round about

round about, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

This intersection with the confusing array of signs has always caught my attention. On this day I decided to stop and take a photo and try and see why.
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diggers

diggers, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

It is not always straight forward why I see a photo in front of me, usually the light first, then patterns, diagonals, verticals, a sort of completeness in a rectangle. Also something just moves me about a place. Here it would be just that it is my neighborhood, a place I walk past everyday.
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who let the dog out

who let the dog out, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

We were driving around the bays, when I saw what I thought was possibly a photo of a house. But nothing came of it, except while getting back in the car this dog appeared running amok on the beach.
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sea air

sea air, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

It was insomnia again, my wife was awake too. We left the hotel, and took the car to Mount Maunganui, we thought a walk in the sea air would be good, threatening to rain, but it didn't, I began taking some photos while the sun was not yet up.
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the hall

the hall, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I was walking up the side streets, there were no people here, they were all shopping on the main street. I passed a hall, and the door was wide open, there appeared to be nobody here, no cars parked, I could not help it, I had to look inside. It was the Methodist Church Hall.
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good news

good news, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

We were on a busy road, just exiting a tunnel when I saw this run down apartment block, and the Christmas lights displayed in the window. My instincts said stop and get a photo. I apologised to my patient family, someone tooted as I opened the door. But I think it was worth it even if just for my social sensibilities.
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pink curtains, bright colours

pink curtains, bright colours, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

Sometimes this is all there is to show, or to be said.
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town square

town square, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

It is just an intersection actually, as usual there is a war memorial, some trees, and a town theme, which I have not actually posted as such but there is a large corrugated iron sculpture of a gumboot on the edge of town. The figure on the side of the building may also be wearing gumboots, This is Taihape.
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unused yard

unused yard, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I thought the steel was like a piece of found art, a sculpture. Things in transition, like empty lots, are always interesting, I wonder what is going to become of them. Though this has been like this for some time I think I photographed it a year ago, but the light was overcast then.
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sleeping in a van

sleeping in a van, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I was driving past, and saw this van, it was the same colour as the sea. I found somewhere to stop, my family were very patient, and I grabbed this shot. The blob in the sky, behind the van is some sort of water sport involving the wind. An ideal sport for Wellington.
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garage, pedestrian, hitchhiker

garage, pedestrian, hitchhiker, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

Probably the main reason I took this photo was the old fashioned sign set against the blue sky, maybe a childhood memory thing.
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public convenience

public convenience, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

This was taken in a small town called Woodville. I have posted this mainly for canine interest. It is good when on a road trip, to find public toilets, but I think it is odd that there should be something for dogs. But I probably have this all wrong.
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viking lodge

viking lodge, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

This is a scene from Dannervirke, which has adopted a viking theme, and a mix of architectural styles.
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grenadier guard

grenadier guard, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I can not see the connection between the Queens Grenadier Guard, corgis and Eketahuna's womans public toilets. For no other reason I thought because of this, I should post it for your interest.
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main street pahiatua

main street pahiatua, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

This small town also has a main street called "Main Street". Most small towns probably had a cinema called "The Regent". The cinema is still a cinema, and not converted to something else, and I like that, but the cartoons have gone as well as the ice creams in trays at half time, but now you can buy a glass of wine instead.
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main street eketahuna

main street eketahuna, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

The main street is called "main street", the other street has a church, so it is called "church street". But then our south island is called "South Island" and our north island is called "North Island". So it all makes sense.
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get lost

get lost, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

but hopefully not me, as I'm off on a road trip to discover towns with names like Eketahuna, Woodville, Dannervirke, Pahiatua, Waipukurau, Napier, Rotorua, Te Puke, Tauranga. One last posting from my own neighbourhood. And will, if all going well, have some more photos in a week.
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here now

here now, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

Walking up Vivian Street towards Cuba Street there is this yard, a sort of parking space, or back lane to some other place. It looks like it is not anything in particular, just an awkward spot, but will change I'm sure.
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fashion, art, literature

fashion, art, literature, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

This is "The David White Gallery", looking in the window he seems to be a dealer in "fashion", English Literature", and "Fine Art" mostly second hand. As an aside, my daughters say they both shop here, must be O.K. The window display always seems interesting. But being on the south side of the street the window is always in shadow.
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footpath

footpath, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

Some times looking down can provide an arrangement for a photo, a car headlight can help, and some footpath dirt.
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palm tree

palm tree, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

The houses look abandoned, with broken windows, the car park has pot holes. Though the palm seems exotic with a hint of another time and place. I took my photo and moved on, to see what else I could find in Newtown.
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bad weather #2

bad weather #2, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I was out for a stroll, it was my lunch break. There was a big black cloud overhead. This was helpfull I thought for some photos. Later the hail came down, the lightning struck, the power went off. And then the sun came out.
(New Zealanders talk about the weather a lot).
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bad weather #1

bad weather #1, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I was out for a stroll, it was my lunch break. There was a big black cloud overhead. This was helpfull I thought for some photos. Later the hail came down, the lightning struck, the power went off. And then the sun came out. (this happened about a week ago).
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yesterday

yesterday, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

This window display is the "Salvation Army Family Store". I have found a few images here previously, I like to keep an eye out for the look of "yesterday".
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no thoughts at all

no thoughts at all, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

Just an intersection, and without the board attached to the rails, probably not a photo, but some one had the idea to put this here, and write their thoughts, which were "no thoughts at all"
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plain and simple

plain and simple, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

This is the kiwi dream, owning ones piece of dirt.
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a small cloud

a small cloud, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

Looking at the low cost housing, not much of interest, I thought, then I noticed someone had beautified it, by adding a colourful bush. Then this small cloud began to quickly appear, I had to move fast, there was a photo here.
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gardening with bottles

gardening with bottles, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I found this small adventure in gardening while walking the streets in Newtown. I would classify this as found art, a display of plastic containers. Toilet cleaner bottles, I have seen one in the cupboard I'm sure.
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Suave

Suave, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

An area in transition, with the low golden light of early morning. I was attracted to the old world architecture highlighted by the suns rays. And I liked the mixture of Asian and European, one giving way to the other. And always if I can i like to include a tree right in the middle.
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sleeping cat & underwear

sleeping cat & underwear, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I wandered down the streets of Paddington, what were once small terraced houses have become small boutique shops. This one selling underwear with ginger cat asleep outside.
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traffic standstill

traffic standstill, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I have photographed this corner often, usually without the traffic, just the occasional pedestrian. But have not done anything with the shots, they didn't seem to contain the place. When I pass again, I will take another for sure, but in the meantime, maybe the red cars and sign do sum up the situation.
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hi

hi, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

Found this skeleton on Tory Street saying possibly "Hi" from the Latinos Bar. I was back on my own turf after a short time in Sydney. It is strange how one can keep finding photos in the same places, and they are almost easier to find than in a strange city. I think it is a mindset and an optimism, the opposite of being bored. Though a skeleton always helps.
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ordinary house #2

ordinary house #2, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

What I like about taking photos is that you can photograph the same thing but the subject can be different. In this instant it is shape of the tree, the colour of the flowers, the morning light, and to me it still looks Australian.
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ordinary house #1

ordinary house #1, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

What I like about taking photos is that you can photograph the same thing but the subject can be different. In this instant it is the house. the context of the neigbourhood, the morning light and shadows. The oddness of the brick and stone work of the wall.
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pub

pub, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

After a day of walking and exploring, it felt good to call into a place such as this and rest a while. My Wife would have a red wine and myself two schooners of Reschs Draught, while flipping through the photos on the camera LCD monitor.
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walking & cycling

walking & cycling, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I liked Darling Harbour, it was friendly to people who want to walk or cycle with a big bridge provided across the bay, and if you wanted to get around more, there was the mono rail.
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testing the water

testing the water, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

It is a nice experience to try the sand in bare feet and the water too.
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at the beach

at the beach, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

A ferry trip across the harbour, a beach, the look of lazy hazy days of summer, though it was windy and a bit of a Spring chill. I enjoyed the stroll around Manly, taking some photos, and always enjoy a small harbour cruise in a new city to explore.
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living somewhere else #3

living somewhere else #3, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I discovered that the houses had little lanes connecting all the back yards, this was even more interesting. You could see the junk left out on the street.
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living somewhere else #2

living somewhere else #2, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

The difficulty when in some new place, is knowing if one is taking the same photo's as everybody else, I just found everything interesting, including a tree and a place to sit.
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living somewhere else

living somewhere else, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

When in another country to ones own, everything seems more exotic. I like to go down the side streets and see where people live. I find this more enjoyable then walking and snapping photos around the Opera House, and harbour bridge, though I did do some of that as well.
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panelbeater

panelbeater, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I was filling in time during my lunch break, thinking of the holiday I shall take next week. The light was nice, I took my camera from the backpack and took a couple of photos. So this is the last for a week and a bit. I may be someplace else. Hopefully will be back with some more to share.
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front yard back yard

front yard back yard, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

This is some ones back yard and to some it is their front yard. What was once a bed factory is now a place to live, and they have a letter box and seats to sit in the sun. For some reason I like this building, and it is the third time I have posted a photo of it.
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aotearoa

aotearoa, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

Normally be people sitting here, eating and drinking, but it was early Sunday morning when I walked past. I was aware of a photo I had taken here before, but it seemed different today so I took another photo.
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cheap tricks

cheap tricks, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I like how these old shops on Cuba Street are now places to rest a while and have a coffee. Though the past still remains with colourful tiles and art deco patterns.
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a simple frontage

a simple frontage, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I found these simple houses with simple front yards in the small town of Bulls. I have posted this one especially for the "la photographie modeste" but I am a little worried about the letter box, it could have been toned down a little.
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garden art

garden art, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

A house with a giraffe on the main Street of Mangaweka.
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wood & coal

wood & coal, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

Merchants on the main street in Mangaweka.
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with a population of 200

with a population of 200, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

This photograph is from wandering around a couple of streets of Mangaweka, more info here. I took a dozen or so photos, I could have taken more, but I was on the way to some place else. If I can, I will stop again.
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municipal baths

municipal baths, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

Every small town has one. They look a little sad this time of year, but in some ways more interesting, maybe a hint of summer anticipation.
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