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2013-05-16 01:00:32 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

I'm gonna be offline for a while, so apologies in advance for the lack of posts.

And, I've just seen there is a new G+ layout to get used to when I'm back!

See you all on the other side.

2013-05-15 00:30:07 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 19 +1s)

2013-05-14 04:04:50 (6 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

I could not decide which post processing I preferred most on these.  Which do you prefer?

2013-05-13 04:55:41 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 25 +1s)

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower."
― Albert Camus



#DOFMonday  

2013-05-10 09:15:45 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 20 +1s)

Something for #FloralFriday  and for all the mums out there. ♥

2013-05-10 08:30:15 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 17 +1s)

I had so much fun photographing this fungus. Probably would've taken a whole lot more pictures of it if the gravel path wasn't so uncomfortable!



#blackandwhitephotography  

2013-05-10 07:36:43 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 11 +1s)

I had a lot of downtime to kill today while waiting for the locks on my car to be fixed (danged modern cars just aren't built like old times).  It was a great opportunity to take the camera out for a walk at the botanic gardens.

Fungus Side

2013-05-09 08:03:06 (8 comments, 0 reshares, 32 +1s)

The Old Woolshed
I posted a photo of this old woolshed a while back, mentioning at the time that it had been earmarked for demolition.  It was being used to store hay when I photographed it last weekend.  I guess it hasn't quite outlived its usefulness yet.



#blackandwhitephotography  | #newzealandphotography  | #ruralnewzealand

2013-05-05 10:48:34 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 35 +1s)

The Chamomile Flower



Texture by Joel Olives www.joelolives.com 
#textureblendphotography  

2013-05-02 11:03:32 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 27 +1s)

#SilverEfexPro2  | #Photoshop  

2013-05-01 05:47:32 (11 comments, 1 reshares, 41 +1s)

Was very glad to get home from work this afternoon and take the camera out for some quiet time to de-stress.

Pinkalicious





Olympus E-410, ISO 100, f3.5, 1/200 sec, 35mm macro
#pinkcircle  - +lane langmade and +Cheryl Cooper 

2013-04-30 10:39:25 (10 comments, 0 reshares, 33 +1s)

“Beauty is how you feel inside, and it reflects in your eyes. It is not something physical.” 
― Sophia Loren

2013-04-30 07:31:56 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 27 +1s)

2013-04-28 05:30:10 (6 comments, 0 reshares, 19 +1s)

Decided to revisit the toadstool photos that I took last week and wasn't really happy with... at the time.  Tried a black & white conversion on this one and really like the result.  It's funny, I'm usually thinking black & white when I take a photo but with this one I was not.



#blackandwhitephotography  

2013-04-25 06:43:36 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 22 +1s)

"We will remember them"
This ANZAC Day, I decided to visit the local Returned Services cemetery - something I've not ever done before.  Although, I never really got there in the end.  As I was walking through the old part of the cemetery, I noticed various gravestones had poppies stuck to them.  Fascinated, I ended up wandering around discovering the graves of our soldiers who'd chosen to be buried with their families.  It was heart-warming to know that these soldiers scattered outside the Returned Servicemen's area were individually remembered along with their comrades.

Lest We Forget



#ANZACDay  

2013-04-23 10:36:11 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 26 +1s)

East




#monochromeartyclub  | #newzealandphotography  | #Pongaroa  

2013-04-22 09:31:08 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 32 +1s)

Let's Play Vikings!
Makes you wish you were a kid again when you see a playground as awesome as this one - the Viking ship at the Dannevirke Domain.



#blackandwhitephotography  | #NewZealand  | #Dannevirke  

2013-04-21 09:48:37 (8 comments, 0 reshares, 34 +1s)

Of Toadstools and Ragwort
I got a call from my Mum, the other day, all excited about some huge toadstools growing in a paddock on their farm.  So, after my daughter had finished kindy, we wandered out there to go and photograph them.  Didn't really get any shots of the toadstools that I was happy with but when I was walking back across the paddock to the house, I noticed the few stray ragwort flowers were all covered in these moths.  Of course, most of them flew away as soon as I approached but this one obliged and stayed put long enough for me.

2013-04-21 05:31:57 (6 comments, 0 reshares, 19 +1s)

Armenia...

2013-04-12 09:47:43 (12 comments, 2 reshares, 43 +1s)

Pink Nerines


#pinkcircle  - +lane langmade and +Cheryl Cooper 
#floralfriday  - +Tamara Pruessner 

2013-04-12 05:32:25 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 38 +1s)

New Zealand Cabbage Tree


#blackandwhitephotography  | #newzealandphotography  

2013-04-06 01:39:57 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 40 +1s)

I'm finally getting a chance to play with my new Nik Collection software.  This is the result of my first attempt using Colour Efex Pro.


#NikSoftware  

2013-04-03 08:11:53 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 24 +1s)

Locos and Motion


#blackandwhitephotography

2013-03-30 19:27:05 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 8 +1s)

Admit One

So, while +Andrew Caldwell, +Robert Simpson, +Mike Gannaway, and +Simon Cartwright were chasing the sunrise at Clifton beach, yesterday, I was getting ready to hand out these all day.

(Taken with Galaxy S3 and edited with Snapseed.)

2013-03-29 19:13:09 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

I'm so excited!  I got my upgrade to the Nik Collection, last night.  Can't wait to try them out!  However, they're going to have to wait as I have a 60th Anniversay reunion to attend this Easter Weekend.

Have a happy Easter my G+ friends!



#NikSoftware  

2013-03-24 03:45:39 (10 comments, 0 reshares, 44 +1s)

I seem to be on a colour binge, today....

2013-03-24 02:54:20 (10 comments, 1 reshares, 17 +1s)

Hidden Tiger
I'm a bit late for #Caturday  in this part of the world but seeing as there is still a few hours of it left across the Pacific I might as well share this.

My lawn tiger hiding in the jungle flattening my garden.


+CATURDAY! 

2013-03-24 02:16:29 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 15 +1s)

Here's one for the  #pinkcircle  and the pink ladies, +lane langmade and +Cheryl Cooper.

2013-03-21 08:14:36 (9 comments, 1 reshares, 44 +1s)

The secret is not to look back...



#blackandwhitephotography  

2013-03-21 07:20:04 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 7 +1s)

From last month on the Great British Car Rally.  Commuters are dazzled by the line up of cars in the early morning sunlight, as they make their way along the Wellington waterfront near the Te Papa promenade.



#GreatBritishCarRally2013  | #Wellington  | #NewZealand  | #NewZealandPhotography  

2013-03-20 02:30:10 (9 comments, 0 reshares, 51 +1s)

One of the many amazing vistas to be seen along the "Gentle Annie" road between Napier and Taihape, New Zealand.



#blackandwhitephotography  | #landscapephotography  | #newzealandphotography  

2013-03-13 04:09:34 (5 comments, 0 reshares, 29 +1s)

English Rover.



#blackandwhitephotography  

2013-03-09 06:44:16 (5 comments, 0 reshares, 40 +1s)

Euphorbia in high key.


#blackandwhitephotography

2013-03-08 07:20:04 (15 comments, 0 reshares, 51 +1s)

More dandelions.  Sorry.  I can't help it, they enchant me...

2013-03-07 08:55:54 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 15 +1s)

Caught in Your Web


#textureblendphotography  

2013-03-05 03:26:44 (6 comments, 0 reshares, 27 +1s)

Inspired by the beautiful photos of +Lili Ana, although, not nearly as good as hers.  If you haven't already, check out her work!

2013-03-04 09:08:21 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 22 +1s)

For #MonochromeMonday  curated by +Hans Berendsen, +Jerry Johnson, and +Steve Barge with guest curators +Dominique Hilbert , +David Orr and +Martin Heller.


#ScandinavianFestival  | #NewZealand  

2013-03-04 05:46:40 (9 comments, 0 reshares, 42 +1s)

A Rare Beauty
I went out to shoot some flowers in my garden but, sadly, there wasn't a great deal to photograph.  The drought is taking its toll on everything.  The summer just gone is the driest I can recall ever experiencing.  It's been something of novelty not to be rained out but the reality of no rain forecast for yet another month is not so amusing.  It was pleasant to find this little red rose blooming in near perfection despite the current harsh circumstances.

#macromonday  

2013-03-02 03:07:11 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 37 +1s)

90% of my scleranthus biflorus has succumbed to the hot dry weather.

2013-03-02 01:29:17 (8 comments, 4 reshares, 33 +1s)

The dandelions seem to be one of the few things not affected by the drought at the moment.

2013-02-26 03:45:57 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 20 +1s)

A band gets ready to entertain the Great British Car Rally participants during their stop in Napier, the Art Deco city of New Zealand.

#GREATBritishCarRally2013  | #Napier  | #NewZealand  | #newzealandphotography  

2013-02-25 03:28:55 (6 comments, 0 reshares, 27 +1s)

Giant Up-Light
Captured this sunset in the vicinity of Tikikino, last week, while travelling with the Great British Car Rally.  Even though there were no clouds, I loved the giant "up-light" effect.

#sunset  | #NewZealand  | #newzealandphotography  

2013-02-22 09:00:09 (3 comments, 2 reshares, 20 +1s)

Just one of the many characters seen on the Great British Car Rally, this week.

#GREATBritishCarRally2013  | #newzealandphotography  

2013-02-17 02:27:03 (8 comments, 1 reshares, 37 +1s)

Enjoying a nap in the sun

#Caturday  | #blackandwhitephotography  

2013-02-16 03:51:32 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 38 +1s)

It's been a while since I shared something for #FloralFriday  by +Tamara Pruessner.

Experimenting, here, with a slightly different technique in my post processing.


#blackandwhitephotography  | #monochromeartyclub  

2013-02-15 23:03:08 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 20 +1s)

2013-02-15 06:59:15 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 36 +1s)

The Gorge Explorer - Napier to Ashhurst return
This is the Gorge Explorer, one of several vintage train excursions being run as part of the Art Deco Weekend celebrations being held in Napier, this weekend.  Traditionally, these trains are headed by a steam loco but, due to extremely hot dry conditions this summer, a total fire ban has been imposed in several of the districts that the train passes through.  So, this year, Da1431 has been given the honour of hauling the Art Deco trains.  Seen here at Papatawa, southbound towards Woodville.

#Da1431  | #SteamIncorporated  | #SteamInc  
#newzealandphotography  

2013-02-11 05:48:26 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 16 +1s)

Anybody for cake?

My daughter got this toy cake for her birthday.  It was a bigger hit than her actual birthday cake, which she didn't even touch except to blow the candles out.

2013-02-01 10:34:06 (9 comments, 1 reshares, 47 +1s)

Chives flower

For #FloralFriday  curated by +Tamara Pruessner.

2013-02-01 07:56:56 (28 comments, 0 reshares, 51 +1s)

Well, this week I entered the first public photography competition I have ever competed in.

This is the photo I submitted and I'm so excited that it came second in both the categories I entered it in!