Archive | February, 2012

hauraki gulf : orakei wharf okahu bay

Feb 22, 2012 | hauraki gulf

Orakei Wharf and breakwater, Okahu Bay, Auckland, New Zealand. (Peter Tasker)

Okahu Bay breakwater piles, Auckland, New Zealand. (Peter Tasker)

Three kayakers paddling under Orakei Wharf, Okahu Bay, Auckland, New Zealand. (Peter Tasker)

These photographs were taken at Okahu Bay, Auckland. Each time I sail in and out of Auckland Harbour, I pass Orakei Wharf, and the breakwater of old wooden piles which stretch across the bay.

The sandy beach of Okahu Bay is approximately 6km from Auckland CBD, – a great place to picnic, swim, hire a kayak and explore the waterfront or join a group expedition across to Rangitoto Island. There is also a marina and swing moorings.

The photographs above and current slide show have now been added to the Hauraki Gulf Structures Gallery. Rather grey, but typical of the weather this summer  : : peter

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pattern light and detail : new gallery

Feb 13, 2012 | pattern light and detail

Rosella feathers. The Rosella is an Australian parrot that has recently become established in New Zealand. (Peter Tasker)

Rosella feathers. The Rosella is an Australian parrot that has recently become established in New Zealand. (Peter Tasker)

Rosella feathers. The Rosella is an Australian parrot that has recently become established in New Zealand. (Peter Tasker)

A few years ago, a colourful eastern rosella, an Australian parrot, flew into a window of our house and died. We were about to dispose of it when my wife suggested I first take some photographs. While remaining fairly faithful to the actual colour of the rosella, I have indulged a greater degree of creative Lightroom processing than I usually apply to my photographs, so, these are for visual enjoyment, not botanical record.

Apparently there is little known about the rosella, here or in Australia. They were first seen in small numbers during the early 1900′s, but it was not until the 1960′s  that New Zealand numbers became more significant.  Though regarded as an horticultural pest in Australia, no decision has been made on whether or not they are a threat to our own native birds or whether they may become a future problem to New Zealand farming.

I am delighted to have been presented with this brilliant opportunity. More rosella images will follow in a month or so  : : peter

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lanterns fireworks and kids in balloons : auckland city

Feb 8, 2012 | auckland

Two Asian girls wearing coolie hats hold a red lantern while standing in front of a colourful illuminated wall. (Peter Tasker)

Fireworks explode behind a group of red lanterns at the conclusion of Aucklands 2012 Lantern Festival. (Peter Tasker)

A young girl playing inside an inflated sphere while floating on water at the Auckland 2012 Lantern Festival. (Peter Tasker)

This post kicks off my new project ‘Auckland Central‘ and includes photographs taken a few days ago at the Chinese New Year Lantern Festival in central Auckland.

The event has grown year by year to a point where not many more people could fit into the space of Albert Park  and the adjoining food area on Princess Street. It has been reported that 250,000 people attended over the 3 day period, – a huge, happy, success.

As a so called national day of celebration the contrast between the Lantern Festival and the sorry farce of what I recently heard described in the media as ‘Maori Grievance Day’ could not be more pronounced. As an Aucklander, the Lantern Festival is probably becoming our annual day of celebration, and I am faced with the irony that it is largely immigrant Chinese giving us our best day of the year. Ironic because Maoridom demands and receives preferential treatment on a massive scale, and yet looks determined to escalate and perpetuate its ‘grievance industry’. While on the other hand, Asians in New Zealand, despite adversity, get on and make a success of things, – they are an inspiration and hopefully a bright star in our future. I admire them, and am grateful for that.

Photographically, my time at the Lantern Festival was challenging, as I took just one lens, a manual focus 100mm macro, so focusing in the dark was a bit hit and miss. I took this lens because it is reasonably fast, f2.0, and is renowned for exceptional bokeh, – that is, a creamy out of focus rendition. The slide-show currently displaying above, illustrates this by conveying a wateriness, a fluidity, that would have been destroyed if  the photographs were mostly in focus and shot with flash  : : peter

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