New Plymouth Costal Track – in half a film

I mentioned over Christmas at New Plymouth that I had brought along an old disposable camera as well as my Sony. Simple, point and shoot with a plastic lens and low cost 35mm colour film. Well, the developing/scans came back. Amazingly all exposures were fine – not great, but thats the lo mo plastic lens way.

Anyway, here is a bit of a visual walk of the coastal track from the mouth of the Waiwhakaiho river, to the Paritutu Rock. The track itself extends beyond the river, but I actually stated half way, walked to the river and then back tracked to the rock – maybe next time I will try and get dropped off at one end or the other rather than the middle! For a bit of an indication of the distance, in the first image you can just see the rock in the far right…at a very poor horizon angle… (or the middle of the second shot)

January 27, 2015 2

Rolled Hay

With another great day for the long weekend, I went for a stroll both in a small bush park I had not been to before, and to explore a recently developed area behind Long Bay Reserve. I am assuming, in some form of preparation for the land, Hay had been rolled out in the soon to be housing developments.

Not having much real life experience on farms and the like, I love the look of giant hay rolls, or stacks of bails as tall as a barn. There is something appealing about the simple raw product that has been gathered straight from the ground.

The rolls in today’s image were quite some way past a tall fenced off area, so I had to zoom right in with my 55-210mm lens to capture them as viewed above.

In post processing, using Gimp, I added a ‘lomo’ filter and adjusted the contrast a little.

Off to the music event Laneway tomorrow. All going to plan, I will be taking my Pentax MG to get some B&W 35mm shots, and likely my mobile, so we will see if I have some shots from there tomorrow, or later in the week. I did get some more shots today from my bush walk, so will look to share them on a day I don’t have much.

January 27, 2013 4

Road to the City

With great weather outside, I managed to go for a bit of a ride on the motorbike for an hour after work before heading to the mall to begin Christmas shopping. Up in the Albany area of the North Shore, I dismounted and went for a bit of a walk around some land that is currently green pasture, but just as likely to be shops or industrial in the next decade.

At the edge of the field ran a waist height barbed wire fence – stopping whoever/whatever from passing through and onto the motorway. There is no stock in the area, and even a short person could get over it, so its function is a little questionable. It did serve as part of todays image ‘road to the city’!

Using Gimp I processed a cross-processing filter after applying a lomo effect. I then added ‘film grain’ and resized for the net.

oh, and the Christmas shopping – the shops were already busy and full. Thankfully I got the majority of presents today as its only going to get worse next week!

December 13, 2012 2

Black, White and Red all Over

As stated yesterday, I will post up a series of images taken from the art show I attended in Devonport on Sunday.

Today’s image, ‘Black, White and Red all Over’ (The artists actual title, not mine- Turtle Donna Sarten) was a beautiful, yet sobering piece that brings about awareness of child abuse and death in the country. As well as the Kiwi I captured on the ground (representing the next generation at risk) the tree also had a large number of Kiwi hanging from the branches (representing those past). Being made of alloy, they chimed in the wind.

Shot on the Sony Nex, I gave it the same treatment in Gimp as yesterday – essentially the lomo filter and resizing.

Another art work tomorrow!

November 19, 2012 0

Clothesline Sculpture

Today we attended the NZ Sculpture Onshore art even running over two weeks at Fort Takapuna in Devonport. A very windy day, when the rain and wind were not present, it was beautiful weather. Some really cool art works by various artists, I will display some more over the next week. What I failed to do for all but a few was capture the art work name and artist – if any happen to come across my blog, make a comment and I will duly recognise you!

Today’s image, or piece was a massive clothesline spanning several trees with colourful knitted works on it. Shot on the Sony Nex with the kit zoom, I got nice and close and shot wide open. In post processing using Gimp I resized and applied the ‘lomo’ filter.

More tomorrow!

November 18, 2012 0

The Landing

Its funny how animals have learnt that what they do, and aspects of human behaviour equates to reward. Frequently when visiting the beach or lakes, enjoying some lunch or dinner, the ducks, swans, pukeko and seagulls also know its lunch or dinner time. If they didn’t come flying and running, its unlikely we would end up throwing them 10% of our fish and chips.

They have yet to learn that someone who comes walking and sitting in aforementioned places with a camera does not necessarily come with reward. I took a stroll around part of Lake Pupuke, Sony Nex in hand (not food). At each point ducks, geese and swans would hurriedly come quacking on foot, through the water and air, only to be disappointed with a rewarding click of the camera. Not that their expressions change much, but some made me feel lousy that I didn’t bring them food!

Today’s image, just before sunset was of one such upset duck who flew from the other side of the park hoping to get some supper before bedtime. In Gimp I added a lomo filter which framed the incoming flyer well.

October 21, 2012 3