Rocks

About a month ago I was at a birthday party in New Plymouth and all night I couldn't take my eyes off a most unusual fireplace. In three or four places rocks stick straight out. I know that they were intended as ledges but there is something extra about them albeit something a little strange.

Today, at my request, I was invited back to have my second attempt at photographing these rocks.

Sometimes I take a photograph of something to see what it looks like when I photograph it. The image that I took today is an example.

I was going to take it in black and white, but I prefer the subdued colour of this.

There's something going on in the picture. I'm going to live with it for a while. I don't think that I could do better with this subject though. I may be wrong.

Oakura

Almost a couple of weeks ago I went on an early moring walk along the margins of Oakura Beach, about 15 minutes drive south of where I am right now, sitting on my Aeron Chair.

As I was returning to the car in the rain I noticed this doll perched in the Muhlenbeckia.

Fingers

A few posts ago I showed some fingers and some tree roots and mentioned that it's not the fingers and roots at all but something behind them that I am really interested in. it seems that fingers or roots are not in fact the real subject. The real subject lies within a template that, unconsciously perhaps, I am carrying around as my own personal geiger counter, all the time looking for somewhere to apply it, even weak signals catch my attention.

Above is a photograph that I took when I had a studio in Lister Building in Victoria St, right in the CBD of Auckland. At the time Karen Walker was on the floor above me, she was in the early stages of her career. The building, was filling with alternatives such as film, changing it from the medical building that it had been, although medicals still coexisted and in fact I had much dentistry there, a floor or two above. The surgery had several of my photos on the walls.

I used to walk from my studio down High Street to a yoga school, upstairs, near Unity Books. Janet, one of my favourite instructors agreed to my request to walk back up to my studio and press her hand against a wall. At the time and even now I still marvel at the flexibility of her joints, not a white knuckle to be seen.

Here is an art historical footnote. My old studio is now the workshop of a tailor, Gus McKay, brother of Hamish. I've had two suits made there, they're natty and it's fun being able to say occasionally that I have to go because I have an appointment with my tailor. Gus's number is 021 784623. Men and women. Tell him I sent you.

Visitors. (bah!)

It's sobering having visitors turn up with pictures on their laptops of this quality. I've lived here nearly 10 years and wish that I had seen this particular view.

I thought that I knew this part of Taranaki quite well, but I missed this one. On my maternal side my rellies have lived in this area for more than 150 years, so I should have, perhaps, been more focused.

There is an elegance to this view that I like.

Thank you again Jim. High Five.

Oakura Again

Above is another photograph that Jim Barr took of me a couple of weeks ago, on the beach at Oakura looking out to Australia although I seem to have turned my back on Australia and be trudging inland.

Below is a photograph that I took of Jim with Mary, on the lower slopes of

Mt Taranaki. It was the day before and the weather was quite different.

Tupare

On the outskirts of New Plymouth, by a clear river flowing from Mt Taranaki to the coast, a river with trout living in it, stands this Chapman Taylor house. The grounds and house are now open to the public and I do recommend a visit if you are in this vicinity.

But that is not why I am writing this post. I am writing it because it illustrates a tendency that I have when I am photographing, one could say, it is a theme of mine. I can't help it, I don't even think about it in advance, it just seems to happen. The question my camera often seems to ask is this: just how big is this object that we are looking at?

An example is this image of Tupare, it is actually quite a large house, but in this case has come out looking miniaturised. Typical me I say.

Here I Am

Last week it was quite stormy in New Plymouth. Nevertheless, with three friends I went for a walk along a beach at Oakura, a little bit south of where I am sitting, We were picked up at 7 am so it was quite early.

For the photo I thank Jim.

Lollies

I have photographed cakes before but recently I photographed lollies.

Glass, in this case. Sorry about that.

Feel Like Some Homework?

Tonight I'm clearing some items from my desk in preparation for the new week. Below is an email from a tertiary level student. In an ideal world I would answer it in full detail of course but when I look at it it's not a five minute job. It's called 'research' I know, but unfortunately it's not research I'm particularly interested in, so what do I do?

Letter such as this come in a solid stream too of course so they have the potential to be a prob.

Still, in this case I am going to respond to this letter in detail, not sure why, just seem to be in the mood that's all and at least the spelling is perfect and it's polite and I can use it as an exemplar. So, if I can think of any useful angles on any of the questions I'll post them.

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Hi, sorry to bother you, but i am doing an assignment for **** and was
wondering if you were willing to answer a few questions for me. I
would just like to get your opinion on a few points.
1. Is there a difference between a photo, or digital image?
2. If so how much/what type of manipulation is acceptable before a
'photo' becomes an 'image'?
3. What direction do you see photography taking in the future?
4. What technological developments will impact on that direction?
5. As a professional photographer has the transition from film to
digital made a big impact on you.
Thank you for your time. I hope you can give me some insight into this
subject. If there is anything else that is related that i haven't
thought to ask, but you have an opinion on, then please feel free to
let me know.

Your sincerely

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