp.

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Arrival of the Sun

Arrival of the Sun

 

I’m off on holiday for several days over the Easter period, so have prepared a bit of a series of Cornwall Park and One Tree Hill. I won’t be able to respond to comments until next week, but until then, thanks ahead!

Todays image ‘Arrival of the Sun’ starts us at the bottom of the hill, in Cornwall Park. Early morning, the sun was a beautiful golden colour, and the shadows still long across the landscape.

Gifted to Auckland by Sir John Logan Campbell (although prior to settlers Maori land), Sir Campbell is buried on the summit of One Tree Hill, looking down upon the park.

A great place to visit for anyone with a free half day in Auckland, One Tree Hill and Cornwall Park offer a relaxed, and scenic stop just out of the city centre.

More tomorrow!

Shot on the Sony Nex with 18-50mm lens and edited in Gimp.

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Sequoioideae – Redwood

RedwoodSequoioideae, better know to many as Redwood, are some of the tallest trees in the world. Able to live well over a thousand years, the few in todays image are just wee babies – age wise (although already very tall),Brought to New Zealand with settlers, much of the country once had Redwood. Now days its not so common, likely used for various parts of the manufacture of houses and other wood products over time.

Shot on the Sony Nex with 16-50mm pancake zoom.

 

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Devonport School Fair on the Hill

Devonport FairQuick Saturday Post.

Devonport School Fair on the Hill 2013. As with many school fairs, lots of entertainment, sales of second hand goods, games, competitions and sugar for the kids.

Shot on the Samsung Galaxy with Vignette and finished in CS5 Photoshop.

 

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Photosynthesis

Energy of the SunIn a meeting at work today we discussed the growing lack of vitamin D that is spreading around various cultures of the world. With things like skin cancer etc being well published and awareness’ raised, there is a growing population who are now not getting enough sun. In NZ/Australia, around 1/3 of the population are now lacking in ‘D’.

With that in mind, looking around the garden, todays talk reminded me of the whole photosynthesis process that occurs in plants, and the resulting consequence of lack of sun for many of these green leafed growths.

Shooting with the Ricoh GRD IV, with the sun approaching the ‘golden hour’, I switched to macro and got behing a little plant soaking up the last of the days sun. Resized in post processing, otherwise as is from camera.

 

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