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

Click this link to view, purchase prints, and license all currently available photographs .

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

Click this link to view, purchase prints, and license all currently available photographs .

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

Click this link to view, purchase prints, and license all currently available photographs .

Still pulling out of holiday mode, and waiting for summer to arrive.

These photographs were taken a couple of weeks ago during a trip across to Coromandel Peninsula. After a perfect sail to Motukahaua Island, part of the Happy Jacks, I spent the night in the idyllic Elephant Cove. The first photo above was taken on the evening of arrival, a collection of photographs from within the cove will be added at a later date. The next morning I motored across to the northern coast of Coromandel Peninsula, photographing as I hugged the coastline to just short of the northern tip. That afternoon I sailed south through the many islands dotting the Coromandel coastline with the hope of staying in a remote spot. Concerned about an increasing wind, I thought it best to make a run for the shelter of Coromandel Harbour. The third night was spent at Te Kouma Harbour, and then a long sail back home.

I have spent much of the last week editing and processing photographs from this trip, and while the conditions were not ideal, there are about 30 images I am pleased with. Over the coming months some of these other photos will appear, along with starting a new project, ‘Central Auckland’.   -   Peter

Click this link to view, purchase prints, and license all currently available photographs .

If a physical feature was to be omitted from Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf, I think it may be Rangitoto Island that would be missed the most. This beautifully symmetrical landmark is visible from all directions, and along with the Sky Tower, I think Rangitoto is the most tangible symbol of arriving home.

This must be the wettest Auckland summer on record, it really has been quite extraordinary. Today I provisioned the boat but have delayed my photographic trip, as yet again it is raining with winds howling through boat rigging. Leaving my marina berth in a strong northerly is difficult, particularly when solo, as the boat is quickly blown against a pole before managing to clear the marina berth.

The upside to all of this rain will be vibrant green grass, so, when the weather finally clears, I look forward to green hills, blue skies, and sparkling aqua seas, as these are elements I have been looking forward to adding to the Hauraki Gulf Galleries.   -   Peter

Click this link to view, purchase prints, and license all currently available photographs .

These Motuihe Island photographs were taken a week ago using a new 2x extender on a Canon 70 – 200 mk2 lens, during a short sail from Auckland.

Motuihe is a beautiful three sided island with a choice of white sandy bays providing 360 degree protection in moderate winds. It is only 16 km from Auckland and is probably the most popular day trip destination for Auckland boaties.

Looking back on 2011 brings to mind a few highlights, – the sale of 1000 IMAGES Cornwall Park One Tree Hill books to a single buyer, the establishment of a collection of photographs at Cornwall Park Restaurant, and the development of my garden. On the other hand this year, a number of friends have died or are dealing with terminal illness, and I’m constantly driven to do what is important, now, and to indulge a little, – because we all need to know, tomorrow may never come. Looking forward there is so much to do, I am part way through directing the redesign and development of this website and hope to have this online during February. I am also retraining in CAD and will pursue a number of personal Industrial Design projects.  Other plans for this year include offering  large format prints, adding motion plus sound, and marketing my photographic work, particularly my current Hauraki Gulf project.

May all your 2012 dreams come true   -   Peter

Click this link to view, purchase prints, and license all currently available photographs .

It all seems so long ago. Of course if  we had lost, instead of  scraping home, the post mortem and mourning would be continuing. Now we have that satisfied acceptance of, -  job done – move on. Also, reality has rapidly re-imposed itself in the form of an election and the impending consequences that inevitably follow 40 years of world wide money debasement, – these are the next big games to be played.

The photographs above, ‘people in windows’, have just been added to the Gallery auckland RWC 2011. My photographic interest throughout the World Cup focused on the public, people in and about the streets, and of course up buildings and in windows. During a time of celebration, where people with cameras are accepted as part of the event, being photographed by a stranger is tolerated, even welcomed. Quite a number of times I was asked to take a photograph of one or more people, even though no thought had been given to how the subject would see or possess the resulting photograph. It is as though being photographed during such an event was an act of celebration in itself. As a photographer friend commented, it was a bit like ‘shooting fish in a barrel’. Actually, the whole period was outstanding for the universal atmosphere of goodwill amongst all, and I hope my collection of Rugby World Cup 2011 photographs become a valued addition to this significant event.   -   Peter

Click this link to view, purchase prints, and license all currently available photographs .

These photographs and the current slide show are all from my book IMAGES cornwall park one tree hill. If you would like to order the book, please click the Buy Now button on the right hand side of this page. Order 5 books and you will receive 6, ie one free book, and order 8 to receive 10, ie two free books. The print quality is excellent, with the book winning Gold in the New Zealand Pride in Print Awards. We are having a good response to this Christmas promotion, thank you.

Yesterday I had lunch at Cornwall Park restaurant with old friends from my Industrial Design student days. A beautiful day, the beginning of summer. Spring has been messy, and recent photographic boating trips out on Hauraki Gulf have not been idyllic, windy, grey, rough, and rolling around at night. So visiting the park in the golden glow of early summer was like meeting up with another old friend. I have not been walking the Park as often as I should, so much to do!  -  Peter

Click this link to view, purchase prints, and license all currently available photographs .

A few minutes down the road from my home, is one of the worlds best inner city parks, Cornwall Park and One Tree Hill.

One year ago, shortly after New Zealands worst mining tragedy, U2 performed and dedicated their song,One Tree Hill to the 29 miners who died. The song itself having been written for another New Zealander, Greg Carroll, who was until his motorcycle death, a highly valued member of the U2 organisation.

I recently produced a book about this Auckland icon and encourage you to look inside and order the book as a Christmas gift.  I would like to produce further quality Auckland books, but this will depend on the commercial success of this, my first publication. The above misty morning photographs and others, that were not included in my book IMAGES Cornwall Park One Tree Hill, can be viewed here, in Galleries.   -   Peter

It surprises me how often I am on the only boat anchored overnight in a bay, particularly when Auckland is flooded with boats. Even when sailing between islands, there may be no other boat in sight.

I didn’t set out to make boat photographs a significant part of my Hauraki Gulf collection, my focus was the sea and coastal landforms. However much of the time, the sea and coastal landscape offer limited photographic opportunities, – mostly this requires special light, weather, and particular locations. Where as, a boat can transform an otherwise flat and unremarkable scene, and boats are of course a huge part of Auckland and Hauraki Gulf life. Also, boat owners are not really in a position to photograph their own boats, particularly while underway.

The photographs I up load are selective, – only the best make the grade. Where ever possible, I include the boat name in the keywording and captioning so owners and friends can find photographs of interest and purchase large format, high quality, archival prints. So  if you recognise a boat here, please let the owner know, and keep coming back to see more boats as they are added to the Hauraki Gulf Boats gallery.   -   Peter

Click this link to view, purchase prints, and license all currently available photographs .