City Scene - 17

Reflections, shadows, lighting, shop windows, graphics, colour - they all come together here to provide a small inner city snapshot of life in the capital city - Wellington. I was standing outside one of the city's popular bars, Hummingbird, on Courtenay Place, watching the people and traffic just as the night lights were coming on - that lovely 'in-between time' when you often get photographic surprises.

A Shop Called Swonderful

Wellington

www.swonderful.co.nz

April 2009 Ajr

A Wall in Grey Lynn

Grey Lynn, Auckland. April 2009. Ajr

There's nothing I like more than a wall covered in posters - all that crazy colour and pattern, the layers of graphics and type faces - a frenzy of city activity all there for us to admire, denigrate, anticipate or contemplate. Long live the poster I say! A blot on the landscape for some; tantalising little pockets of visual activity for me.

Vehicle Graphics

Auckland. April 2009. Ajr

Loved this bright Charlie's truck on Ponsonby Road in Auckland.

A much-needed splash of colour on a dull day.

More Britomart Boards

Britomart, Auckland. April 2009 Ajr

I find something unexpectedly fascinating - poetic almost - about the juxtaposition of all these lovely 'soft' words with the brutality of a construction site at Auckland's Britomart development. Love it love it love it and took Waaaay mote photographs than I should probably confess to. There's a few I featured a few days ago below...if you scroll down a wee way. Clever graphics.

City Graphics

Auckland April 2009. Ajr

I spent a LOT of time this afternoon photographing these hoardings at a Britomart construction site. Ernst & Young have also sponsored a hoardings art exhibition in the same area (more on that another time) and the whole place is looking colourful and interesting. I like it when construction sites ADD to a city. I might be the only person who thinks so but I do tend to think they do anyway. .... all those forms and textures and shapes and cranes.... I find it all visually stimulating. Factor in words and you've got a real winner in my eyes.

Gallery Graphics

Hot Pink

@

TheNewDowse, Lower Hutt

www.newdowse.org.nz

April 2009. Ajr

The Art of Signage

TheNewDowse, Lower Hutt. April 2009 Ajr

I loved these signs in TheNewDowse - almost artworks in their own right. I was particularly thrilled with the top image - as I opened the door to leave the gallery space, I caught a glimpse of the reflection of one of the artworks for sale in the gallery shop. Too good to pass by. www.newdowse.org.nz

On Sale

MORE

Cool Sale Graphics

Christchurch. March 2009. Ajr

City Graphics

SOL, Christchurch. March 2009. Ajr

One of my favourite inner city poster walls is looking particularly bright and interesting this week. This is one of the walls in SOL Square.

City Graphics

SOL Square. Oct 2008. Ajr

I love this tumble of graphics and imagery in SOL Square - posters competing with city signs.

Good News or Bad?

Cafe D'Fafo, Hereford St., Christchurch. August 2008. Ajr

Catching up

on

The News of the Day

In the Pink

Victoria Street, Christchurch. July 2008. Ajr

It's mid-winter but in the world of retail

Spring is already here

Seasonally speaking that is.

The proliferation of 50% sales everywhere

is a testament to tightened (money) belts

Art & Architecture

July 2008. Ajr.

I love the interplay of geometric architectural shapes and geometric graphics in this little scene on the roofline of COCA Gallery in Gloucester Street.

Cafe Graphics

June 2008. Ajr

An upstairs cafe window.

Christchurch.

I like the way the interior lights take on an apple-like form behind the sign.

Sacked

Ajr 2008

There's just something about rice sacks that always draws me in.

Something comforting and attractive - a bit like teapots.

I find them both very pleasing visually but there's also some other, deeper response.

The Collectors - 3

Some people collect the strangest things – I’m one of them. One of my latest obsessions is perfume tester cards. Not only are the graphics beautiful but if you spray them with the appropriate perfume, you end up with a sweet smelling collection (always important). I gather them in airport duty free shops. It’s easy to pretend that I’m looking for a new perfume because I invariably am (perfume is a weakness); although if I’m viewed on security cameras I must appear dubious as I work my way around the displays looking shiftily over my left shoulder.

A Time for Reflection

Superfino, Melbourne. 2007. Ajr

I was drawn into this terrific little delicatessen in Melbourne after photographing the multiple layers of reflections and graphics that played across its front window.

Window Shopping

Victoria Street, Christchurch, 2008. Ajr

When I go window shopping it’s the windows themselves that I’m looking at, not what’s behind them. I love the crazy graphics on this sushi shop window in Victoria Street – typical of the busy overlaying of text, image, reflections and interior detail that I often photograph. There's just something about that mad tangle of line and colour that inspires me.

Cafe Graphics

Mondo, High Street, Christchurch. Feb.2008.Ajr

With the multitude of computer design options available to today's graphic designers, it is sometimes nice to know that 'the power of the hand' is still being used to convey meaning and mood - ofen more effectively than elaborate computer fonts, clipart and clever software applications. Factor in glass, mirrors, reflections and food and you get a seductive visual layering that enhances the whole cafe/restaurant experience.