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.