Torch-Painted Tree

Haven’t really done much light-painting, though I did set-up a photography business at one point called LightPainters – but that’s another story.

This tree was in a dark, pretty much deserted carpark on Saturday night. There were a few streetlights a few blocks away, but other than the stars, there was no other source of light. I pulled out my tripod and set up my camera and did a long exposure, but the tree was still dark and the street lights were blown out. My husband had just bought a new high-powered torch, which he was inordinately fond of shining into my eyes, tempting his fate for sure… (you would think a man of his age would know better…) I asked him to put it to some good use and shine it on the tree. At first he refused. It may have been powerful enough to blind me and get me a  bit grumpy, but a huge tree like this? I am sure he would have preferred to keep shining it on me, but he relented and began painting the tree… there and there and there, and oh – don’t miss there. Do that some more. Yeah, I like that…

I like how it all turned out. And he gets to keep his torch.

Great Pumpkin

It’s a funny sort of autumn, sunny and warm after such a cold, wet summer. We’ve had beautiful evenings, with soft, honey-coloured light on the gardens, playing tag with a light breeze and a pair of cabbage moths who fluttered out of the frame.

One lady leaping

Went through over 600 images shot last night. To be honest, most were plain crap… I deleted over 300. Then I deleted another 100. Then I starting culling in earnest… and in the end, came up with such a brilliant set of photos, I feel like I invented candy and can’t wait to tell all my friends…

I’ll probably end up posting most of them on here as the days go by, but I put together an album on facebook that you can access by clicking here. No need to friend me or be on facebook yourself.

Dancer on the beach

Just a quick one tonight… Went to Piha Beach this evening to shoot the sunset and a dancer who came to dance for a group of photographers. Sadly, she got lost on the way so we didn’t get to shoot her in the best light. I did get some nice stuff though and am especially fond of this impressionist shot.

Quite a long exposure with another photographer’s flash throwing a bit of light on her in the middle of the exposure. She was a wonderful dancer – but it occurs to me she looks a bit unsteady on her feet – like a wave might come and sweep her away.

Suzhou Garden Reflections

Been thinking about memory lately, how fickle it can be, how downright deceptive – and you think you’re being completely honest with yourself. Hah! I remember when ‘facing reality’ was something I could do. Or thought I could.

This image of a Suzhou Garden is completely deceptive…

Trust me – nothing about it is what you might think. Sure is pretty, though, isn’t it?

 

Universal Walk

This is what comes of pondering the meaning of life whilst listening to Leonard Cohen. He is naked and he’s filthy and there’s sweat upon his brow. I can’t say the same for me. Shame that.

Twilight in the Garden of Eden

Sorry I’ve been AWOL the last week… funny thing when you commit to a 366 day project… Obviously I take it seriously, since I am in the second year now. This is actually the 457th photo since September 2010 – excluding reruns when I went on holiday and such. And every so often I just have no inspiration – every photo seems flat, lifeless, nothing happening. And when even nothingness can interest me – well, it’s time for a wee chill.

I suppose a bit of the lacklustre-ness of the moment is its sense of a rite of passage with my daughter getting married. Of course I am happy for her and her new husband and the day was wonderful.

But I think for parents, and maybe even moreso for grandparents, it marks a change in the order of things, passing of the torch. As it should be. But one feels one’s oats. One looks in the mirror and a little bit of its magic has worn off. How could so much time have passed so quickly. It does not feel so long ago when I stood on the edge of life, drinking it all in, trying to be brave, trying to be strong, trying to be sure.

It is all good and all right and the way it is supposed to be. It’s life. I guess it’s a ride that you got on somewhere without realising and there’s no getting off until it’s over…

Wanton nature of a wild tree

I know it’s just me. Oh, and just you, too. But does this tree seem to be, well, you know???

I do believe this is a gum tree native to Australia

Ode to a seal

It’s not much of an ode, but I couldn’t quite muster anything akin to ‘wee, timrous mousie’ and wasn’t in the mood to fake it.

I liked this seal. He was too proud to beg.

Tip of your tongue