New magazine style blog

LikeMinds weekly blog has now shifted.

View the blog and see the most up-to-date posting >>

Cheers

Donald

Our lonely symbols of mortality - a reflective trip into the Nevis Valley, Central Otago

A bunch of crosses in a populated cemetery can numb my mind if I consider the whole experience of being human, and the collective experiences of all who've gone before us to once again return to the dust of the universe.

A lonely grave seems to bite deeper - the space creates context that can be reflected on...


The symbol of the cross as being part of death, is I find an interesting concept, e.g. while doing the yoga mountain pose [standing tall and straight - not as easy as it may seem], then raise our hands to the sky [and follow with our eyes], then slowly bring them down, palms out, in an arc to our sides, accompanied with an exhalation we create space - both outwardly and physical in the heart/ribs/shoulders, and so on the descent of our hands we become a cross.

Up until making these images last weekend, on yet another trip to Central Otago's Nevis Valley I'd sort of reckoned that it was Christ's death that consolidated the symbolism of the cross, but now I'm not so sure. Could be he picked it to make a point.

Amid all that suffering he opened his heart to all. Created space in yoga terms if you like. And like all crosses if viewed from below the sky [universe] takes on the role we can't comprehend, that of the infinite...


Some of our pioneers obviously had this in mind when they placed a bird next the lonely cross in the Nevis Valley cemetery. Note the bird faces north and slightly upwards...


We entered the Nevis this year from the Bannockburn end [as opposed to Garston in Southland], and on topping Duffers Saddle were quite taken aback as photographers, by the light on the back of the The Remarkables...


This well designed verandah on an historic cottage will have seen many happy relaxing lazes in the sun, and shade...


In this dry continental climate rust does almost sleep...


Modern day [night!] travellers...


Modern day symbols, if you like of not such a distant past...

Yet another cross...


The ponds in the background were created by gold dredges - with limited water they'd daily shift their own hole that they occupied...


Eroded not by nature, but by miners washing down the cliff with large water blasting nozzles, known as sluicing guns...

Wanaka Forest and Bird Branch ~ trip in the Oteake Conservation Park

Yesterday I had an interesting look at a block of country nearby that I've not seen before. The Wanaka Forest and Bird group organised it and it was down the west branch of the Manuherikia river and up the east. Accessed oddly enough from the Omarama end of the Mackenzie Basin over Omarama Saddle

For those of you interested the Manuherikia river is better known in it's lower reaches around the Alexandra area, but it has it's headwaters well north of St Bathans.

It's all to do with the relatively new Oteake Conservation Park, which in the area we travelled was originally Twin Burn Station, which was purchased for The Crown by the Dept. of Conservation about 3-4 years ago.

Typical access and grind to high altitude, then down to the river on the other side of Omarama Saddle...


Our briefing...




The first of many river crossings...


Getting my camper over this bridge was quite stressful due to it's size. Even this lighter vehicle got stuck - most of us had to "gun" up the eroded and undercut lip, hoping we arrived with the bounce placing us squarely on wheel width planks - in between were gaping holes...

One of two huts in the area...

There was a lot of technical driving - no way you'd want to fall off to the right!..

One of two sections that held us up a bit. The vehicle in the rear is getting a tow, a Nissan X-Trail that quite impressed us, for a car in this sort of hard core 4wd country. The 'Cruiser in the front has to be careful to not drop a wheel into the obvious hole. Such a mistake could easily result in a roll-over, even for this capable truck..


It's only steam...


My old friend Geoff Wayatt surveys the terrain - the vehicle on the right is "bellied" after a wheel fell in a hole...


My relaxed friend 4yr old friend Celeste, and Jen my yoga teacher wait for things to get sorted...


Heading home up the vast East Manuherikia into rain, which was not forecast or in the plan...

Time to clean the fuel filter...


Learning about local vegetation - I'm afraid I'm allergic to water 'tho...


Keeping a good gap, as we descend steep slippery terrain back down to the Omarama area...

Many thanks to Errol Carr of Wanaka Forest and Bird and those who got their feet wet helping smooth the way.

For the return home over the Lindis, I escorted the vehicle with a fuel filter problem. Steve simply stopped every 10-15 Kms and cleaned it so we got there without too much of a hassle.

I quite enjoyed the stops for a variety of reasons - the light being one...




And now all that is remaining are the memories, the photos, and a dirty truck...

A wild and beautiful late spring

It's pretty normal to get some wild equinox driven weather this time of year in this neck of the woods in Wanaka, and this year has been no exception.

What maybe an exception is I seem more "into it" this year. If I've got to concentrate on being in the moment, then that's not what it's about, but maybe having the camera always in the pocket enhances awareness!

Last night's stillness pervaded my soul on my evening walk to town and back...


Back home on my deck this year the clematis is making a bid to get indoors [or it's trying to escape!]. The weather must agree with it's growth plan...

A happy magnolia...


Last week's big snowfall...








And just to round things off there are places in nature more dark than the sky...

Puddling, muddling and influenza

The recent Labour Weekend break was a bit lost on me I'm afraid. It does not happen often, but I came down with quite a nasty 'flu.

However life's experiences have taught me that being so laid up with a 'flu creates opportunities. Namely to "let go" of the things that are not really important. You could say the opportunity presents to let go a bit more of the ego.

Seeing patterns in a puddle...




Looking upwards in contrast and there at end of the day is light, and the distinct look of spring in what snow is left on Roys Peak...


The time has come then to "let go" of winter, and many other things, and ground myself by planting my vege garden.

An ode to spring

I had to write so I could recite, or sing
God forbid
It went on into the darkest of a rugby night
What is an ode, but a short code

Thinking of what and not
Right enough to describe the dew of spring
Between my toes, but believe me it and love are of the nose
Could love though but pounce?
Like a speedy mouse

Now spring is here with fragrance and delight
Raise a glass to fresh mown grass
Alluring in the breeze
Many fantails salsa dancing I see
Should we be bowed of head in respect?

Spring I say complete
Don't leave us to soon, let us swoon
Feel with our hearts summer in the wings...
Will soon see us sneezing on our knees
Hankies out, the tears all for nought
Rugby's outcome maybe happy maybe sad

But pollen doing the rounds
The surge of biological urge
Would we be best a bee?
They may not us, hold the key

Spring on the wing cupid
I do love thee

Donald Lousley Oct. 2011





.

Chasing the Light, doing the mileage

The spring weather of late here in Wanaka has been very beautiful. Yes, unsettled but interesting and thankfully not the gales too often that underscore spring at 45 degrees south.

It's been very conducive for walking, and so too has my mindset: every evening I've been fortunate of late to wander many miles along Lake Wanaka's lakeshore looking and seeing, even doing time exposure photos in the dark. Such is the life of a hobbyist landscape photographer, and sometimes philosopher looking for innocence lost...


When I got my first camera as a child, for whatever reason since I'll typically be walking along and suddenly "see" a potential photo. One started recently with this shot. All I knew prior was the lighting was typical "magic hour" and soft just after sunset. I always try to identify the factor early on that will make the technical side a challenge. By having it in mind it can let us work faster to capture the moment...


We don't really photograph objects [or people], but instead the light reflected from same. Different times of day produce different tones and warmth - these become factors in triggering an emotional response in myself. Here the shot develops - I like the way the texture of the trees frame the triangle formed by the rocks, themselves bordering on triangular...


The moment of truth - the moment I want to share not only what I've seen, but what I feel. But it's not for me to take it further into words. That could be your job if you wish, or simply sit with any feelings the image engenders, or just walk by...


And I'm not the only one out walking. In this instance I'm the opportunist. Anticipation is the name of this game - what was the limiting factor? For me, timing...


I'm finding walking very social too. Here my friend Brent tests his jet boat, which he's just had stretched. I really respect what he does on a typical tourist journey up and down the nearby Matukituki River in Mt Aspiring National Park, as using his Maori culture and local knowledge of wildlife, history and geology he takes his clients into a story...

"Mo te Tangata mo te Whenua" It's about the people, about the place.

True not only as Brent and Sue's ethic, but typical of my own feelings, photography and otherwise.

Kia kaha

But I'm on my own journey too - into my imagination, holding a tension in there like in yoga, between light and shadow, warmth and cold, what I see verses what I feel...


And like us all I continue to walk, hopefully "seeing" a little more light each time, and in it's reflection ultimately finding my truth - renewed on each journey...


Link to: Wanaka River Journeys