The Cliches

The Dough

Often my photography references other photographs or other photographers, generally in subject matter more than style. This shot references a Hong Kong based photographic artist I came across a few years ago - in fact around the time of my first solo show.

The Dingle Burn

There is very little that compares to spending a couple of hours slogging it out uphill, not quite knowing where you're going or what you're going to find, only to find beauty in bucketloads. In an instant you completely forget the climb and bask in the magnificence, the Sublime. And it is good.

The CEO

I got a rude email today from a 'friend' (a true friend would be understanding and not rude) asking "Well what's the point of reading your blog if you don't update it!!!". (That's more of a statement than a question really, but you get the point.)

I admit I have been rather tardy of late. But I'm a busy man. A very busy man.

After an 8am start last Wednesday to set up a shoot, I picked up a car at 3pm and drove to Te Awamutu - cos that's where I decided to stop as it was late and getting near stop driving time. Early Thursday I drove to Auckland, had a meeting with my gallerist up there, and met some colleagues to pick up some cars for a shoot, and headed to Hamilton - cos that's where we decided to stop as the weather wasn't suitable for photography.

Friday we drove back to Wellington cos the weather wasn't suitable for photography, and had the excitement of having one of our cars hit by a falling branch and smash the windscreen. This on a car that we collected straight off the boat and had only done 350km when the branch hit. Black car! Friday the 13th!!

Saturday, back in Wellington, we spent thirteen hours in the studio trying to shoot the damned cars. Sunday, I had a day off, which was taken up with hockey (2 games), and a bush walk with a friend. Today, I've just done ten hours in the studio trying to shoot the damned cars (very trying).

So anyway, now that I've explained my absence, here's a picture.

It was taken a couple of weeks ago by my friend and colleague Dean (here's his old website which is waiting to be updated). It was for a CEO shoot. I'm a CEO too, but we were shooting a different CEO that day. I was just the stand-in.

Are you happy now lady?!

The Blur

I've no idea why I took these shots. Don't even know where they were shot. I'm guessing Leicester Square. Maybe it had something to do with this. It was a long time ago. You can't expect me to remember everything. Anyway, they're quite cool.

The Homely

Yeah okay so I know all these images are on my website, but seeing as it was the start of something much bigger, i.e. my conceit, I thought it was worth posting them here too. And also unless you've looked at my website you're unlikely to have seen them cos I didn't exactly advertise the show they were in.

The title itself was a bit of a piss take slash homage slash art wank attention grabber. It didn't really work as the latter though seeing as it garnered me no art wank attention. But as all the images were made in my then home, it made perfect sense really.

The Bruise

Seeing as I got absolutely no sympathy from anyone regarding my earlier posting regarding the amount of pain I had recently suffered as a result of having too much fun, and considering that there is now some physical evidence of said pain I had recently suffered as a result of having too much fun, I decided I should post an image of said physical evidence just to prove that when I said "Usually it is fun. Today, however, it hurts." I meant it bloody hurt!! So much so that I was considering a trip to the hospital, although I knew that it wasn't anything major (like something broken) and the pain would go in time, and while it hurt whenever I tried doing, well, anything being the staunch guy I am I knew I could ride out the pain and come through the other side a stronger person.

I have to say it's a little bit confusing due to the nice summer tan line, but the reddish circle on top of my shoulder is where the ball hit. Why the bruise is so intense further down the arm I have no idea. It looks cool though.

And just in case you were wondering (and you almost certainly weren't cos otherwise you would have sent me some sympathy) the pain did go away, and now it only hurts when I push on it, or lie on it the wrong way.

I like hockey season cos I get to collect lots of bruises. It's fun.

The Snowpark

Down south there's this snowpark place.

When you go there at the end of summer, there's a distinct lack of snow. Instead they turn it into a mountain biking park.

But if you ask nicely, as we did, you can drive your Pajero around the trails and take some cool shots.

The Rocks

The Fun

We humans are a strange breed. The things we do for fun ...

For example I am currently sporting a strange growth on my shoulder cos I think it's fun to put my body in the path of a little ball going faster than the speed of light.

Usually it is fun. Today, however, it hurts.

Last night I was at the Wellington City Gallery having my ears pummelled beautifully by The Dead C (watch the video, it's great). To some folk the noise these boys create would be just ... um ... noise. And horrible noise at that. To me, and most of the hundreds there last night, it is a glorious noise. And it confirmed for me that their recordings really don't capture the gloriousness. It was fun.

On Friday night, just for a change, I saw Kiri Te Kanawa and the NZSO. I enjoy classical music, though I don't partake that often. I dislike opera. Unless, naturally, it is an opera. Kiri didn't do it for me. Just the fact that she was standing and singing was dull. I wanted drama. I wanted action. The NZSO did rock though, as usual.

I'm sure most of the people there thought it was fun. The funnist part for me was the fact that I got in free cos I was working. It meant that in the boring bits I could pretend I had something better to do rather than go to sleep - which I very nearly did.

And, in case you're slow on the uptake, I think it's fun taking photos. Here's one I prepared earlier.

The Damned

The Primer

I ordered this book on Boxing Day last year. It arrived yesterday. I've finished reading it already.

Stolen from Amazon: "THE NATURE OF PHOTOGRAPHS by Stephen Shore, is an essential primer on how to understand photography by one of the world's most influential photographers. Growing out of a college course that Shore taught for many years, this book explores ways of looking at photographs from all periods and all types--from iconic images to found photographs, from negatives to digital files. Its aim is to describe the physical and formal attributes of a photographic print--the very elements that form the tools a photographer uses to define and interpret the content. In the end, Shore teaches us, on the most basic level, how a photograph "works."

It's a really easy read, and while it didn't tell me anything I didn't already know, it did make me aware of things which previously were subconscious for me.

And there's lots of pretty pictures too.

The Observer

The Black

These pictures contain black stilts. On this day I discovered that the Hasselblad 503CX with an 80mm f2.8 lens really isn't the best camera choice for shooting wildlife. For one, the lens really is too wide. Also it is a slow camera to focus - no auto focus here. And it has a lovely, full, resonant mirror slap which tends to frighten flighty birds (as seen below).




Oh look, there's a black stilt and a DoC worker - busy DoC working as ever, i.e. lots of standing around looking at stuff, bits of getting annoyed with hangers-on with cameras that frighten off the very birds you're standing around looking at.

Another Valley

This is the Ahuriri Valley. Before I got there a friend had informed me that it was a stunningly beautiful valley. Indeed he went so far as to state it was the second most beautiful valley in the country. I had no reason to believe him. I had no reason to doubt him either mind you. Clearly, as it turned out, he knew what he was talking about.

That's the first real glimpse you get of the valley, as it opens up in front of you after cruising a few kilometres down a dirt road.

And a little further up the valley.


Climbing up the western side of the valley we got grand views north and south.


Looking north with Ben Avon pond in the foreground.

And some other view of the place.

The Ahuriri Valley was one of those experiences which happen less and less for me now - old, jaded, and cynical as I am. My first view of the valley was quite literally jawdropping. Nothing prepares you for the view you get. The first part of the road you drive down is so mediocre that when the valley opens up in front of you it is a complete revelation. While the effect was lessened with subsequent trips, it still held me, and I suspect going back I will be hit again by the expanse and beauty.

It's quite a nice place, eh!

The Diptych

The Valley

This is the Matukituki Valley. Before I got there a friend had informed me that it was a stunningly beautiful valley. Clearly, as I shall prove later, she didn't know what she was talking about. It's okay, but I've seen better.

It has a river. My guess is that it was the river that actually created the valley. It also has farm land.

And there's a mountain. It's an okay mountain, but it didn't really do it for me.


Oh, it's Mount Aspiring by the way.

And this is the view from Lake Wanaka, from Wanaka township actually. Now that's nice.

The Douglas