Last Saturday the streets were pumping with live music, street theatre and happy crowds of people. It was the day of the Cuba Street Carnival and my wife had us a schedule. We first enjoyed the performance of a group of musicians who had formed just for the carnival. They were called 'The Yoots'. Very cool retro look and sound with lots of brass. They finished their set with a rendition of 'Egyptian Reggae'. I liked their style. They said this has worked and we will be seeing them again. My wife said we should see 'The Mint Chicks'. "Good stage act" she said. It is now apparent to both of us that we will never be eighteen again. There is a generation gap. Here is a photo of 'The Mint Chicks' performing.
Wednesday 28 February 2007
Monday 26 February 2007
window seat
The Civic Square in Wellington is an attractive open space that is enclosed by the City Art Gallery, the City Library, and the City Council Chambers. There are always people sitting resting here, or passing through to the sea or to downtown shops. The City Gallery or Library are welcome destinations. If one tires of walking under a hot sun taking photos, then a retreat to the Art Gallery will refresh my vision. If I have been negotiating crowded streets, then an hour or two seated overlooking the square surrounded by a few good books and magazines in the City Library will sooth the nerves. When the anticipation of new things to discover arises, I like to spend some time in the square to get a sense of direction. I was doing this when the window and chair caught my attention in the Council building.
Friday 23 February 2007
trees
When flying over a small city (I remember having flown over New Plymouth in a small plane) it is a contrast of the greenery of trees and green belts to the barren farm land surrounding the town. Cities have hectares of parks, shaded walks along meandering streams. Even the busy central streets are lined with trees. This photo is Manners street, Wellington, and the trees are birches from Europe, which grow very fast here in New Zealand with our strong sunlight.
Thursday 22 February 2007
I was out to discover a new way down to Lambton Quay. I found my self looking down on familiar sculptures. I was on my way to visit the City Art Gallery. The exhibition was to present new art directions in New Zealand. There were large abstract paintings, an installation by et al. I was interested in the photographs of Fiona Amunderson. The photographs were images of deserted city squares. No people, very still low level predawn light. A sort of purist street photography while everyone was still sleeping. I was out at mid-day. A Sunday afternoon that was hot, bright and there was a relaxed "lets make the most of it" feel to the streets. I had the whole afternoon to saunter and make photos. I found a boy rock climbing. There were people cycling and eating and drinking but I liked the sign that was on the footpath. People were enjoying walking by the sea just enjoying their own thoughts. There was a wall to climb with no one on it because they were skate boarding. I walked past a garden with a big rock. By this time my leg had a burning heat rash. I am glad Wellington is mainly temperate and cool.
Friday 16 February 2007
catch the sun
There are several photographic icons in the one photo here. A place to catch the sun, a picket fence, and a New Zealand icon, a Ponga Tree Fern. Passing this scene, I walked a little further up. I saw the resident sitting in his yard. He didn't seem to mind me taking photos going past on the steps.
I probably see an image in my mind while walking because I have seen these images before in photographs of the past. One picture leads to another picture down the decades. The author, Geoff Dyer, wrote about this in his very interesting book on photography history, "The Ongoing Moment". It doesn't worry me at all that it is an ongoing theme, it is always a different look.
Wednesday 14 February 2007
gothic
Just as this Church was designed so are these trees for sure. I think they go very well together. The building is St Johns in the City on corner of Willis and Dixon Streets, Wellington. This is a correction to this mornings post. Being new to Wellington I sometimes do not know which street I'm on or what Church I am looking at. My wife does and she has corrected this.
Sunday 11 February 2007
on taking a walk
On Saturday I was taken to a woman's fashion store, where I was shown various combinations of skirts, jackets and matching blouses. I gave various opinions which were hopefully helpful. I was then released from this duty. What followed was several happy hours wandering on my own along Oriental Parade. There are according to the acclaimed Canadian photographer Jeff Wall, two types of photographer, "the hunter/gatherer" and "the farmer". I think the farmer searches deep his/her soul and makes the image first in the intellect, expressing the human condition or the the social order in which we live. I thought about trying this direction for a moment but this had no appeal, I think if I dug into my soul it might be found that there is not much there. For me art and photography is a freedom and pleasure of rambling on my own and looking at everything, taking a photo. Then I take the results back home where various opinions are given, which I find helpful. I have posted three of these below.
house with conifer
Villa on Oriental Parade with conifer tree. Many of these villa's are being replaced with apartment tower blocks. Once a family of ten would have enjoyed the seaside ambience here. Now on the same plot, fifty small families enjoy the same harbour view. That is progress.
apartment by the sea
Apartment tower on Oriental Parade, probably one of the earlier examples of 1960's vintage.
church over bay
Above the villas, cafes, apartments and golden sands of Oriental Bay stands St Gerard's Monastery and Church
Tuesday 6 February 2007
street art
The streets around Lambton Quay are a steady stream of humanity. There are numerous works of art here but because of my focus to negotiate a path through the human traffic I don't feel to stop and take time to enjoy the sculptures. To photograph them is difficult too, I find that people are caught in a frozen awkward mid flight pose. On this day nearly everyone was still at home having a late breakfast. My wife was having a lie in, reading a slash and stab novel. It was Waitangi day, our day to celebrate the signing of the treaty. I was able to enjoy the sculptures in streets free of people. This braille like sculpture is by Anton Parsons and it is called "Invisible City" It is situated on the corner of Lambton Quay and Grey Street.
Sunday 4 February 2007
outside dining
A place to put ones car and a place for outside dining are assets of a high value in Wellington. I know, because when I first arrived here I would have to drive around several blocks twice to find a park. When a park was found it would become more valuable than the actual driving of the car. Property is often advertised in Wellington as having "off street parking". This is something I had not seen in my former home town of New Plymouth. Now I have a garage with a roller door, and I appreciate it. While out walking I found this place that not only had a carport but outside dining as well all in the same place.
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