hidden city landscape

hidden city landscape, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

There was plainly not much to see, there was a blanket of sea fog, with just a hint of buildings below, but still it was worth a look on this lonely hill, it seemed that I had the place to myself. I could unselfconsciously fiddle about with tripod and exposures. Nicer to see this larger.

landscape at the beach

landscape at the beach, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

the fog was everywhere, even at the beach, which seemed as good a place as anywhere, to take a photo, even among the washed up detritus and the remains of a camp fire. View On White for a bigger better picture.

suburb

suburb, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

The city is surrounded by hills. And up in the hills there are suburbs. And sometimes the clouds come down and stay there all day. Come see larger.

the walking track

the walking track, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

Some hills are covered in houses, and some are not. The ones that don't have houses have walking tracks, the ones that do have streets. I really don't know what else to say about it.

flowery weeds, suburb on a hill

flowery weeds, suburb on a hill, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I was on a track going up to the water reservoirs, occasionally passing friendly walkers with happy dogs. There were weeds growing, they appeared like a garden with a borrowed view. It's really better bigger

landscape with boat and weeds

landscape with boat and weeds, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I found this landscape by following ever narrowing streets, a track through pines, scrub, and disturbing rabbits, various birds. I was not sure what I was going to find, but as it turned out I could see over the harbour and a ferry about to go out. much larger here

city landscape with discarded fanta drink bottle

city landscape with discarded fanta drink bottle, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

The ridge was a mixture of pine trees, grass covered knolls with mountain bike tracks and sports fields. I was not alone, there were also various ramblers, boys with footballs, and cyclists making their way about, but I was just here for a landscape view. View On Black for a bigger better view.

automobile in landscape

automobile in landscape, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

While driving a noticed a hill, and there was a place to park the car. There appeared to be nothing on the hill, just a good place to stand. Carrying a camera and tripod I made my way up the narrow track, there was a sign, showing a bicycle and steep slope. And this was true, I avoided been struck by a descending mountain bike. There were no other incidents and I reached the top. From here I could see Haitaitai, Rongotai, Strathmore, Newtown….and my car below. To see the car zoom in here.

under pines looking towards a valley landscape

under pines looking towards a valley landscape, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

Seeing pine trees on a hill awakens a compulsion to go and explore. What I like about these pines is that nothing grows under them, just pine needles and bare roots. This makes it easy to walk through and get a view. They are an import from America, our New Zealand trees have everything growing underneath, in which case I would be unable to see anything from this knoll. a better view here

landscape with newtown

landscape with newtown, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I passed a sign post that implied this was a walkway which was reassuring. There was also another track leading down towards Newtown. The suburb seemed nicely framed between the grass and trees so I made a photo which covered about everything here. Zoom

alone in the wilderness

alone in the wilderness, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I was driving through some suburb when I noticed a gate, and a path, so I parked the car and went for a walk. I found my self in another world, just grass, trees and a small sign saying I could walk to the sea. There were beetles on the ground, small flying insects and birds flying about. Other than that i seemed to have the place to myself. Some what larger when you view on black

sloping landscape with grass and scrub

slopping landscape with grass and scrub, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

When photographing a landscape it is often good to have something in the foreground. Here there was only long grass and no cattle. See here, for small flowers in the grass

landscape from wind blown hill top

landscape from wind blown hill top, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

The weather forecast was for northerly gales, but the light was okay with lots of clouds moving over. I walked up an overgrown walking track and came out on a grassy knoll. The wind was already strong, I gripped the monopod tightly and tried to press the shutter in-between gusts. zoom here to see cigarette butts

they cut the trees but they just keep growing back

they cut the trees but they just keep growing back, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

After returning from a brief few days in Melbourne I was struck by the look of the place where I live. Everything in contrast looked so flimsy in a natural landscape that appears to be taking over. To get closer to the little houses.

landscape with dead tree

landscape with dead tree, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I ventured back to the same hilltop, still looking for something more. I photographed a few different views, and then selected a few that I thought I may post. But the next day I sorted again, and chose this one that was not in my first selection. Strange how one thoughts change after a second look. Look, its bigger

city landscape with untidy trees

city landscape with untidy trees, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I noticed the odd car parked here and there, but no one about, I wondered where are they. I wandered around the hill top taking photos as I went. Super big view On white