Shadow Play

Auckland. May 2009. Ajr A slightly different take on my love of photographing staircases. I was captivated by the shadows cast by this small sculpture in a friend's home in Auckland. I couldn't resist more photos than I can now justify.

Shoe Shuffle

Purple Beauties

Nuffield Street, Newmarket Auckland

If you're a shoe lover, check out my collection of 'dangerous' heels by clicking on Shoes in the label line below.

An Oldie But a Goodie

Wellington. April 2009 Ajr The sky was perfect blue when I went to photograph this sculpture outside the BNZ building in Willis Street. It's by Christchurch-based Arts Foundation 2003 Laureate Sculptor, Neil Dawson - whose work never disappoints when you're looking for a dramatic photograph.

It's been around for a long while now and Neil's work has changed a lot since this piece. But I still love it. You can see his other Wellington piece, "Ferns" by clicking on Neil Dawson or Ferns in the label line below. Or check out the cool little video about its making at www.ferns.co.nz www.neildawsonsculptor.com

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.

Red Wine - A Composition

Red Wine Glasses

After the Event

Auckland. April 2009. Ajr

More Church Architecture

Oxford Baptist Church

(1881)

Christchurch

Jan.2009. Ajr

Church Architecture Returns

Cathedral, The Octagon, Dunedin. May 2009. Ajr

It seems forever since I presented you with a nice piece of Kiwi church architecture. I think I put it into hibernation when some of my friends started accusing me of 'going all religious.' In fact, my love of photographing churches is a matter of architecture over religion. I'm not religious at all. I just love the extraordinary extravagance of much church architecture - the heft, the bulk, the detail. This the very magnificent St Paul's Anglican Cathedral on Dunedin's Octagon. The Gothic Revival beauty was designed by architect Edmund Sedding and built between 1915-1919. I normally photograph it from the front but there was something very appealing about this hefty side view. www.dunedinnz.com

Imagining the Ocean

Auckland. May 2009. Ajr

The Sound of Waves

Embedded in Shell

Architects of Desire

Only in Auckland's Nuffield Street!

Living Life on the Edge!

Images courtesy SkyWalk, Auckland Am I the only person who thinks this is totally crazy?

It's possible my fear of heights may be colouring my judgement but from where I'm sitting, this just looks like showing off! I hasten to add I have nothing against SkyWalk. I have huge admiration for a company that can encourage people to part with hard-earned cash so they walk around Sky Tower's 1.2 metre wide ring with no handrails 192 metres in the air. I just wish I'd thought of the idea. I was given the opportunity to do this 'walk' when I was in Auckland recently - for free. "It's never going to happen," I told them, thanking them kindly for their generous offer. But I did go up to the viewing deck to watch a surprising number of people willing to hang off a cord and walk the perimeter. I found the glass-faced lift - complete with a glass box in the floor looking directly down into the lift mechanics -challenge enough. That will do me. I'll leave dare-devil antics like this to those who really do want to 'live on the edge.' And if walking around the perimeter isn't thrill enough, you can of course jump off - but Sky Jump is another story for another time. www.skywalk.co.nz www.skyjump.co.nz

The Mean Streets

Auckland. April 2009 Ajr I was so overwhelmed by photographic opportunities in Auckland that I missed a lot of their cool street art. This is one work I did capture however - just off Karangahape Road, where it must be said, there's no shortage of grafitti. I'm contemplating a photographic week in Auckland after I've finished my current mission - the writing of the 6th edition of Frommers New Zealand, which is due for completion August 1st!

My Favourite Auckland Billboard

Auckland April 2009. Ajr

For those who missed it the first time round

My Favourite Auckland Billboard Returns

A Wellington Icon

Wellington. April 2009. Ajr I spent a lot of time photographing architecture when I passed through Wellington in April; but I never found anything else quite as quirky as Mr Bun's baked goods emporium in Cuba Mall. www.wellingtonnz.com

Stairway to Heaven

Christchurch. Jan. 2009. Ajr Remembering blue skied days in Christchurch in the middle of a stone-grey winter! Anyone following this blog won't be surprised to see me featuring another staircase. I'm only slightly fixated by staircases, stairwells and such; and I particularly love the shadows they cast and their relationship to surrounding architecture.

Early One Morning

Mangonui, Northland. April 2009 Ajr The little fishing village of Mangonui is one of those places that changes very little over time - even under the pressures of tourism. When I returned there recently - for the first time in almost ten years, it was almost as I had left it - but for a little tarting up with smart harbourside boardwalks and a few new shops. I could forgive them that. It was 9am when I arrived there on this most recent trip and shops were creaking open their doors, locals were leaning in doorways chatting and this fishing boat was chugging slowly into port. Pretty, pretty, pretty.

Cool Cars - 47

One Bright Turquoise 1938 Chevrolet Coupe - Spotted at McLeans' Island, Christchurch

An Artist's Studio

Christchurch. 2008. Ajr A Privileged Peek Into The Workspace Of Leading Christchurch Printmaker Denise Copland You can see more of Dee's studio by clicking on Artist Studios in the label line below.

Homestead on a Hill

Dunedin. May 2009. Ajr Glendinning House stands proudly on top of Maori Hill in the Dunedin suburb of Roslyn. Built in 1914, this handsome Edwardian gentleman's residence is named after the original owner, successful merchant, Robert Cassels Glendinning, who had it built over a four-year period. Current owners, Sandy Black and Jocelyn Robinson have turned it into a beautiful Bed and Breakfast operation and the two large upstairs guest rooms are the sort of place I like to curl up in and pretend I can stay forever. Jocelyn is a former caterer and she goes to great creative lengths to ensure her visitors leave with fantastic culinary memories. I know I did! www.glendinninghouse.co.nz

Morning Activity @ Strictly Coffee Dunedin www.strictlycoffee.co.nz A Dunedin Favourite And One of Mine Too

On The Wall

Dunedin. May 2009. Ajr

I've made no secret of my love of street art - particularly stencilling - and there's no better place to find that in New Zealand than central Dunedin. So it was with great delight that I roamed the streets of our funkiest southern city recently. I didn't have a lot of time but you don't have to go far to find street art in Dunedin. www.dunedinnz.com

Seeing Red

Christchurch Art Gallery. June 2009. Ajr When I heard about Fiona Jack’s painting on the ugly, poorly-sited car park bunker at Christchurch Art Gallery, I feared I may not arrive back in Christchurch in time to see it. The evidence is here before you – I did! And I love it. The afternoon I stopped by, the sun was darting all over the gallery’s glass façade, creating a separate, reflected dance across the now-red bunker wall work. It added to the whole business for me – all dribbled and scribbled and shimmering. Lickable almost - not that I suppose Fiona Jack would be thrilled to hear that. Jack collaborated with passersby to create the work; they contributed the words – words related to political issues and protest. She describes the end result as “a giant noisy picture.” She wanted the wall “to yell a little” – hence the bright, seering red.

And it turns out I needn’t have worried about missing the work.

A Wall, and Other Thoughts

Acrylic on wood

Is on display on the bunker until later this year.

www.christchurchartgallery.org.nz

Matakana Style

Matakana. April 2009 Ajr

The little village of Matakana near Warkworth, an hour north of Auckland, has gone and prettied itself up - almost too much for my liking, as it's now like a little, uplifted slice of Parnell plonked down in the middle of the countryside. I did however, love their new theatre with its colourful floor rugs and funky designer lighting. That's a nice space.

More Melons

Matakana, Northland. April 2009. Ajr Visual Treats In a Northland Window Ceramic as Opposed to Real

Winterscape

Cambridge Terrace, Christchurch. March 2009. Ajr

Shall I do this one in colour or black and white?

Why not a bit of both?

Porthole View

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Wellington. April 2009 Ajrc I loved this huge round window punched into the side of Level One of the Te Papa building in Wellington. It's a great place to sit and people-watch - or to read the paper as these visitors seemed wont to do. Perhaps they were sick of museums? Seen it all before? Waiting for someone? www.tepapa.govt.nz

Billboard of the Week

Auckland. April. Ajr

One of the Many Excellent

COKE Billboards

I Spotted in Auckland

StreetscapeNZ - 31

Hereford Street, Christchurch

February 2009. Ajr

To see others in this Series, click on StreetscapeNZ in the label line below.

Hillside Vines

Motukarara, Canterbury. February 2009 Ajr

Summer Vines

Marching Down the Hill

At Motukarara Just Out of Christchurch

(A Small Panorama)

Small Moments of Beauty

Winter Roses Cuddled Together Against The Cold April 2009. Ajr

Barry's Provocative Unpublished Minutes - 55

"Now Thrive the Armourers," Inkjet Print 2008.

It's been a while since I brought you a work from one of New Zealand's most revered printmakers - that's the trouble with so much travelling, you lose touch with your favourite things. But here's a sample to kick the series off again. To see others in this series click on Cleavin in the label line below this post. It's worth it!

Beyond the Art Work

Dunedin. May 2009. Ajr

For me, there is often as much to see in an art gallery's architecture and fittings as there is on its walls. So happy happy me when I spotted this gorgeous spiral staircase that curls up the entrance mezzanine space at Dunedin Public Art Gallery - and yes, I did have permission to photograph it. [You see how sensitive I have become after my encounter with the Dunedin casino bouncer :-)] All I really needed to make this a much better photograph, was someone glamourous leaning over the stair banisters. I must see if that can be organised for another time. www.dunedin.art.museum

Floored!

Dunedin. May 2009. Ajr

I'm no big fan of casinos but when I was in Dunedin recently, checking out the Southern Cross Hotel, 'our paths crossed' - given that the hotel and the casino are part of the same building. I was with the hotel duty manager at the time and asked if I could take some shots of the over-the-top ceiling. He said that would be fine, so I returned with my camera and set about capturing the ornate 'gilded' ceiling. I was in the middle of things when I was approached by a very aggressive 'bouncer' who told me to stop and who would not listen to reason. Nor did he care that I 'had permission.' But he was too late. I already had the images I wanted and just to annoy him I stood right in the middle of the entry and took this shot of the rather divine tiled floor. It was one of the photos that I was most pleased with that day - in a perverse kind of way. www.scenic-circle.co.nz

A Deer Little Cafe

Dunedin. May 2009. Ajr

It was all sunshine and antlers the afternoon I discovered the whackily-named Dunedin cafe, Kiki Beware in thehillside suburb of Roslyn. One can only assume that the stuffed deer head on the wall is one of 'Kiki's' relatives - 'giving warning.' Whatever the derivation of the name, it's a cute spot - and an excellent one for people watching. I sat in the armchair in the window, soaking up the late winter sunshine before venturing out into the cold fortified by coffee and an indulgent slice of white chocolate brownie.

Gallery Architecture

Christchurch Art Gallery. 2008 Ajr

How nice to be back in Christchurch and to be able to find five minutes for a quick wander around Christchurch Art Gallery this afternoon. I stopped by specifically to look at Fiona Jack's painted wall on the gallery car park bunker, but couldn't resist a shot of interior shadows and reflections as well. www.christchurchartgallery.org.nz

A is for ART

Dunedin. May 2009. Ajr

Here's another offering from my growing files of Art Gallery Signs.

This one snapped outside the Dunedin Public Art Gallery in Dunedin last week. www.dunedin.art.museum

Waiting For the Lunch Crowd

@ Portofino Viaduct Harbour Auckland www.portofino.co.nz

More Queenstown Vines

Morning Mist

Over Anthem Vineyard

Gibbston Valley, Queenstown

www.anthem.co.nz

Winter Vineyards

Gibbston Valley, Central Otago. May 2009. Ajr

Gnarled Winter Vines

Huddled Under Nets

At Peregrine

In Gibbston Valley, Near Queenstown

http://www.peregrinewines.co.nz/

It's Snowing Down South

Crown Range, Wanaka. May 2009. Ajr

The weather forecast predicted savagely cold temperatures for the deep south this weekend. Personally, I don't know how it can get any colder than when I was there two weeks ago. I drove out to Cardrona, near Wanaka one afternoon and although the sun was shining and the skies were blue, it was perishingly cold. I sat on a quiet road in a rather unlikely subdivision (half developed) and soaked up the total silence. The mountains were covered in whipped cream snow, falcons soared in the skies above and all nearby houses looked as though they had been sealed for the winter. I never saw a single person. Needless to say though, the people at nearby Cardrona Alpine Resort will be rubbing their frozen hands together in delight. The omens are pointing to a bumper early ski season. www.cardrona.com