privacy

privacy, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

It seems strange to board up the windows, but it is good for taking a photograph. As far as I can tell, no one is looking out to see me looking in. I was able to take my time taking a photo.

door going nowhere

door going nowhere, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I had photographed this house before, but not had anything to show. It was when they put their door against the tree, that I then knew what had been lacking before.

beware the sign

beware the sign, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I like to photograph odd building designs. It seemed right to include the sign, even though horns had been added and other appendages. A small boy was making his way quickly past. He was keeping a wary eye in this direction. And now he is the subject as well as the building.

rain

rain, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

It is the reflections that are interesting, and there is enough sunlight too to make the photo. The street looks like watercolours, and I am thinking, that is what they are.

the front door

the front door, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I've walked past here many times, and wanted to take a photo. But it is a hard thing to do, poke your camera straight at some ones front door, I went past, thought about it, took the lens cap off and checked the settings, walked back. And walked past again, stopping for a second and up and click. It is a bleak looking place but it attracts me in some way. Just very straight forward and functional.

Oriental Bay looking North

Oriental Bay looking North, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

This side is mostly Norfolk Pines, sea and places to sit.

Oriental Bay looking South

Oriental Bay looking South, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

This side is mostly houses and apartments, and places to eat and drink.

give and take

give and take, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

That is what it feels like when I photograph someone else's art, I'm always happy to use it, and make something different from it if I can.

cartoon meets bystander

cartoon meets bystander, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

There were lots of nice chalk lines in civic square. The word “but” I had not seen until the photo was up on the screen.

smoking passively on Willis Street

smoking passively on Willis Street, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I stood with the camera in line with the street sign. People were coming and going, I wanted something to balance here, a little something to focus off to the side. The figure on the left was waiting for the walk sign and for a moment his head disappeared in a cloud of blue smoke.

a change is coming

a change is coming, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

The old is making way for the new but in the mean time there is graffiti, scaffolding and a woman's face on a poster. I like to look at all of it. I'm pleased that the wire fence that I photographed though has also appeared in the photograph, I like to express the feeling of just walking by.

vehicles in the front yard

vehicles in the front yard, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

This is one of those unfortunate incidents. I am wondering if this is something to post. These things happen, a van ends up in the front yard. And it came through the fence and not the gate. I didn't really think about it at the time, I thought it was just parked there and the place was going through some renovations. I just document what I see, if it looks interesting, and arranged nicely.

road sign with building

road sign with building, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

The building stood out for sure. But I wanted to make it into something else, and I think the road sign does, but what, I am unsure of, but the sign does seem to be involved.

yard, sheds and add ons

yard, sheds and add ons, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

Some parts of a city leave a memory for no other reason than the way they look. There is nothing here but an empty Lot, but it has a look that always causes me to pause to see what it is I'm looking at.

left behind memories

left behind memories, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

It was just lying there on the footpath. happy times left behind, no one cared, What else could I do? I just photographed it.

roadster

roadster, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I am no car expert, but this auto looks built for speed, though it is a work in progress. I was taken by the yellow wheels and blue body. The steep incline, and even the shadow of the fern seemed to be saying Go!

orange disc and brooding sky

orange disc and brooding sky, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

It was one of those days when suddenly the sky darkened and those clouds came over the hill, I wasn't out to take photos but the light led me to follow. The scene in front was just a house and apartments, I had to find something to add. These pedestrian crossing signs are everywhere, just the right colour to go with a Paynes Grey sky.

the past and the past

the past and the past, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

A photo of four homes, probably two period styles. Neither being the building vogue of today. The foreground, I think may be council flats, an experimental design, when minimalism was the thing. This is probably the fourth time I have photographed these flats, I can't help it, they fascinate me.

lumpy cloud painting

lumpy cloud painting, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

This was a little scene from New Plymouth, I used to often walk the foreshore, and draw the sea and boats, I remember being taken this day by the lumpy clouds above the sea.

lumpy cloud day

lumpy cloud day, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I must be attracted to these cloud formations, I once did a watercolour painting and gave it the same name. I am also intrigued with these buildings, and wonder what these rooms are for, maybe reading and contemplating the clouds.
P.S. I have found a jpeg of the painting so posting above.

espresso and cycling

espresso and cycling, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

Found this outside a café, "Midnight Espresso" on Cuba Street. A bicycle, a place to sit outside and smoke, and a place to get a really intense double shot of espresso. I would still like to ride a bike but mostly just coffee now.

a sign gone bad with half a house

a sign gone bad with half a house, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I was walking down the street, actively looking for a photo. I saw the sign and thought that looks odd. I wondered what I could do to make a picture, than I saw the half looking house and stood in the right place until the sign was pointing at the house, and that was all.

red dress in railway bar

red dress in railway bar, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I think it is a dress, I'm not sure, and if it is, I don't know why it would be hanging there. But I'm glad that it was, otherwise I would have just walked past and not seen a photo here. And for the sake of my photo it can be a dress.

photographer & man with striped shirt

photographer & man with striped shirt, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I like the idea of everything being photographed, to document what it looks like to be here, including cars, signs, and bits of buildings and people walking. When something looks interesting, it is usually just a short wait, and some one will just stroll into the patch of light, click and just move on.