Baboons live in Paradise

If I was a baboon, this is where I would want to live. Hmmm… I’m pretty sure I’m not a baboon (though there are those who might disagree, I’m sure) but I think I would still like to live here.

Autumn Lingers

Those in the northern hemisphere seem to forget that those of us in the southern hemisphere are deep in the midst of Autumn. And a most beautiful Autumn this year… I can’t remember the colours ever being this vivid…

Sorry for being absent – still convalescing a bit – and, I suppose, taking advantage of the situation – as one does…

Li River Homestead

I’ve been using Lightroom to process my Raw files these days. Put off taking that on for a good long while – and like all things one should be doing, but isn’t, for watever reason – when you finally do it, you can’t quite remember why you resisted. I am very happy with how my images have been turning out lately. But… what about those old  images – the ones I saved the raw files from in the hope that ‘one day’ I would be able to make them look the way they should – if only I had known what I was doing behind the camera. This was washed out and dirty looking – the sort of holiday photos that make your eyes glaze over should someone pull them out and force you to look at them. I rather like it now.

And I would sure love to revisit China… This was taken on a day cruise on the Li River, ending up in Yangshuo. It was near the end of the month-long trip and we were very tired… it was nice to sit and watch the world go by… and what a world…

 

 

Oakley Creek Reflection 2 & 3

The more I look at these photos, the more I think Oakley Creek might be one of Auckland’s secret wonders… it manages to ramble through a lot of suburbia, yet I spotted only a couple of houses through the bush. It’s the perfect foil for a cerulean sky – the sort we get as a reward for having suffered through the endless dreary winter. I guess it’s worth it. What do you think? Here’s another take…

Defiance

Why else would a naked tree be standing out there, in the face of a coming storm?

Monkey Monkey

Missing Malaysia these days… I wonder if it’s cos I’m still cold from winter and I’m longing for those languid 35 degree days in the jungle…

Vinal Hunger

There’s all kinds of hunger – all kinds of hunger than need to be fed…

(My husband suggests this would be found in Satan’s lounge. I can’t say I concur.)

Playhouse

It’s funny the things you stumble over walking in the woods sometimes. This little ramshackle hut – too small for anything really – except for a child’s playhouse. But where is the big house? Why would someone build a playhouse deep in the woods, where no child could possibly find their way back home? A bit Hansel & Gretel…

A tree

 

Who can resist a solitary tree at the top of a hill???

(I think this might have been a wee bit inspired by Six Feet Under…)

Fern in dappled light

Walking in the bush on a gloomy day is spooky – the light is flat, the trees seem flattened until you suddenly come upon a looming branch and narrowly avoid smacking your head on it. It is also very very quiet. Maybe an odd bird or two, but they tend to lay low when the air is heavy.

And maybe, if you get lucky, the clouds will split, just briefly and let a bit of sunshine through. And even if it is a very small amount, everything shifts, clears, becomes three dimensional and sharp. Hold onto that moment, because once it’s gone, you’re back to the muted, heavy gloom.