Muriwai Looking North
Shot from the southernmost cliff of Muriwai Beach, todays image sees us looking to the North. With over 50km (>30Miles) of uninterrupted beach, it disappears from sight as the camera focuses up into the mist of sea spray.
As with many beaches on the west coast around Auckland, Muriwai is a black sand beach – given the name simply for the larger traces of volcanic iron sand in the area. I recall as a child (and every summer see many more kids and adults) running as fast as I could in bare feet, but never quite making the water before grimacing in pain at the amazing heat retention of that sand. On a really hot day, the black sand really is quite horrific for softer soled feet!
Moving inland, beyond the beach are the sand dunes. Fenced off around the popular car park areas, there is an ongoing effort to assist flora to grow and demote the ongoing erosion of the coastal dunes. High volumes of visitors, particularly in summer have a lot to answer for in respect to damaging dunes by not keeping to the recommended paths.
As with all of this Muriwai series, shot on the Sony Nex.
Another Tomorrow!
Muriwai South
I was speaking to someone the other day, mentioning mikehawkey.com and the (to date) daily photo post. They asked the simple question ‘how do you find something different to take a photo of each day?’. Prior to this site, I also completed a few Photo 365 projects, so I guess I have had some practice, but the plain answer is ‘easily at times, difficult at others’. There are days I dig into the archives, not always because I have not taken a shot that day, but sometimes because I have been uninspired. As with many of us, some days and weeks all roll into one, revolving around work and sleep. These last few weeks, aside from my Hamilton run, have felt a little like that of late.
Determined to break my creative lull, I managed to get out this morning and drive far from home, and into some nature, my relaxation release where I can unwind and take photos. I headed to Muriwai. If memory serves, the last time I went there I managed to get a few shots off just before a storm broke. Todays forecast was not much better, but aside from a short shower, the weather was cloudy, but acceptable.
Over the next few days I’ll share some of my shots, perhaps with a bit more information about this west coast beach/area.
Todays image ‘Muriwai South’ is from the southern most point of the beach, looking down the coastline.
Shot on the Sony Nex with cropping and sizing in Gimp.
Winter Blossom Tree
Today I caught a tree vaguely resembling the challenge request I was given a few days ago. Missing the Tui, and arms at full extension (due to the tree being over a fence and my camera 28mm), the blossoming tree tied in with a lady informing me we were 2/3rd’s through winter gave a sense of spring almost on its way.
With spring a month off, I’m reminded I have not made it down to see the snow at all this year. With work commitments, it does not look like I will either, but it would be nice to take the drive down one weekend perhaps.
Early start and long day. Minds fuzzy. end here.
Jungle Den
Battling on/off rainy weather, we ventured out to the Auckland Zoo today. Some animals looked to enjoy the rain, others indifferent, and then the rest – the primates all sheltered out of vision, keeping dry.
Armed with the Olympus e-500 I got a number of shots today. Some good, some average. With the larger zoom, it had troubles with focusing today in the average light. Even though todays image is in B&W, I still enjoy the colour from this older four thirds DSLR.
Todays shot, the Chimpanzee enclosure, was captured just after one chimp swung out to check the weather, and then back under the building out of sight and in shelter. Using Gimp I converted to B&W after first tweaking the separate colour channels.
Kauri Park
A quick walk after work to one of the local bushes – Kauri Park.
Here is an old, but interesting link on a Kauri Gum finding buy a resident local to this area
Shot on the Ricoh GRD IV in bleach bipass mode.




