Photoshots Blog by Tony Stewart

How is this – three suns?!!

Great shooting yesterday with Jacqui and Richard. Given a delayed harvest from such a wet January, we had the luxury of wheat and oats at a time of year normally reserved for fields of stubble.

Just been shown a neat lens on line. Thought it was kind of cool. Canon Super Telephoto 1200mm f/5.6L EF USM Autofocus Lens. For camera boffins, I guess you could use this to photograph insects in tree canopies from the comfort of your arm chair, or watch the neighbour’s telly from a couple of block away. Was still kind of cool I was thinking.

Until I saw the price.

$120,000.00
You kinding me? Actually, yeah.

That’s $120, 000.00 US DOLLARS!!
Try $174,000 in kiwi paeso’s.

Might just keep the Lamborghini on the wish list, & buy a ladder and my own decoder if I wanted to photograph bugs or watch the neighbours Sky channel .

Boy are we lucky to have the CHCH Botanic Gardens. To have the use of such a well kept public space is a credit to both the City Council and their garden staff.

Photos here are from Lauren & Jeremy’s wedding shot on Saturday. To the joy of many Australian guests, Canterbury put on a cracker. Makes a change from the liquid sunshine of January!

Great working with Emma again at Clearwater (Peppers Resort wedding / function co-ordinator), at Gary and Sue’s wedding on Saturday. It was an absolute pleasure to see them have such a magic day, after a long and bumpy lead up.

To have a function co-ordinator helping during the build up, and also being there throughout the day (including photos), isn’t as common as it sounds. Well done Emma!

Weddings in Chch

A special shot for Gary’s Dad. (A keen fisherman unable to make it).

The longest continuously celebrated venue for Waitangi Day is at Okains Bay on Banks Peninsula (or so I am told!). We headed off for the weekend camping. Despite a smaller presence than usual (due to bigger festivities this year at Onuku), it still drew a significant crowd. The museum opens it doors, and most working exhibits are manned. Local Maori paddle traditional waka, and put on a hangi. Naval cadets parade in their whites. Highly recommended for good summer family fun.

Right on cue the kids all arrived – bright, cheerful and wide eyed. A neat experience, especially given Clearview is the first new school in CHCH in 30 years. Within an hour or two of being distributed amongst the new teachers, students were into the routine of stationery, story writing and learning each others names. Imagine that, a school where everyone is new. A really special day for everyone, myself included.

Not everyday a new school opens that’s for sure. Yet in time for the start of the new school year, Clearview School in Rolleston has opened, on budget, on schedule. While kids start tomorrow, today was the official site blessing and powhiri. Neat to be part of.