Back to church for some photo work
Hope you all had a good Christmas, and we have New Year to savour next!
I've been busy here in a hobby and interpretation sense working on a few of the Central Otago landscape photos of last weekend's trip to the Serpentine Church on Rough Ridge to the east of Poolburn Dam.
This is my favourite currently - I like the Hobbit like feelings it stirs in me...
A nearby rabbiter's hut...
No skies were harmed during the making of this image...
All the best for 2011 dear readers
I've been busy here in a hobby and interpretation sense working on a few of the Central Otago landscape photos of last weekend's trip to the Serpentine Church on Rough Ridge to the east of Poolburn Dam.
This is my favourite currently - I like the Hobbit like feelings it stirs in me...
A nearby rabbiter's hut...
No skies were harmed during the making of this image...
All the best for 2011 dear readers
Labels: Central Otago, Rough Ridge, Serpentine Church, The Hobbit
posted by Donald at
4:58 AM
9 Comments:
I think Central is the most beautiful part of NZ - I remember, on my first trip through the Lindis Pass, being amazed at how such a simple landscape could be so lovely.
Your photos are gorgeous, as usual. Hope you don't get to much flooding down there - looks like we will only get light rain in Canterbury.
Dear Shirley
Yes, it's amazing how such a seemingly simple landscape can move us!
I love the bush too, but it's the snow tussock areas that really blows my hair back. I sometimes wonder it's genetic as my grad-father worked in the Mackenzie country a lot shearing, mustering and even built the cattle yards at Huxley Forks. He had a sojourn in the Boer War too and stayed over there seeing many contingents come and go before he came home to Kurow, and maybe it was those wide open spaces that appealed
Cheers
Donald
Dear Donald
The nostalgia your photos brought to me were startling. I spent many summers in Central Otago as a teenager and I love that place.
Your photographs are spectacular.
A Happy New Yea,
Bob
Donald, I see mention of your grand father at Huxlet Forks. Wow, I spent a lot of time up the south Huxley and climbed Huxley, a superb peak.
Warm regards
Bob
Dear Bob
I often question myself why I'm driven to make landscape images, especially the wide open snow tussock variety.
One reason I identified years ago was that I want people to be more aware of our environment, so we value same and the link to our own well-being, and the easy places to start are the ones I feel are my home.
And as you questioned sometime back:
>Or are cameras getting better and better ?
... it is a combo. of factors, with 'driven' being the chief ingredient. Driven to evoke an emotional feel or response!
So thanks for the feedback that this is happening!
To me there is a lot of value in awareness, and even being aware of awareness itself. I try hard to not rush in and point and click, but identify and ponder the many factors in a scene. Feeling more than seeing maybe!?
Then translating the feel to a visual medium.
But often we work at the competent image, only to literally turn around when finished, see something, click, and later it turns out this un-premeditated image steals the show.
Seems to me there are some valuable life messages in this 'letting go', and seeing without using the head, but instead the heart!
[Seems to me you've done this often too, e.g descent post East Ridge Cook ascent -was fascinated by your well written third/extra man concept too - I too have sensed similar]
Cameras are easier to carry than paints, and we now live in a world where we can use tools like PhotoShop, to not overdo things [got to be on guard for this!], but tease out afterwards what is inherent not only in 'raw' image files, but in the landscape itself.
Like you I love these places too.
Mt Huxley and Sth Huxley: have literally spent weeks in there, using the pass into the Ahuriri/ Sth Temple as a guiding instructional venue trip. Had an easy time getting up the former once, but a doz. years later tried again, with scary defeat coming on rotten rock/snow. A humbling reminder of the nature of the mt.eering experience!
And as one of my early mentors Murray Bolt [Dunedin] once said: 'nostalgia is not what it used to be'!
Happy New Year indeed :)
Cheers
Donald
these are impressive shots . You must be pleased with them. We have been up at the grandcanyon and have driven through endles deserts with endless skies and glorious nightfalls. My photography has not done any of the scenery justice.
Dear Marg
How nice to hear of your wonderful trip. One I think you deserve wholeheartedly.
Yes, I image capturing the essence of the Grand Canyon and the deserts will be challenging, but when you're back you'll probably find your images have captured the feel.
My technique for what's it's worth, and it's not new [comes from US mt.eer Galen Rowel] 'OK, I've got the light, now where is the subject?'
Cheers
Donald
like the pic of the rabbiters hut
Hi Simon
Yes, the rabbiter's hut is one I like too. Guess it puts the hugeness of the landscape into context.
I really enjoyed your pics of the recent ski trip to Japan.
Cheers
Donald
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