New Year's Eve in Lights

I'm going to usher in the New Year with a complete lack of restraint by showing of a series of photographs I took last night at (and near) SOL (South of Lichfield) - one of the city's central party scenes. From the balloons and brights lights of the party pill shop (above) to the crowds gathered in the bars at SOL, it was all go.

The Bright Lights

Win Me Over

Every Time

Happy New Year

2009

Happy New Year

The First Day of the Year

Christchurch. Dec 2008. Ajr

This seemed like the perfect shot to mark the New Year

Cool Cars - 32

One Olive Green 1928 Dodge Standard 6 - Spotted outside the Christchurch Arts Centre

Cupcakes - Again!

Christchurch. Dec 2008. Ajr

I've discovered another maker of cupcakes in Christchurch. These pretty little edibles are by Buttercup Cupcakes, who sell their goodies at the Arts Centre Market every Saturday. I don't think anyone ever believes me when I say I'd rather photograph cupcakes than eat them but it's true. There's something almost sculptural about them that I love....and I'm a sucker for all those enticing pastel colours.

Southern Coastline

Waihao River Mouth, Waimate. Nov. 2008. Ajr I love the barren, blue-skied beauty of stony eastern coastline of the South Island. I took this shot at the Waihao River mouth, just south of Waimate a few weeks ago. Most of my other photos were of the whitebaiters but I'm always more drawn to a landscape completely devoid of humans. To see some of the other images from the area click on Waiha0 Marae in the label line below.

Perfection

One Perfect Poppy

Catching the Sun

It's A Sign

Punakaiki, South Island. Dec. 2008. Ajr

Another in the Road Sign collection

Landscape With Red Boxes

Blenheim Road, Christchurch. Dec 2008. Ajr

I couldn't believe my eyes when I pulled in to The Warehouse carpark this morning. I've never seen it look so good - the bright red packing crates, the brilliant blue Canterbury skies, the shimmering pylons, the silver roof next door - gorgeous! And I never thought I'd EVER say that about anything to do with The Warehouse.

Power Plus

Christchurch. Dec. 2008. Ajr

Everything came together to make even the pylons look good

New Life for Old Warehouses

Old Warehouses, Struthers Lane, Christchurch. Dec. 2008. Ajr

This fabulous old brick warehouse is typical of those in the back alleys of central Christchurch near SOL (South of Lichfield) and in Poplar Lane. Many of them have already been revamped and given new life as apartments, boutique shops, studios, galleries, restaurants, bars and cafes. I keep watching this one to see if it will also be re-invented as something chic and useful again....I hope so as these developments have certainly punched new life into central Christchurch. www.sol.co.nz

An Off-Road Experience

Cass, Central South Island. Dec. 2008. Ajr

I can't help thinking that the driver got a little side-tracked. This little car is 'Lizzie' The Bealey Hotel Limo, now a permanent fixture on this old shed at Cass, which is little more than a tiny railway station and a cluster of houses in the middle of the Southern Alps. The Bealey Hotel is a few kilometres from Cass, so clearly someone had a night to remember.

Accidental Art

Christchurch. Dec. 2008. Ajr

I'm a little puzzled by my own (photographic) fixation with cranes - can't explain it - not even going to try. Suffice to say I LOVED this little scene discovered down a Christchurch backstreet in a semi-industrial area. The combination of graffiti with the sculptural forms and colours of the cranes had me shrieking with delight.

Billboard of the Week

Ferrymead, Christchurch. Dec. 2008. Ajr

I love the Kovacs billboards.

This is one of four placed outside the Ferrymead furnituremaking factory and showroom.

www.kovacs.co.nz

Victorian Detail

The Arts Centre, Christchurch, NZ Dec. 2008. Ajr

I never tire of taking photographs of the elaborate details of Christchurch's best Victorian Gothic architecture. This is an entry to the south side of the Christchurch Arts Centre - originally the home of the University of Canterbury (1873-1975), which has since moved to new premises in Ilam.....in the heart of suburban Christchurch. The old city buildings however are still in active use - filled with offices, artist studios, cafes, restaurants, galleries, the Court Theatre and numerous shops. www.artscentre.org.nz www.canterbury.ac.nz

Shoe Shuffle

Shoes by Belgian designer

Dries van Noten

Spotted at Victoria Black, Christchurch

www.driesvannoten.be

StreetscapeNZ - 5

Cuba Mall

Wellington

May 2007. Ajr

Morning Light

A Stretch

Of Shadows

Leaving the Hosta Garden

@

Mona Vale

A Little Piece of England

Christ's College, Christchurch. Dec. 2008. Ajr

With an abundance of beautiful Victorian Gothic architecture like this about, it's not surprising that Christchurch has earned itself a reputation for being 'very English.' This is a peek through the main gate of Christ's College (founded in 1850), one of the city's priciest private schools for boys. www.christscollege.com

Church Corner Architecture

St Peter's Anglican Church, Upper Riccarton, Christchurch. August 2008. Ajr

I love the stony heftiness of this little church in Upper Riccarton. The day I visited to take photographs, the caretaker kindly came across and opened up for me so I was able to take shots of the stained glass windows from the inside as well. The whole place has a story-book aspect to it - huge trees that tower around on all sides, a very old cemetery, gloomy big yew trees, a tranquil interior filled with colour-glass reflections....lovely!

Close-up

Flowering Hosta

A Close Inspection

Leaves like Velvet

Dec. 2008. Ajr