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  • Follow the Leader

    ‘Follow the Leader’ seemed the natural title when I snapped this badelynge of ducks at Kell Park in Albany after work.Getting down low with the Nex 5N and 16mm lens, I think they initially thought I came bearing gifts, and soon changed direction when they realised they were just getting their pictures taken.

    Its funny the amount of names a duck ‘pack’ can be given: Often referred as a paddle of ducks, we also see them called a flock, raft, team, badelynge, bunch, and brace.

    Kell park itself offers a nice walk by the creek amongst native bush of Albany. It has a big playground for children, and lots of seats to sit back and relax in the environment. Back when I was young it also had an abundant public pear grove, where one could fill up sacks of pears to take home (or eat whilst helping) – I didn’t get to that part of it today, so don’t know if the trees are still around.

    I made the decision today that I’m going to go almost technology-free next week in Fiji. I will have my Ricoh GRD IV, but other than that, not even my mobile phone. I work around computers all day long and have decided I will go without for a week. It will most likely be a bit of a shock to the system for me! I plan to set up some images to auto post throughout the week, so none of you reading this will go without – you will just have to wait a few weeks before seeing my Fiji images.

    My final news for the day was that I received a self-birthday gift today – a Ricoh GR1. The granddad of my GRD IV, I have been keen on getting one for some time. Generally they fetch quite high prices, so when one popped up at a reasonable price (and around my birthday) I could not resist. That’s going to mean I have a digital and film 28mm holiday next week!

  • Auckland Trams

    In 1902 Auckland got its first electric trams, and again closed down operation in 1956. With the Rugby World Cup last year, Wynyard quarter again brought the W2 Tram back into operation, albeit on a tourist 1.5km route one can also cover on foot.

    It was nice to see them put back on the road in Auckland, and I believe they have plans to lengthen the track – possibly making them of more use to locals as well as visitors in the future.

    Taken on the Sony Nex 5N with the pancake 16mm lens, I just did a little cropping and a slight contrast push in Gimp before posting.

  • The Five Sages

    As mentioned yesterday, I visited the Auckland Art Gallery. It has undergone a massive renovation and expansion, and is in itself a work of art.

    I chose today’s image ‘The Five Sages’, as I really liked it above other more modern works. Made by Ashley Bickerton (USA) in 1998.

    Nothing but a straight photo of art today, so I didn’t even imprint it with my web signature.

  • Spring in the Garden

    image

    A mobile press on the run today as I am out and about on birthday surprises. Before leaving home I noticed a few of the tulip bulbs I planted in winter have finally come up, and more are following.
    I went to the Auckland Art Gallery this afternoon and took some shots on the nex I will likley share tomorrow.
    Thatd all for today as a 2″ keypad is not my best idea of fun to type on.

  • The Street

    As discussed yesterday, I managed to finish and develop the film in my Ricoh Singlex TLS last night. I had recently given it a clean up, so was keen to see if all was still functioning well. The slow speeds are still not quite right and will require me to give it a CLA at some stage, but as I cant use them hand-held anyway, its functioning well. A well used and rarer ‘black model’, introduced in 1967, my unit has some well worn paint and brassing. Compared to later model fully manual film SLR’s the TLS is a heavy beast at a bit over 700 grams.

    Today’s image ‘The Street’ was taken last weekend when I was testing out the fisheye lens on my mobile phone camera. I got a series of different town shots in my short time there, this one being shot whilst I was quickly walking to my ride home.

    Aside from scanning the negative and resizing in Gimp, I made no alterations. Shot on Lucky SHD100asa film, developed with Ilford ID-11 at a 1:3 ratio.