Eyeball

Today I was walking along Karangahape Road in

Auckland and noticed this eyeball in an optician's

window.

Closer

I've been on a bit of a railway theme lately

so I've just revisited the photos that I took when I was

at Mainland Steam in Parnell on Sunday.

It's the post before last.

Actually photos plural is an exaggeration.

There was only one other photo and this is it.

Now though, it is the one that interests me most.

There is an old adage that it brings to mind, if you want to make your

photo stronger, take a step forward.

There is definitely something going on for me in

amongst these pipes and wheels

and it is holding my attention.

That's a good sign.

One most unusual feature with this engine is that the wheel

rims are painted white. They remind me of white wall tyres.

MOTAT'S Latest Tram

MOTAT, Museum of Transport and Technology,

here in Auckland has at least a dozen trams of

assorted varieties. Here is their latest,

just restored and put into service yesterday.

Mainland Steam Today

Today I visited a workshop in Parnell here in Auckland, only 5 minutes drive from

Queen St, an exRailway workshop at which engineers, all volunteers and calling themselves Mainland Steam save and restore classic railway engines. It's a nonprofit

organisation.

It was an open day and visitors were able to see some of the restorations

in progress.

What struck me was the sheer size and might of some of these engines.

I nearly used the word awesome.

In Cheshire Street, Parnell, it is open to the public, in fact,

my understanding is that Thursdays are a particularly good

day to go along.

Sue Crockford Gallery

Of all the dealer galleries in New Zealand

Sue Crockford must be on the short list for being

the one with the best

views.

These two photos I took through the

glass of the gallery's windows.

Situated at the Devonport end of Queen St, and opposite

the ferry buildings it looks out on the harbour

and its activity.

The shed in the lower photo has been in the news recently,

caught up in the idea of using this wharf as Party Central

for the Rugby world cup, it's future has been in doubt.

The warships I was told on the evening, were Chinese.

However I went back down to the wharf early next morning

to check with my camera, they

had gone.

Whanganui

Next Friday I'm having an opening in Whanganui

at McNamara Gallery Photography.

It's an exhibition of portraits that I have dug out of my files.

Many of them have never been exhibited, and there are others

that I really wanted to show but still have not been able to find.

I applied two rules though. There were to be no portraits included

that were of Erika, and no portraits included that were of Peter.

In a way I am glad that there are others because

that means that there is another portrait show required.

Some of the portraits may only exist in negative form.

I hope so.

When I am in Whanganui I usually stay in this large house which,

in one direction, has this view.

The river is muddy in this photo, but extremely heavy

rain had contributed to this. Notice right in the middle of image there is an historic paddle steamer that has been restored and makes trips up the river, often chartered by private parties.

Patea

Some friends are restoring this house in Patea.

Patea is about 40 minutes north of Whanganui

and 1 hour 20 minutes south of New Plymouth.

This particular house was built in 1882 for a magistrate.

A Mountain View

In the last couple of days I've

been gathering together six

photos that are going to be on show

in Paris, beginning on November 4th.

This largish photo was taken in Central Otago.

On first viewing it might look like a mountain view,

but in fact the stone is only 2 or 3 metres high.

I don't do it deliberately but in my work the scale

is often a bit confusing.

A Buddhist Monastery

Recently I visited a Buddhist Monastery at

Kaukapakapa, about 30 minutes drive north of Auckland.

I'm not a Buddhist but I frequently go there

just to linger and enjoy the atmosphere. One

quality of Buddhists is that they don't evangelise

so visitors can relax.

Auckland Art Gallery 2

A group outside the underconstruction Auckland Art Gallery

today, prior to a tour.

The only man I knew was Ron Sang, architect, on

the right.

Auckland Art Gallery

A snap I took as I was walking past the Auckland Art Gallery

a couple of weeks ago.

John Reynolds

A strange thing happened on Tuesday night.

I had a conversation with Aucklander

John Reynolds at an opening at Sue Crockford's and somehow after I felt inspired to have another

go at blogging, or as I sometimes call it, blobbing.

This change of heart was not insignificant.

I'm too embarrassed to look,

but it must have been

six weeks since I last wrote anything.

Sorry about that.

Anyway, tonights blob is a portrait of John's

smiley face.