tree with hataitai houses

tree with haitaitai houses, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

While on the pedestrian bridge I took a few photos, not knowing if any would be the epitome of Hataitai domestic life. This photo features a scruffy tree taking centre stage. The short cut - Larger

the bizarre, the modest, the modern

the bizarre, the modest, the modern, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I drive past here perhaps ten times a day, and it looks ordinary. But when I went up the pedestrian bridge around 9.00 pm everything had come alive with domesticity.
Large here.

houses facing the cook strait

houses facing the cook strait, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

Some people like to live in houses close to the sea, no matter what the weather. The winds can be ferocious. It was a couple of weeks before I could successfully photograph with just a gentle zephyr.
A little larger on Black

a suburb in the valley 15 minutes later

a suburb in the valley 15 minutes later, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I just can't decide which one I prefer, probably the former. I was here actually photographing the houses around a small bay which is to the left. My daughter had pointed out the 'S' in the road and thought that would be a good photograph, I thought so too, and I liked the houses kind of flowed down following the shape of the valley floor. I will post later, the little bay with houses. Here is good ....

a suburb in a valley

a suburb in a valley, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

The third time here and the evening was still, no wind. Other times there was constant gusts of alarming Northerlies. I have found that wind causes the camera to move about, not that I could tell at the time. With the images on screen, and peeping at 100% the focus was all soft. This time houses are sharp. Try this ....

apartment view number 2 from central park

apartment view number 2 from central park, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I knew my work here was not finished, I once again walked up the steps of Central Park, and while my daughter tried out the flying fox, I photographed again the apartments across Brooklyn Road. Here is the way to go.

apartments as seen from central park

apartments as seen from central park, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

Walking up central park, and just before the playground with the flying fox, there is this view of apartments. I will endeavor to return, maybe when the wind dies down, I think there may be another photo from here. uncluttered, bigger, nicer

row of trees, row or houses, & cricket pitch

row of trees, row or houses, & cricket pitch, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I did not stay for long, I was flailing my arms about my head trying to ward off diving buzzing insects. They might have been bees, I could not see in the darkening light. Once I had taken a few frames, I quickly headed for the car, making sure no buzzing bees had followed me. Bee free and view here

by the sea side with houses all in focus

by the sea side with houses all in focus, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

Several times I climbed up here, three times actually, had some technical difficulties with focus. I photographed again, making sure all the settings were correct. I carefully picked my way back in the darkness along the hill top track and down to the car, traveled home, and inspected the frames on the computer, yes the houses are all in focus. check it out here.

sea fog evening

sea fog evening, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I was intending to photograph some houses overlooking the sea, but on the way I came upon a blanketing wall of sea fog moving towards me. I turned around the car and photographed a small suburb instead. here would be good.

wellington city, suburb with untidy tree

wellington city, suburb with untidy tree, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

The sun was going down, and I was walking again up Te Ahumairangi hill. There was just the sound of Tui birds settling down for the night, and small rustlings from several places in the bush. Other than that I think I had the place much to myself, I set up the tripod and waited till a few lights came on, I took the photo and headed back to civilization. a little bigger - a little nicer

various houses with pohutukawa and other trees

various houses with pohutukawa and other trees, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

We walked on the hillside of Te Ahumairangi. It is good to have some exercise, but the more pleasurable aspect was to see if there were any photo opportunities. I photographed several houses that looked interesting, and thought it worthwhile to come back in the evening with my big camera and tripod. a little larger and a little nicer.