Photoshots Blog by Tony Stewart

I forgot to mention yesterday, I saw a very odd sight returning from the Mid Canterbury high country. It wasn’t till afterwards, driving through Mayfield, that I realised quite what I had seen earlier. At first I thought I had just seen a large cat on the roadside at Peel Forest. Yet the Panthers Rock cafe reminded that this area has been famous for nearly 10 years for the mysterious sightings of a large, lone, black cat.

http://web.mac.com/rebeccalang/Strange_Nation/NZ_Media.html

Well, I can’t claim to know what this animal is. But whatever it is, I think I have just seen it. Bigger than a domestic cat, but not as large as a big dog, it had a large tail, and was jet black. I saw it bounding along the road verge just up from the Peel Forest motor camp.

Not everyday you see something like that huh?!

On different note, here is a panorama taken at Mesopotamia, looking up into the Rangitata headwaters (before it rained!).

Not your usual destination for a holiday weekend, but a trip to the High Country this Queen’s Birthday was a welcome break away from holiday traffic and urban comforts. We headed to Mesopotamia Station – thanks to Mel and Sue Prouting for having us stay in one of their farm cottages.

The house took a while to warm up, but once roaring, the fire was the centrepiece for the weekend. Without a TV, and with largely wet weather, I did manage some time for photos. I’ll share some here with you.

We spent a bit of time reflecting on the pioneering nature of life in the high country, and just how folk managed it all those years ago. First settlement was around 1858, with Samuel Butler the first permanent resident in 1860. These guys worked hard, and lived without many comforts we take for granted today. ie insulation & electricity!

Well worth the trip, and a stunning part of New Zealand.

Last night was a neat occasion, being the graduation of five students taken into the inaugural First Foundation scholarship scheme in 2006. I have shot for the Foundation since then, and has been neat to be involved with such a positive social force.

The First Foundation vision is;
‘to assist academically talented and financially disadvantaged New Zealand students to achieve their potential through tertiary education and to prepare them to positively influence and benefit their communities’.

Given a lot of doom and gloom in the news, it is magic to see some poppies managing to reach for the sky. Well done Lee, Ruth, Erin, Phillipa, & Alicia.

First Foundation 2006 CHCH Class - Graduating May 2010

Was shooting a family group on Saturday up on the Port Hills. I had just finished, was heading back home, when I couldn’t help unpack my camera again. Despite the search & rescue teams and Police presence (still looking for the missing motorist off Dyers Pass Rd), the day couldn’t have been any better. There were a lot of people out and about, and I thought how lucky we are having this right on our doorstep.

You have to love Canterbury in autumn. Funky colours, moody skies, vivid sunsets….

Except cropping, everything is 100% in-camera. Quite neat huh?!

Have just managed a weekend away down south, which was a Mothers Day / Birthday treat for my wife. Was a magnificent break, that was just spent relaxing.

Based in Queenstown, we drove the short journey to Glenorchy, where the lake flooding of the last week was still obvious.

I always enjoy looking about the NZ high country and love Central Otago with its rich pioneering history. Seen here are the ruins of the Glenorchy Scheelite Battery (~105 yrs old, mining a tungsten based ore largely for armanments during WWI & WWII).

Generally speaking, if away with family I do not take my camera. Murphy on the other hand I think was a wise man, and was correct in noting the sights you see when you haven’t got your gun (or camera). As usual, in trying to separate work from family, I end up scurrying about borrowing a camera – in this case my wife’s point and shoot. Maybe the lesson is to always carry it afterall. So much for trying to keep work and pleasure separate!

Lake Hayes

Nothing to do with photography, but a lovely little reflection that I came across on ANZAC Day. In fact, I was so taken by it, I went back last week to photograph what I saw.

Left at my local war memorial in Halswell, was a small bunch of handpicked garden flowers, loosely tied with a handwritten note written on a piece of scrap corrogated card. The writing may not be clear from the photo, so I will transcribe the passage here.

“To the everlasting memory to my beloved friend (named) killed in Faenza Italy aged 20yrs by machine gun fire while attached to a Gurkha patrol. Fondly remembered by (named, with address). Lest we forget.”

NZ troops fought at Faenza late in 1944, yet 66 years later the memory of losing his mate is still strong for this elderly serviceman. I was very moved to read this, had a tear in my eye.

A big weekend you might tell! Today was the Great NZ Bridal Show at Addington Raceway. Robyn Cliffe has again organised a brilliant event, co-odinating dozens of industry suppliers in one space. Was great to catch with with many existing client couples, and to meet many prospective couples. It was a big day, and can be quite intense – I hope you all managed to get the information you need without too much sensory overload. If not, don’t forget we’re here to help. Just call / email.

Photoshots stand.

As part of ongoing work with Te Mana o Mareikura, I photographed their outstanding performance at the Waitaha Senior Regional Haka Competition, on Saturday at the Town Hall. Spine chilling haka and waiata, combining raw energy and youthful enthusiam. A privilege to be part of – thank you.

I have finished a busy summer on a really high note. The flipside of the cool autumn evenings in April, is the low light at dusk that is just MAGIC to play around with.

Also with 23 in the bridal party, Tracey & Mike’s wedding was big wedding. But with Hummers, & 2 Chryslers we were no force to be reckoned with!