Cranes and Construction

Christchurch. October 2009. Ajr

When most of my female friends wander around the city, they focus on handbags and shoes and fashion boutiques. For some very odd reason, I prefer to wander with my camera, focussing on very unfeminine things - like cranes and classic cars and construction sites. Sometimes I wonder if I suffered a bang on the head as a child - or have my feminine genes been beaten into submission or something? Don't get me wrong - I still like the pretty stuff too but no handbag on earth could make me feel as pleased and thrilled as this crane photo did today. Is that cause for me to worry? For a long time I thought I might be the only person on earth who loved photographing cranes - until I came upon a young English guy one day, photographing the very same crane as me. I had to ask and yes, it turned out he was as fixated as I tend to be. But you'd expect that of a bloke I guess. Oh well...I never claimed to be a conformist and as one male friend likes to quip, I am a cheap date (though it should be noted that he's never had to pay my shoe bill and had he been with me when I went out for coffee last week and came home with $500 worth of new shoes, he may have reconsidered). PS. The recently completed building on the left is the South Island's first Green office block; and the building under construction behind it is the new Christchurch City Council chambers - in what was the old Ngai Tahu-owned Chief Post Office building. Suffice to say it's getting an extensive makeover.

The Architecture of Construction

I photographed this little shed on the construction site of the new council buildings in Christchurch, just across the road from Christchurch Art Gallery, in Worcester Street. It's a classic example of one of those unexpected and arresting compositions of colour and form that most people walk past every day and never see. I am always excited by construction sites - there's so much happening, such a tangle of machinery and materials, shadows and reflections. I was drawn to this simple, 'blocky' little building by its unassuming proportions and the striking blue-orange contrast of paint and sky. And of course.....the crane ...below.....

Turning Construction on its Head

I've photographed more cranes than I care to admit to. It's a weakness. I love their towering forms etched against the sky. Come to that, I love everything they stand for - building, architecture, development, future, progress...... I was admiring glassware in Form at Christchurch Art Gallery last weekend, when I happened to catch a glimpse of this crane across the street on the council construction site - reflected in the glass exhibition shelf. Far too interesting to pass up.

Dressed in Red

Wellington. April 2009. Ajr

Call me easily pleased - or just plain crazy - but I'm never happier than when there's a crane on a busy city skyline. It was an ecstatic moment in Wellington therefore, when I snapped three all hovering over the same red-wrapped building. Simple pleasures! Can't beat them.

Another Crane Fan

Christchurch Art Gallery. August 2008. Ajr

On a fabulously sunny

Canterbury spring day

I was thrilled to discover

That I'm not the only one

Keen on photographing cranes!

Craning My Neck - Again

Christchurch Cathedral Spire. August 2008. Ajr

A nice interplay

of old and new

Art Versus Construction

"Reasons For Voyaging" Graham Bennett. Christchurch. August 2008. Ajr

It's Graham Bennett against the cranes!

A VW With Extras

Worcester Boulevard, Christchurch. August 2008. Ajr

After days and days of rain the sun has come out.

And it was perfect weather for shadows and reflections.

I loved this reflection of high-rise construction on the bonnet of a VW

Had to have it!