Canteen

Remember the implosion poster I produced a few weeks ago?
No?
Scroll down a few blogs and you will find it - go on, do it now. Have another look.
And what is Canteen I hear you ask? Canteen is a national support group for teenagers and their siblings with cancer. I have had an interest with this group for many years, especially when I worked in Oncology. The interest continues today.............
I know the Manager of Canteen here in Christchurch - she used to work with me many moons ago in Oncology. We sat over a coffee ~10 days ago and I proposed the notion of selling copies of this implosion poster with a significant percentage of the proceeds going to Canteen, but that I didn't really know where to start or who to approach. The rest is history - she knew just who to talk to and a meeting was held yesterday with the powers at Radio Network NZ (whose building it was that imploded).
The outcome is that a limited edition of 100 framed prints is to be produced, each signed and numbered and these will be promoted via the airwaves, radio websites and Facebook. Some were purchased at the meeting. The radio folks loved it and feel that it will sell quickly, especially amongst the people who used to occupy the old building.
Why am I telling you all this? Two reasons.............
1. To support Canteen (www.canteen.org.nz)
2. To give you an early opportunity to purchase one. It may be your only opportunity!
Contact either me or the Christchurch branch of Canteen, or the Radio Network website when it gets up there (will take a week or so). I'll endeavour to update you with details later.

Image Size: 1010mm x 380mm
Plain glass
Black frame
Cost:  $295

A Quick Trip to Oz

Blimey, I started to write a blog three weeks ago, but - as per usual, life intervened.
Now where was I? Juliet (daughter #2) had made the wise decision to move from her tiny flat in north Melbourne to an older but much larger and nicer house a few kilometres away in the same suburb. It was a task she couldn't really manage on her own and as she had very little in the way of support over there, I chose to be the good Dad and go help her.
What neither of us knew at that time was that Juliet (who is a Production Manager for a film company) was to be totally involved in a three day shoot at exactly the same time as the shift. Poor Julz didn't know what to do - or say, or which way to turn.
"Get over it" says Dad. Hire me a truck with a sack barrow, and then get on with what you have to do!!
I did get her shifted basically in the one day I had the truck (a modern Mercedes - very impressive!) but my knuckles were dragging on the ground and I learned that I wasn't getting any younger (denial).

After finishing off last minute jobs on the last day, I cleaned up and jumped on a tram into the city for a well earned coffee before getting the bus to the aiport and home. Whilst in the CBD I captured these two images on my mate's new Canon G12 - Melbourne has some great architecture. It is one of my favourite cities.

Enjoy your new home Julz and Shea.

The Green Room

So what is the significance of an old red and yellow truck, I hear you ask? A good question...........

This is one of the 14 images displayed in my latest exhibition which opens tomorrow - Monday 10th September 2012.
The exhibition is at The Green Room cafe in Princess St, Addington, Christchurch.

It is an eclectic collection of images - mostly new, a mixture of colour and black & white. A little bit of everything.

Come and have a look whilst enjoying a coffee with your friends.

Oh, yes - the truck. I love this image. It always makes me feel happy - and that is a good thing. It was in a scrapyard of old trucks in a wee town called Jerome, in Arizona, USA. Time stopped for me here as I rummaged around these old big trucks photographing for hours. Rust is not an issue in this part of the world.

Good Memories - The Arrowsmith Range

This image may have been in a previous post, but who cares - it would have been a few years ago!
I am currently preparing an exhibition of my images for a cafe in the 'new' city - 14 all up.
In an endeavour to be frugal and recycle some of my unsold framed images, I have taken the matted images out of old frames in order to reuse the frame. One such image was this one of the Arrowsmith Range looking up the Cameron River.
This country brings back so many good memories. It is a good solid 5-6 hour walk from the carpark up to the CMC's Cameron hut.
One of the first trips was with my big brother and his longtime climbing friend Jim (and their wives). Us three guys attempted Mt Couloir - this was one of my first climbs with crampons - and it showed. High up in the couloir I hadn't taken a dozen steps when I tripped on my crampons. The acceleration down the couloir was fast, but Jim held me with a good belay.
The next trip up the valley was with a good climbing mate, Dennis. We were both still teenagers - just from memory. I recall I met Chris at the same time so we must have been. I have photographic proof! Dennis was a newly trained school teacher who had had a sudden rush of whatever to his brain and decided he needed a career change into the army. I vividly recall sitting atop an Arrowsmith peak pleading with him not to join up. But to no avail - join up he did and soon after he became Rachael's godfather. We then departed NZ to work overseas. Eighteen months later I received an aerogram from my mother telling me that Dennis had been killed in Singapore when an army airdrop landed on him.
The last time I was up the valley - I am ashamed to say - was in 1986. At 0400 one starry morning we all stood outside the hut and watched Halley's Comet - the best view I ever had of it.
Whilst I may never climb any of those big mountains again, the Cameron Valley is still a strong attraction. One day soon...........................maybe!
Oh and yes - my exhibition will be at The Green Room cafe in Princess St, right next to Jason Gunn's Whitebait TV. Come and enjoy a caffeine fix.

Now You See It, Now You Don't - Version 2

I have worked some more on the image in the previous blog and have now come up with this photographic poster version. It is all in black and white - and gray - to reflect the weather of the day and the sombre occasion.

Poster size is 1010mm x 380mm and is available for sale as is or framed. If you are interested please contact me jckiwis@ihug.co.nz

Now you see it - now you don't!!

Sunday 5th August was a busy day - a memorable day in fact.
At 0800 this day, New Zealand was to witness it's first ever building implosion. I'm not one for destruction but this, I felt, was worthy of recording. Yet another of the city's buildings to go - on this occasion in dramatic fashion.
On the Saturday I rigged up my tripod to securely sit atop my 2 metre ladder. Despite the media reports warning the local populace not to go into the city to view - rather watch it on TV later - a real Tui 'Yeah Right' moment. Thousands converged into Latimer Square for the spectacle. And Chris and I were there - and most of my photographic friends too. The camera set up on top of the rig with me perched way up there too. A few test shots to check the exposure etc and all was ready. No doubt we would hear a warning siren for such a dangerous mission. Alas at the appointed moment a faint dribble of sound drifted across the park, unheard by the majority of spectators (much like the new tsunami warning sirens recently installed along the coastline).
The initial explosion was frightening to say the least - almost every orifice relaxed instantly! Deafening it certainly was. The adrenaline surge was instant. I managed to fine the shutter button and hung on as the building shook, windows blew out, and after a few seconds it sagged and began its swift journey to the ground.
We cried.

Hagley Park

Hagley Park has been an integral part of the city since its foundation over 160 years ago. We have a lot to thank our forefathers for.
Many of my childhood and adolescent years were spent playing soccer and rugby in this park. Soccer was my true love but I was forced to play rugby at school. So it was rugby during the week and soccer at the weekend. I doubt there was a rugby or soccer pitch that I didn't play on in both North and South Hagley.
Interestingly, it was in north Hagley Park - and playing soccer, not rugby - that I incurred all my footy injuries - one broken leg and two broken arms!
Best of all was the fish and chip shop at the beginning of Riccarton Road just by 'Nancy's' pub (no longer there) where you could buy 3d worth of chips (~2-3 cents to you youngies) after the game.
And then in later years whilst working at Christchurch Hospital, I ran around both parks every lunchtime - sometimes clockwise, sometimes counterclockwise, sometimes a figure eight - any variation to stave off the boredom (whatever that means!). This daily ritual continued for a great many years. Nowadays, Chris and I walk it occasionally.

Over the last few weeks I have been wandering the park in the frosty dawn endeavouring to capture some images for a client. This tree has always been a favourite of mine in north Hagley. Interestingly it is called the 'Lone Oak' but is a beech tree according to the plaque.

It is not until you look closely that you notice that a great many trees in Hagley Park in fact have plaques at their base commemorating something or in memory of someone. The 'Lone Oak' and its plaque brought back many memories of my playing days and the whole team gravitating to the nearest tree to our playing field. The City Council tried to put a road through north Hagley once - and more recently since the earthquakes, there have been rumblings of utilising Hagley for other purposes.
Leave it alone!!

On Yer Bike Laddie Boy

I've been relatively lame for over three months - the right knee that is!!
X-rays and MRI scan results were not looking optimistic. The Sports Med doctor reckoned I was probably up for a knee replacement - really not good news - the bottom lip was out.
Several weeks ago I got to see the Orthopaedic Surgeon - one of the best I'm told on good authority.
"You're nowhere near needing a knee replacement - there's heaps of cartilige left to wear away yet. I don't really go by the MRI scan - you've heaps of abuse indicated there but it's not that bad. I prefer to go by the plain x-rays which aren't so bad (thanks Rach). But your running days are over - walk and tramp all you like - and get on your bike!"
And so I am.
About the same time as I saw the surgeon, Gloucester Street and Durham Street were opened up to one way traffic. A good chance for a bikeride - but not before a 5 degree frost delayed a planned early start.
I still wonder why we put ourselves through this torture of viewing the inner city as it continues to be 'deconstructed'. The coffee was good though.

This building is on the corner of Cathedral Square (or is that Cathedral-less Square?) and Colombo Street by Gloucester Street. The sad thing is, we can't remember what the building was that abutted this structure - that is so common for the locals. But I did like the impression it left behind on the wall. And the pigeon aloft above maybe provides some hope.........................!!

Moonchaser

I love the full moon.
It took me until I was living in Saudi Arabia, where a fellow Kiwi (and desert 4WDer and astronomy enthusiast) taught me that on the night of full moon, as the sun sets in the west, so does the full moon rise in the east (within minutes). Since learning that, I have been fascinated each full moon and when and where possible, I endeavour to be in a position to photograph it.
And so on the evening of 06 May 2012 I headed for the New Brighton Pier - but was thwarted by the clouds - yet again - this happens so often!
But wait, don't rush off with your bottom lip out, thinking you will have to wait yet another month. Something good might just happen - and invariably it does. It just requires a wee gap in the clouds and some patience!

A lunar month later, this time Queen's Birthday weekend at the beginning of June, Chris and I headed out of town for the day, bound for North Canterbury and a few places we had never visited. The stipulation was that we had to be at the New Brighton Pier by 1644, sunset being at 1700.
We arrived with 15 minutes to spare - a brew was made and camera set up on the tripod. And what happened next - nothing. You guessed it - cloud!! But patience won out again and ~15 minutes later this appeared....................

............ but look, no-one on the pier has even noticed. The next 10-15 minutes were just magic as the moon continued to rise................

There is another reason the moon became important whilst living in Saudi Arabia. There, they  operated on the Hejra calendar - the lunar months. and we were paid at the end of each lunar month. So at full moon, one knew they were half way through the lunar month and it was only two weeks until the next pay!! And in 12 lunar months there are ~354 days (which equates to 12.4 lunar months in the Gregorian [solar] year - bonus!)
There endeth the astronomy lesson - and my obsession with the moon. Until next time.......................!!

Time!!

1251. Remember that time??
The time certainly stopped for this clock in the city on 22nd February 2011 - and hasn't restarted.
My last blog was over a month ago and I had great plans for a number of posts within days of that - even have the images for them. So why won't time stop for me? Maybe just for a little while. The days fly by - am I getting slower? Nah, not me! Is time speeding up? Could be - feels like it! Am I too busy? Probably!
Right, I promise to be a good boy - yeah right!! Watch this space - but don't hold your breath!

Five Star Memories

Those of you who know Christchurch will know the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Well, here it is now - a heap of rubble - not even a shadow of its former self. Although I am personally not one for fancy hotels, I have enjoyed some good meals here. Our son-in-law used to work there as a bar manager and then as purchasing manager. In my formative years (I'd like to think I was still forming!) Victoria Street used to run right through here.
The upper image shows the heap that remains and very soon to disappear, leaving yet another cleared vacant space.
The lower image is ~5-6 images stitched together. The road to the left is Kilmore Street looking east. The road on the right is Durham Street looking south.
The city's town hall is just to the left of the rubble. The verdict is still out as to whether it too comes down - like most of the high rise buildings in the background.
Ho hum.

Frustrated by Technology - and ACC

A typical Monday morning! First few hours sorting out computery things - then out to the workshop to framing tasks. Somehow the header on my blog has minified itself. So what do I do? Than I discover an item on the new blog page that says 'published comments' and there are quite a few there. So I click on these and lo and behold, I find people have commented on past blogs from way back - back into last year - way back. So I do have viewers............!! Thank you for your comments. Somehow I'll have to sort this issue - these issues! Diary note - speak to blog man (aka DW).
And now after 2.5 months of phone calls, ACC have finally approved my claim for a knee injury. now to get the MRI appointment.
The image above was chosen carefully as it seems this is how my mind goes when technology gets the best of me. Must away and plan for a trip into the hills and away from technology as soon as the knee is fixed!!

Crossing the Ditch

It was exactly two years (three for Chris) since we'd flown to Melbourne to see the family. Off we flew on Easter Sunday, the beginning of the school holidays. We were totally unprepared for the cold and rain of Melbourne for the first two days, but then it changed - for the better - with temperatures in the high 20s and blue skies every day for the remainder of the trip. Four days in the Grampians were just awesome. Quintessential Australia - or as we know it anyway! Julz had a photoshoot on during the second week and we were fortunate to be invited along for a few hours to see her and her team in action. It was lovely to spend quality time with wee Shea and see hime loving school - and footy.

Anzac Day

It has become an annual event for many years now.
Jim and Jude, Mike and Danny went over to Ross to wear Peter's medals and Jim's Dad's medals too.
I was planning to photograph the sunrise off the end of the New Brighton Pier (the right day thanks to TPE), but Anzac won. This year the parade was held in Cranmer Square - an excellent venue with ~5000 people there. The Governor General was a busy boy that day, flitting around the country participating in various Anzac events.
The memorial statue in Cathedral Square was replaced by a simple wooden cross, made by the Australian USAR team with materials recovered from the partially collapsed Christchurch Cathedral.
A lovely morning which turned into a superb autumnal day. A reflective day.
I must wear my Dad's medals one year.
My big brother, Barry has posted an interesting Anzac blog with a fascinating reference to family history.Read it at http://barrysinparadise.blogspot.co.nz/

The Local Village

Blimey, you go out of the country for a few weeks and the blog system changes. Here goes.........!!

The day we left for Australia, I noticed the blank wall of the local pharmacy down the road from home suddenly became a whole lot brighter. The gap filler projects are an amazing idea. In time the vacant lots left behind after the buildings were demolished will be filled with new buildings - and judging from the signage, this site will be no exception. In the meantime we are left to enjoy this lovely urban landscape - and it is right over the road from my local cafe!

I loved the subtle advertising in the mural. I missed that until a few minutes ago. Sad boy!!

A Valley Revisited

I've been hankering to wander back up into the Upper Otira Valley for years. It has always been one of my favourite spots to head to. There have been good and bad times up there. I've been involved in several tragic accidents and rescues, climbed the Otira Face of Mt Rolleston with my big brother, plus climbed the mountain by nearly every other route, and when our elder daughter, Rachael, was only a few weeks old, we

















carried her up here in a wee cot and placed her under a large rock
to escape the searing sun that day.
Finally, last week, 'The Lads' annual tramping trip (32nd year) - reduced to renting a bach at Arthur's Pass due to crook knees and feet with half the group - staggered up the valley in perfect weather. One member made it up to the low peak of Rolleston - a fine achievement, whilst the rest of us photographed flowers, keas, and generally put the world to right where the Otira slide used to be. What a huge and significant change there has been in the upper valley since I was last there. All rather frightening this global warming - if you don't believe it, wander up there and see for yourself!

Speaking of Gold

We're still in Ross - that thriving little rural community on the West Coast. Ross started life as a gold town as mentioned in my last post, died a natural death and good folk like my father in law took over as the town's biggest employer for many years.
Now the town is in decline and once again gold is the mainstay. The town used to boast two excellent walkways - one still exists, but the other, which lead up this dam (see image) was destroyed over recent years in the pursuit of that gold, now using modern methods. The old dam was built by the early prospectors and fed the many sluice operations at the time. It is now nigh on impossible to get to this dam - the track is long gone or overgrown, the gorse is thick in the new tailings. The owner of the current mining operation tells us there is still $2,000,000,000 (read two billion) worth of gold under the town!!
Small fry I guess when you think of what it is going to cost to rebuild Christchurch. Or was that the whisky talking??

End of an Era

Ross, Westland.
Back in the late 1800s Ross had a population exceeding 30,000 and more pubs than you could complete a pub crawl still standing.
In 1909, "The Honourable Roddy Nugget" was found in Jones Creek (see image), weighing in at 99 ounces. The NZ government bought it and presented it to King George V as a coronation gift. Subsequent enquires in the 1950s as to its whereabouts, discovered that it had been melted down to gild a royal tea service, but that this tea service could not now be located!
In 1947 Peter Gurr drove his Indian motorbike over to Ross to purchase the local garage. He was soon followed by his new wife Eileen. Three daughters followed, the first in 1950 - Chris, my wife.
In 1968, I first darkened the doorway of their relatively new home in Ross and was duly ushered to the divan in the lounge which I learned was to be my 'room', clearly visible and well away from the 'Gurr Girls'. The rest, as the saying goes, is history!
In September 2009 Peter breathed his last, and poor Eileen was brought over to Christchurch, soon to be put into a rest home, and subsequently into a dementia care unit.
The house was empty, the furniture sold or taken, and memories cherished. The house was put on the market to sell.
And so it did - eventually. Jim and I drove over last week to collect the remaining furniture, cleared out the cupboards, gave the place a thoroughly good clean as only two husbands of 'Gurr Girls' could do! The keys were handed over.
But before we left town we darkened the door of another famous Ross establishment, the Empire Hotel (or Top Pub as the locals knew it) - the Roddy Nugget is reputed to have been the door stop there at one point. Ah, if only the walls of that place could talk. We drank deep in honour of Peter and Eileen - icons of the West Coast was how the owner of the local gold mining operation described them at the bar).
Finally, before locking the door of #31 Sale Street, I went and lay down on that same divan 44 years after I first lay my head. There were some great memories, but now the soul had gone. It was just a house. An end of an era. I shed a tear as I drove out of town.

Musings

Stop the world, I want to get off! Where does the time go?

For the month of February I co-hosted another exhibition out at the Selwyn Gallery in Darfield. I exhibited with my brother Barry (woodcuts) and his wife, Catherine (paintings) - the theme this time "Poles Apart", depicting both Arctic and Antarctic regions, and celebrating the centenary of Scott and Amundsen reaching the South Pole. In terms of sales, the exhibition was not as successful as the one we had two years ago, but then the viewer would need to have a specific interest in polar regions. All three of sold items so we were not disappointed.

I feel a new camera coming on - I have for quite some time, but have been procrastinating. The temptation to go upmarket with megapixels is not there. The thought of going simple with an advanced compact is there but would frustrate me quickly I think. More a second camera for in the mountains maybe when I finally give up carrying my DSLR and getting a sore neck!!

Have sold many of my older lenses and have started to buy new state of the art lenses - which means I guess I'll have to stay in the Nikon market for the time being. I feel the purchase will be soon - I've (almost) made up my mind.

Now, all I need is time! I'm supposedly retired, so who is to blame then??

Beyond the Pass

Those of you who have driven over Jack's Pass at Hanmer Springs will understand what I mean when I say that you cross over into a different and wonderful world as you cross the pass into the Clarence Valley.

We'd only been home from the West Coast for 4 days when we headed off up to Hanmer with our friends for a little more R&R.

Apart from continuing the West Coast theme of reading, coffees, food, vinos, etc - we actually did some exercise and climbed Mt Isobel in searing heat. The next day was a lazy journey into Acheron Station at the beginning of the Molesworth farm road.