houses with motorway

houses with motorway, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I have been aware of these tall houses on a steep incline, but had not seen them as a photographic subject until I walked here last night. I saw them in a new light. A more intense viewing experience.

some houses

some houses, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

This is a photo of three poles, a sign, part of the Wellington Urban Motorway, and a row of houses with a bush hillside. Treat Yourself - Large View

a small garage with upstairs room

a small garage with upstairs room, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I was walking about and at the same time thinking what I should buy my wife for Christmas. I was getting more desperate as the day progressed. But for a short time I was distracted by a tiny room on top of a garage, I was wondering if someone perhaps lives there. TALLER VIEW

embassy court & book house

embassy court & book house, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

When I am not working, I like to relax and experiment with my little camera. This scene is just down the road a bit. I took a couple of frames hand held with a 28mm fixed lens on my canon 1000D and later I stitched them together. It saves having a big zoom stuck on the camera. LARGE

a photo of my place on a slow sort of day

a photo of my place on a slow sort of day, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

My work day was slow, everyone probably on holiday. In the evening i looked out the window and the water droplets seemed to be slowly plopping the puddles. When they stopped I picked up the camera and tripod and slowly made my way down the stairs and on the bridge over the road, I took a photo of the place where I live. The real deal is here.

various places to live on oriental parade

various places to live on oriental parade, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

It was a balmy warm night, and I took a walk along oriental parade, not sure why but I took this pretty picture out near the water. I wasn't going to post it, too much like a postcard, but all day today, I have stood at the window and watched the rain sweep by, no chance to get out again, so until next week here is what it was like last night. say hello to a bigger view.

cluster of townhouses

cluster of townhouses, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

After a long work day, and after dinner, when I should have been sitting in the armchair, with a book, sipping from a glass of pinot noir, I went out instead and took a photo of townhouses. I was standing in a patch of grass, too small to be a park, and too rough and undulating to be a lawn. it's a bit dim, I suggest you go here.

version #3 peoples houses

version #3 peoples houses, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

Unable to go out and take a Friday photo, which makes me a bit stir crazy. In the mean time another photo from my apartment roof top from the other night. View Large is the way to go

various houses in small valley crop version

various houses in small valley crop version, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

Once again I am trying a crop of the previous photo, it probably works better in flickr, and maybe it is...YES, it is better here.

various houses in a small valley

various houses in a small valley, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

Tonight it was overcast, the promise of rain. i was thinking of places where the sun don't often shine, and Holloway Road came to mind. The last time I tried this photo, the sky was much too bright, but tonight everything was all right. It looks nice and uncluttered on a black background, and a little bigger.

a little closer view of my neighbourhood

a little closer view of my neighbourhood, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

This is just a crop of the previous photo. Maybe it would have been better to photograph like this, or maybe it is just different, but anyway ...I think Bigger is always better.

various buildings in my neighborhood

various buildings in my neighborhood, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

It was a long day, I did not want to take the car to find a photo subject. I took the lift instead to the top floor where I live. I went thought the door to the stairwell. Going up steep steps, passing large copper tanks that were gurgling, up near vertical steps, passing large drums, electrical switching, wire ropes, clanking and whirring as the lifts went up and down. I then went though a small door and down a vertical ladder. I was out on the roof. Keeping well away from the edge - there was no wall or barrier - I set up the tripod with camera and took photos of my neighborhood.one click Larger View

various buildings where people live & work

various buildings where people live & work, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I was down an embarkment overlooking the terrace tunnel waiting for the right light to appear. There were bits of cardboard with empty beer bottles, but no one drinking. So I took my time and photographed the buildings I could see from here. The intended building will have to wait for another time. L A R G E R

on photographing other peoples houses

on photographing other peoples houses, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

There is not much flat land here. People live on the sides of hills, on top of ridges or down in a valley. Because of this it is relatively easy to see and photograph other peoples houses. That is if you can find a place to park the car on narrow winding streets. If you would like to see other peoples houses then correct viewing size is here.

typical older suburb

typical older suburb, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I went to Ohiro Park, a grassy spot where people let their dogs run. This night there was no one about which was good, but there were a few spots of rain. So I set up quickly and took a photo of an older suburb, one that has been around for a while. I then went home and dried off my gear. Large and Pretty

ordinary day on cuba mall

ordinary day on cuba mall, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

Sometimes I just want to relax and take the little camera for a walk up Cuba Mall. There the pigeons are pecking, kids are jumping and young people just waiting around. I take photos, then put them together in photoshop, it is like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. The next step is here.

typical suburb

typical suburb, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I was thinking of a typical Wellington suburb, as in more recent subdivisions. I took the car up and down some hills but mostly up, around tight corners, through narrow streets, I climbed over a gate, walked up a small hill. And there it was, a typical suburb. It is nice on black

from a roof top car park

from a roof top car park, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I just went up to see what was there. What was there was mostly lights left because people had to work late. There was also a postage stamp size view of the sea and distant hills. From here you can see the sea

houses and apartments on oriental parade

houses and apartments on oriental bay parade, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I was back now on my home turf, and a couple of weeks since I have taken a photo. Sunday night, the weekend all but gone, the sun going down, not that it could be seen in the lowering clouds. I stopped at Oriental Bay Parade, a place where once I had made a drawing, I wanted to see how these houses would look photographed. Don't miss out on the big view.

street corner with pub and people

street corner with pub and people, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

Continuing on with my experimentations, I photographed this street scene. I think I liked the light, and there were people coming and going, and there was an old style pub where I could go after a day of being out and about. Try This

imperfect interior photo of the national gallery of victoria

imperfect interior photo of the national gallery of victoria, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

After I had my fill of looking at art, buying books in the well stocked gallery bookshop, and spent some time looking at people from this upper level, I photographed the sunlit interior and left the building. imperfectly larger

i was standing on a street corner….

i was standing on a street corner…., originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

...and I noticed someone waiting for their breakfast. I thought I should photograph this moment, and then I continued photographing around the young man till I thought I might have a picture of what it feels like to be standing on this street corner and thinking this at this particular time of day. biGGGer

I was waiting for something to happen …

I was waiting for something to happen …, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

…but nothing occurred. So I studied the pole for a while. And then asphalt in front of my feet, there were strange markings. When I had enough, I observed the street for a while. Then my wife appeared, the wait was over, we walked on somewhere else. It is easy to go Large

I went back to federation square...

I went back to federation square..., originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

...and continued photographing in the bright Australian sun. I could see people walking around, standing and looking, sitting and talking, drinking coffee, reading books, all the things I like to do when I am not taking photos. Say yes to a bigger view.

the digicam user group

the digicam user group, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I walked down again to federation square to look what might be seen. I was astonished to find a group of photo enthusiasts, just like me, so like them I too, started to take photos of mostly everywhere. big BIG BIG

standing and looking around federation square…

standing and looking around federation square…, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

.and it looked something like this. So please excuse me while I play around using this little camera as a sketching tool. Short cut to the larger view.

round a bout & emily

round a bout & emily, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

My first thought was to photograph the intersection, and I wanted to include the buildings and the stereo. Then I thought it would be more interesting if Emily would stand in line with the tree, and I like to include myself if possible, then there is the tree above me, its all just a bit of a sketch with a camera. Why not go up a size.

beer and wine in a melbourne pub

beer and wine in a melbourne pub, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I was on the plane and wondering what direction to take with the new camera (I did not want my arm to ache lugging around a canon 5Dmk II). Still liked the idea of stitching but no tripod. In my bag was a canon 1000d, the cheapest most modest DSLR that one could buy, plus a 50mm f1.8 cheap plastic lens and also a modest 28mm f2.8 as well. I watched a documentary on the small screen attached to the seat in front of me, It featured an artist I always admired, David Hockney. The way seemed clear, I eagerly waited for the plane to land.
This was one of the last photos I took in Melbourne of my daughter Emily, we were having a beer, wine etc after a longish day sight seeing the galleries and buying books . and a little larger...

city street corner

city street corner, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

Standing here I could see five different architecture style buildings, a sapling, electric bus wires, road work barriers, a car, two people, some graffiti and much more besides. I thought this is enough for one photo. And that is all for about a week. Tomorrow I pack my bag and go to Melbourne with my wife and we will catch up with our daughter. A little bigger and nicer.

houses by the motorway, just down the road a bit

houses by the motorway, just down the road a bit, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I have thought about this view before in the middle of the day, but at night it is something different again, so this time I photographed it, I then went home for dinner. from the mediocre to the gorgeous black background

timber villas & car park, about 5o meters from where I live

timber villas & car park, about 5o meters from where I live, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

Behind the camera office blocks and apartments tower above, in front there is this untidy scene of scrub grown remnants of the past, and old wooden villas, I thought this is more interesting, so I photographed it. These dark photos look Bigger & Better on black

from a car park building not far away

from a car park building not far away, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

It was the end of the week, I was mopping around wondering what to do. Not being able to think of anything interesting or new, I got up from the sofa and grabbed my camera gear. I went up the stairs in a car park building not far away, and took a few photos and thought that's how I like to use my time. BIG and BRIGHTER

a block of flats, about three kilometers from where I live

a block of flats, about three kilometers from where I live, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I wondered if there was any other architectural oddities around, and I thought of Hopper Street. I parked the car while still light, and walked looking for a tripod spot and to see if there were any signs of being unwelcome. I feel somewhat conspicuous with camera on tripod holding cable release, facing peoples homes, but I was largely ignored, I took the photo and left them in peace. Moderately larger.

7.40pm photo of an often photographed scene

7.40pm photo of an often photographed scene, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

Down on Owhiro Bay I stood on the stony beach and looked out on the sunset water all orange now with the sun gone down. The pink colored snow capped peaks of the South Island standing out like some fairy land on the waters of the Cook Straight. I listened for a while of the lapping waters making that shingle sound of the turning tide. Ignoring all this, I turned around and took a photo of the cluster of houses on the hillside, then went home. Don't be square, go here.

the flats, two kilometers from where I live

the flats, two kilometers from where I live, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I liked the red and green house on the corner, the villas stacked up on the hillside, the sign saying 'museum cottage', and 'nairn street and the 'give way' sign too. I liked the large pole, the Pukehinau Flats with the stairs on the outside. I just liked the way they look, so I included them all in the photo and feeling satisfied with that, I walked home in the dark. Big is Better

aro park and two youths, saturday september 25, 6.30pm

aro park and two youths, saturday september 25, 6.30pm, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

We walked through Aro Park mid afternoon, on the way for a rental dvd. The sound of loud guitars and drums coming from the hall. Youths were drinking beer. I went back early evening with a photo in mind, everyone had gone bar two near the street lamp. It's too small, Check out the larger view.

friday september 24, 6.35pm

friday september 24, 6.35pm, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

It was the end of a working day, and the start of the weekend. I grabbed the camera gear and began the weekend with a photo, a few metres from the front door. I then carried on and got take-aways. If you want to, go bigger.

saturday september 18, 6.30pm

saturday september 18, 6.30pm, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

It was Saturday evening and I wanted to take a photo. The wind was blowing stuff about, so I just went out the front door and set up the tripod holding it tightly, even my bag blew away. I will take a better one another time, the branches were waving about. bigger but not too large.

saturday september 18, 6.20am

saturday september 18, 6.20am, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

It was forecast heavy rain and gale winds. Looking from my window before the sun came up, all seemed calm and clear. So with no particular plan in mind I set off for Bunny Street trying to beat the sun, I wanted to see some lights to shine. short cut to a little larger view

wet sunday morning

wet sunday morning, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

On a wet and cold September morning I got out of bed early to go down to Willis Street where I imagined there might be a photo. Once under a veranda in the dry, I set up the camera on a tripod and took a couple of photos. The rain was horizontal, I called it quits I dried the camera and returned home for some more sleep. One click and it is bigger.

I went to nairn park, not sure why

I went to nairn park, not sure why, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

Clouds were rolling in, going to rain soon. The sun was going down, not that you could see. Gusts of wind blowing leaves about. I got out of my armchair, thinking of a favorite view from Nairn Park. Photographed it often enough, but not at this time of day. For the benefit of your eyes view here.

big tall building

big tall building, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

The Majestic Centre stands above all the other buildings, and even looks down on the hills around. In the daytime it is all reflections and black windows, basically a tall tube. At dusk it is different, all the lights come on, and there are people working there, even on a Sunday evening. The Big Tall View.

a street

a street, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I could have taken a car or gone for a walk. Instead I stood on a hill by untidy trees and looked down on a street when the lights were turning on. It seemed as good a place as any to take a photo. View Big.

dawn scene on karo drive #1

dawn scene on karo drive #1, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I was driving my car along Karo Drive and I wondered what it would look like with no traffic before the rising sun. I got up especially early and came down to karo drive to see. I set up my tripod on the pedestrian island, there were few about, so it seemed ok. I took a few photos and now I know what it is like on karo drive, saturday morning before the sun comes up. Larger can only be better.

karo drive #2, because I just cannot choose between the two

karo drive #2, because I just cannot choose between the two, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I was driving my car along Karo Drive and I wondered what it would look like with no traffic before the rising sun. I got up especially early and came down to karo drive to see. I set up my tripod on the pedestrian island, there were few about, so it seemed ok. I took a few photos and now I know what it is like on karo drive, saturday morning before the sun comes up. It's okay to go to the bigger view.

ordinary house on main street

ordinary house on main street, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

Stepping out of the motel room into the cool Greytown morning air, I looked around for something interesting to photograph. Something that would be typical of a small country town. Across the road there was an ordinary house, the sort of house all small towns have. I was thinking that's as good a subject as any, especially as the sun was just touching the roof. it looks nicer on black, and a little larger.

back street equippers church

back street equippers church, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I was exploring the back streets of Masterton, a town north of Wellington, when I saw a building I had photographed before. It was then a backpackers or maybe a hotel, now it is a church. I watched people come and go and I took several photos. A party of polynesian teenagers left the building and boarded a van with "youth street ministries" written on the back. They drove off, I folded up my tripod and went on my way too. the beautiful large view is here.

eastern suburbs with tough little tree

eastern suburbs with tough little tree, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I got out of the car and looked out over the eastern suburbs. I thought there is a possibility of a photo here if I include something in the foreground, and this little tree was just there. It wasn't about the tree so much as just being here on top of a hill. please try the big size.

wind shaped tree with suburb in the hills

wind shaped tree with suburb in the hills, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I was curious how people lived in the suburbs so I steered the car in a southerly direction, and climbed the hills of Wellington. It is better larger.

evans bay parade with puddle in the lawn

evens bay parade with puddle in the lawn, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

It was near midday, usually considered the wrong time of day to take photos. As I was too tired to get up early, I went out in the noon day sun and took some photos anyway. Short cut to the recommended large version.