• OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAA beautiful hot day took us to the Auckland Botanic Gardens for a walk today. 64-hectare’s and home to over 10,000 plants, we only scratched the surface with todays visit. Although its been around in some form since the 1960’s (I think), I had never been before, from memory.

    Beautifully set and maintained, the crowds in the car park flooding out onto the road suggested its popularity. Funnily enough, once in and walking around the park, although obviously not alone, one didn’t feel crowded in the masses.

    Throughout the park is tables and benches for picnic’s, and plenty of  great shaded trees to escape the sun.

    I went along with the Olympus E-500 DSLR today and captured a range of shots. I’ll show the flowers in another post, but below is a few more samples of the park.

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  • Jan1-12014 is here!

    Starting the new year, I went for a walk around my local park trail. The forecast was thunderstorms for the afternoon, so I took in some fresh forest smells before the ground turned to mush.

    A calm, still and beautiful morning. Aside from the odd walker I passed in the opposite direction, it was me, the trees and the singing birds. Nice.

    Jan1-2 Jan1-3 Jan1-4 Jan1-5 Jan1-6 Jan1-7 Jan1-8All images shot in the Ricoh GRD IV and edited in The GIMP.

  • R0019944So we have reached the end of another year. New Years Eve is a time of great celebration. A time of reflection. A time to make new resolutions and commitments. And for others, just another day.

    Thanks to all of you who drop in every now and then to look and read mikehawkey.com. The year, in reflection, has just flown by.

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    “Tomorrow, is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Write a good one.”
    ― Brad Paisley

     

     

  • River by springsTackling the on and off rain/sun this time of year often brings, we took a visit to Western Springs (once known as Waiorea prior to European settlement). A place I have posted about some time ago.

    Summer well and truly here, there was a nice mix of water fowl, from small babies, to ‘teenagers’ and adults. Armed with some bread, we took a stroll around the lake/springs and I took a few snaps on my Sony Nex and old Jupiter 8 lens.

    Breaking my usual posting mold, I thought I share the series I took on todays visit.

    baby firstGeese were out on Mass!

    baby2And very cute!

    Baby3Not to mention keen for more food.

    babiesSome great scenery 

    over the springs

    Trees at the springs trees2 at springsDucks

    duck1 duck2Located right next to the Auckland Zoo and Motat, its a great place to visit for a picnic, walk or run.

    resting in the grassI’ll have to go out and take some more photos for tomorrow now!

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

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    Shot on iPod touch, edited with PhotoToaster