Playing with light and thread

Above and below: the Kaikorai Estuary empties out to the Pacific Ocean, and at times a small winding river cuts its way through the sand flats. These two images are threaded together in photomerge from 5(top) and 3 separate images on a wide angle lens.


Above and below, a family looking for flounders at sunset in the river.


Above and below: different techniques same scene. top is on a tripod with a long exposure, below hand held long exposure hand panning.


Above: camera propped on the rocks at the carpark capturing with a 4 second exposure a car driving across the kaikorai bridge.

New Years Surf 2011

Early morning start, easily attainable since I went to bed at 11pm, slept through the new years changeover.
I'm looking forward to hitting a new gear this year, been in reverse for the last one with flat tyres and not much gas.
All pics of my best mate, partner and the most patient supportive human I know, Jayin.

Christmas Day 2010

Facebook uploader doesn't seem to be working.
So just uploading Family Photos for Family overseas.
Amber an Nick are driving down from Ashburton tonight, and will do the boxing day sales in the morning, then a family BBQ tomorrow night.
Hope you all had a great XMAS.

Top:, Skidi waiting on 'Dads' chair with his XMAS pressie for him.
Below: Then Joined by Dad at breakfast with his toast, shared.

Above: The pine tree branch Jay nabbed from 'somewhere' and brought back home on his scooter at midnight. Then right: Shane and Amber with Skidi.
Below Left: Shane openeing his Christmas Pressie, not happy about the camera in his face. Right: Caitlin giving the look for the camera.

My Dad (Trevor) and step mum Judy dishing up xmas lunch, all the salad and veges were from our garden, it felt so good out with my basket picking the veges.. Above right: Caitlin, Dad and Shane

Family pics taken in front of a half finished project of an eclectic mix of photo frames with pics of my kids over the years.
The house has been very quiet the last 6 weeks since Caitlin moved out, so its just me and Jay. Now, after being a mum for 25 years I can plan my future without responsibilities of being at home for children (theoretically). So I'm planning for a big LE - not an OE as I haven't the funds to travel overseas, but a Local Experience of New Zealand... once I get a camper van kidded out I'm planning on hitting the road to explore our beautiful country.

namaste and hope you all had a great Christmas.

out the window

Above: Tomatoes are growing well in the Morri House (compare with the pic a few weeks ago here), Jay built me a potting table outside on it's deck, he's so clever.
Other than the vege garden, there is nothing happening in my life. I quit work late October, and have been at home. Sorry no blog posts, I haven't been doing photography or going out.

Damage Control

Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson said the national policy statement, which replaced an earlier policy, gave councils clearer direction on protecting and managing New Zealand's coastal environment, including surf breaks, for the first time.

Read the FULL online Article at the ODT here

Editors note in response to Article

Yes I agree the new NZ Coastal Policy Statement 2010 does create the need for extra attention for Port Otago in relation to their Next Generation project affecting the Aramoana Surfbreak, which is now Nationally protected.

Mr Hastie seems to have put his hand up to represent surfers as opposing the Next Generation Project, unaware of the lengthy negotiations with Mr Plunket that myself and Rod Rust have had to secure an understanding and good will prior to his comments in this article.

The 6.2k out to sea dump site will not adversely affect surfing/surfers under the Port Otago proposals. The dump sites of concern are the existing sites for which a separate consent will be applied for in 2011. Also of concern is the deepening of the channel at the heads and the effect on the ebb delta there.

Leroy Rust - Aiming High

Read the whole article at the ODT website here

Skidi tired of getting so big!

Arsenic, asbestos found in Dunedin dunes

Please read the whole article on the Otago Daily Times Website here.

Mysterious sludge at beach years ago, Dunedin man recalls
From the ODT website By Chris Morris on Fri, 26 Nov 2010

Revelations the sand dunes at Dunedin's Middle beach are laced with traces of industrial chemicals have jogged memories of a mysterious white sludge for Dunedin man Wayne Campbell.

Mr Campbell (62) contacted the Otago Daily Times this week. after Dunedin City Council staff last week confirmed traces of arsenic, asbestos and other industrial chemicals had been found in the dunes.

The contamination of the seaward side of the dunes was believed to have come from old landfill buried under what is now Kettle Park, although council staff were awaiting more test results to determine the extent of the problem.

Mr Campbell said he could recall coming across a mysterious white substance while fossicking in the landfill as a young boy in the 1950s.

Please continue to read the whole article on the Otago Daily Times Website here.

Our Vege Garden - November 2010

This year is going to be the bumper year for as close as possible to self sufficiency in fruit and vegetables. And I'm really enjoying spending more time in the garden now I am not working. Especially since:

We now have a 4mx2.5m Morrifield Tunnel House!
I'm Stoked to say that the tunnel house is all up and running with 6 beefsteak tomato plants, 6 cherry tomato plants, 6 chilli plants, 6 mixed pepper plants, a cucumber, masses of rocket, fennel, and a seeded row of mixed basil. Below- all planted out:

Above: Jay worked extremely hard last week to dig out and build the foundations for the tunnel house. We got in two trailer loads of mulch and organic compost, which was mixed in by Dean from 'We Hoe You Grow'.. every year from the start of our new garden, Dean has come and mixed and mulched our soil to a fine till, making our job much easier, and saving Jay's back for more surfs.

Above: Dean Hoeing last week -

If you want some quality Hoeing magic in your Vege patch, Dean Mooyman can be contacted at: 021 2474633 or email wehoeyougrow@vodaphone.co.nz

Above left: my new herb garden Jay put together over the top of an old broken concrete pad with the Tunnel House in the background, and to the right the three raised garden beds, newly planted out. Above right: the fruit trees coming along, with the mixed vine berries, grapes and berry bushes along the fenceline. At the bottom of the garden the big black walnut, and the big old skool apple tree.

Arvo Surf

Auckland for Surfbreak

A couple of weeks ago I travelled to Auckland for the AGM of the Surfbreak Protection Society.
I was honoured to get voted back on the committee for my second year, and look forward to doing whatever I can for the organisation.
Pic to left taken after the meeting at the Auckland Law Courts building somewhere in the centre city.
Left to right: Geer Iseke, Paul Shanks, Nic Reeves, Mike Gunson, Monique Olivier, Allen Pidwell, John Shaw, missing David Storck and Scotty Grieve.
New Surfbreak Facebook Group I made a few days ago

Surfbreak Protection Society | Promote your Page too

Above:: Taking off from Dunedin airport flying low looking towards waldronville (middle circle), where I live, with Blackhead headland to the left circled, suburbs Fairfield in the foreground, Green Island to the right. Closer to the sea is the Refuse Transfer station at the head of the Kaikorai Estuary which leads out to the sea past Waldronville. I love where I live!
Next pic below is of the Kaikoras shrouded in clouds on the way up.

Above: A night shot of Auckland from the street. And then my short trip to flat Piha. Last photo at bottom is from the plane window taxiing along the runway at sunset.

sample for Bob

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from the carpark

26th October 2010 - Windy As -
Below: Jimi popping out of a loong tube, fresh from indo