Under the Tree
A trip up One Tree Hill to see the lambs proved to be a bit of failure with the Olympus E500 this weekend. I think the combination of fast running lambs, overcast light and long zoom tested the old DSLR beyond its comfort zone. Upon opening at home, the majority were blurry. Never mind, perhaps I’ll try the Nex one weekend soon!
For today, ‘Under the Tree’, shot on the E500 and converted to B&W in Gimp.
Its Cold Outside
(As sung by Tom Jones – performed with Cerys Matthews)
I really can’t stay
But baby, it’s cold outside
I’ve got to go away
Ah, baby, it’s cold outside
This evening has been
Been hoping that you’d drop in
So very nice
I’ll hold your hands, they’re just like ice
My mother will start to worry
Beautiful, what’s your hurry
My father will be pacing the floor
Listen to that fireplace roar
So really I’d better scurry
Oh beautiful, please don’t hurry
Maybe just a half a drink more
Why don’t you put some records on while I pour
The neighbours might think
Oh baby, it’s bad out there
Say, what’s in this drink
There’s no cabs to be had out there
I wish I knew how
Your eyes are like starlight now
To break this spell
I’ll take your hat, your hair looks swell
I ought to say no, no, no, sir
Mind if I move a little closer
At least I’m gonna say that I tried
What’s the sense of hurting my pride
I really can’t stay
Baby don’t hold out
Ahh, but it’s cold outside
I simply must go
Oh, baby, it’s cold outside
The answer is no
You know it’s cold outside
This welcome has been
I’m lucky that you dropped in
So nice and warm
Look out the window at that storm
My sister will be suspicious
Oh, your lips look delicious
My brother will be there at the door
Like waves upon a tropical shore
My maiden aunt’s mind is vicious
Eww, your lips are delicious
Well maybe just a cigarette more
Never such a blizzard before
I’ve got to go home
Ah, baby, you would freeze out there
Say, lend me a comb
You know it’s up to your knees out there
You’ve really been grand
I thrill when you touch my hand
But don’t you see
How can you do this thing to me
There’s bound to be talk tomorrow
Making my life long sorrow
At least there will plenty implied
If you caught pneumonia and died
I really can’t stay
Get over that old out
Ah but it’s cold outside
The Fog
Neither the 1980 or its 2005 cinema remake, ‘The Fog’ was simply my journey to work this morning. Not quite as thick as it has been some previous days, it was still thick enough at this high point of the journey to envelop the background in its cold wet hold.
Shot on the Ricoh GRD IV, converted and cropped in Gimp.
View from Herald Island
During a work stop in Auckland West, I made a quick stop in at one of the unique little communities, Herald Island. A small little community, Herald Island was joined to Auckland’s West with a causeway built in 1958.
With a small number of streets you could likely count with your fingers, it has a real sense of a small community. At the opposite end of the island from the causeway, we see the main wharf/boat jetty area. Greeted by a friendly ‘sea cat’ (just a normal cat that wandered the wharf), I took todays shot of the boats and across to Greenhithe on the North Shore.
In post using Gimp, I switched to B&W and adjusted levels a little as well as cropping the aspect.
Knock at the Door
Dinner at Tony’s
Meeting friends we dined out at Tony’s on Wellesley in the CBD. A great dark environment with various relic props from days of old. So many options for what to eat, and upon ordering, everyones meals looked tasty!
Interestingly (perhaps due to their operating timeline), the placemats were full of 1963 facts:
- The year of JFK Assassination
- The first Bond film released
- The first year for the Dr Who series
- Johnny Depp’s year of birth
- Alcatraez closes
Shot on the Sony Nex with pancake 16mm and converted to B&W in Gimp (as well as a few other ageing tweaks).





