Wandering around Wellington NZ

Wandering around Wellington NZ · 07:21 PM

I spent the weekend teaching in Wellington NZ, and managed to get a half day to shoot a few frames with my Sigma 10-20mm.

Being early winter at a highish latitude (41 degrees), the light was interesting, even if it was around 11am.

So here is a short series.....

The whale fountain at Frank Kitts Park on Lambton Harbour....

and the whale fountain backlit.....

Maori statue on Lambton Harbour

The diving man - probably my favourite...

Courtenay Place is the eating/enterntainment strip in Wellington, and the NZ film industry is represented nearby. This camera tripod commemorates the industry - particulary after the efforts of the NZ team behind Lord of the Rings

And finally, we had dinner in a bar on Courtenay Place that played 60s - 70s music, had interesting decor (like these flattened brass instruments) and great food.

One final comment - New Zealanders are polite, helpful friendly people - a great place to visit if you get the chance (this was my 4th visit). I regret I couldn't stay longer

Cheers

JMR · 06-09-2009, 07:37 PM

Some nice shots. I really like the diving man and did not know what he was doing. I was captivated by the light surrounding him and his posture, as if he was striving to absorb the sun.. It made me wonder. Some things are best left unsaid.

MattC · 06-09-2009, 08:47 PM

A nice series Chris - the winter sunshine really gives these something extra.
BTW - odd to see clear blue skies in Wellington too!

roentarre · 06-10-2009, 01:26 AM

Some very fine images in deed! Good photography especially in the first one and 6th shot

MoiVous · 06-10-2009, 05:28 PM

Originally posted by roentarre

Some very fine images in deed! Good photography especially in the first one and 6th shot

Thanks James - I liked number 6 too, but the on camera flash let it down a bit IMHO. Tried it in landscape the first time and it introduced a very distracting shadow - a lesson for using a wide angle lens me thinks!

Originally posted by MattC

A nice series Chris - the winter sunshine really gives these something extra.
BTW - odd to see clear blue skies in Wellington too!

Strangely, we had a sunny day before the rain & clouds on the weekend. I agree that winter sunshine/sky has a very appealing quality and I try to catch it when its there.

Perhaps we need sunshine to beat off the winter blues.....

Originally posted by JMR

Some nice shots. I really like the diving man and did not know what he was doing. I was captivated by the light surrounding him and his posture, as if he was striving to absorb the sun.. It made me wonder. Some things are best left unsaid.

I walked around this statue a bit and bobbed up and down a bit before settling on this view as the most interesting. I definitely wanted to catch the sun in the image and looking at it again, I see that your suggestion of striving to absorb the sun could be the theme. I feel that a statue and an image often have different stories for different people - so giving titles doesn't always work

Thanks for that comment everyone - much appreciated.

Cheers

**Sailor** · 06-10-2009, 05:30 PM

"Diving Man" is exceptional, in my view.

Jer

mitsilad · 01-16-2010, 04:55 PM

Thanks for the photos and comments about Nz's.
As a Wellingtonian I was interested in the colour of the sky.
How did you get it so blue?
If only it looked good this summer - 2 or 3 days of sun since 24 December 2009. The joke is that we are having a mild winter!

cheers
Graeme

PentX Girl · 01-16-2010, 05:44 PM

A really nice series Chris!

Class A · 01-16-2010, 06:19 PM

Nice series, and I agree that the diving man is the stand out shot. It might have benefited from a bit of fill flash, just a little so that it doesn't destroy the nice rim light effect.

Next time you're in Wellington, let me know and I'll invite you to a drink.

fractal · 01-16-2010, 06:54 PM

What a top lens.. and a great series. Thanks for sharing Chris.

**Rense** · 01-17-2010, 01:57 PM

Chris, great photos from a lens that isn't too easy for many!
I like the first ones, with the blue, blue sky!

MoiVous · 01-17-2010, 03:13 PM

Originally posted by Sailor

"Diving Man" is exceptional, in my view.

Jer

Thank Jer - its at the top of my list and graces my wall at work!

Originally posted by mitsilad

Thanks for the photos and comments about Nz's.
As a Wellingtonian I was interested in the colour of the sky.
How did you get it so blue?
If only it looked good this summer - 2 or 3 days of sun since 24 December 2009. The joke is that we are having a mild winter!

cheers
Graeme

Thanks for looking Graeme - and I sincerely meant what I said about NZ - I'll be back!

As for how blue it was in Wellington, there was almost no PP on those images. But it was a very crisp day (about 10C from memory) with that usual Wellington wind. I suspect its a combination of the weather, the low sun, and the lens.

As for winter in summer - can you send some over here?

We've had a fairly warm dry summer so far, with at least 2 heatwaves (in excess of 35C, but closer to 40C most of the time) so far (mid November and last week) and I suspect another one soon.

Originally posted by PentX Girl

A really nice series Chris!

Thankyou for viewing!

Originally posted by Class A

Nice series, and I agree that the diving man is the stand out shot. It might have benefited from a bit of fill flash, just a little so that it doesn't destroy the nice rim light effect.

Next time you're in Wellington, let me know and I'll invite you to a drink.

Thanks for the comments and for enjoying "Diving Man". Yes, he is a little dark, and may have benefited from fill in flash. I think it was centre weighted average metering too, so the background made him a tad dark. I'll keep the fill flash in mind in future - now that I have new flash

As for that drink - I might just take you up on that (due there again next year)

Originally posted by fractal

What a top lens.. and a great series. Thanks for sharing Chris.

Thanks - I appreciate the comments. It is a great lens, and spends a lot of time on my camera when I'm in tourist mode.

Originally posted by Rense

Chris, great photos from a lens that isn't too easy for many!
I like the first ones, with the blue, blue sky!

Many thanks Rense. I was pretty lucky with the blue sky that day - it was the only day I got to do any shooting - and the light was perfect.
I think the secret with this lens is to practice lots and look from lots of different angles (high/low/left/right/portrait/landscape) to find the best viewpoint. Guess I brought that idea from my film days, when you had to stretch that roll of film and get more keepers!

Thanks to all for looking - again - for what I thought was quite an old thread.

Cheers

Class A · 01-17-2010, 07:19 PM

Originally posted by MoiVous

As for that drink - I might just take you up on that (due there again next year)

Sure, send me a PM nearer the time, if you like.

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06-09-2009, 07:37 PM	#2
JMR Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 3,332	Some nice shots. I really like the diving man and did not know what he was doing. I was captivated by the light surrounding him and his posture, as if he was striving to absorb the sun.. It made me wonder. Some things are best left unsaid.

06-09-2009, 08:47 PM	#3
MattC Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Adelaide, Australia Posts: 268	A nice series Chris - the winter sunshine really gives these something extra. BTW - odd to see clear blue skies in Wellington too!

06-10-2009, 01:26 AM	#4
roentarre Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 11,788	Some very fine images in deed! Good photography especially in the first one and 6th shot

06-10-2009, 05:28 PM	#5
MoiVous Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 677 Original Poster	Originally posted by roentarre Some very fine images in deed! Good photography especially in the first one and 6th shot Thanks James - I liked number 6 too, but the on camera flash let it down a bit IMHO. Tried it in landscape the first time and it introduced a very distracting shadow - a lesson for using a wide angle lens me thinks! Originally posted by MattC A nice series Chris - the winter sunshine really gives these something extra. BTW - odd to see clear blue skies in Wellington too! Strangely, we had a sunny day before the rain & clouds on the weekend. I agree that winter sunshine/sky has a very appealing quality and I try to catch it when its there. Perhaps we need sunshine to beat off the winter blues..... Originally posted by JMR Some nice shots. I really like the diving man and did not know what he was doing. I was captivated by the light surrounding him and his posture, as if he was striving to absorb the sun.. It made me wonder. Some things are best left unsaid. I walked around this statue a bit and bobbed up and down a bit before settling on this view as the most interesting. I definitely wanted to catch the sun in the image and looking at it again, I see that your suggestion of striving to absorb the sun could be the theme. I feel that a statue and an image often have different stories for different people - so giving titles doesn't always work Thanks for that comment everyone - much appreciated. Cheers

06-10-2009, 05:30 PM	#6
Sailor Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Coastal Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 25,508	"Diving Man" is exceptional, in my view. Jer

01-16-2010, 04:55 PM	#7
mitsilad New Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Wellington Photos: Gallery Posts: 15	Thanks for the photos and comments about Nz's. As a Wellingtonian I was interested in the colour of the sky. How did you get it so blue? If only it looked good this summer - 2 or 3 days of sun since 24 December 2009. The joke is that we are having a mild winter! cheers Graeme

01-16-2010, 05:44 PM	#8
PentX Girl Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,700	A really nice series Chris!

01-16-2010, 06:19 PM	#9
Class A Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 11,213	Nice series, and I agree that the diving man is the stand out shot. It might have benefited from a bit of fill flash, just a little so that it doesn't destroy the nice rim light effect. Next time you're in Wellington, let me know and I'll invite you to a drink.

01-16-2010, 06:54 PM	#10
fractal Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,547	What a top lens.. and a great series. Thanks for sharing Chris.

01-17-2010, 01:57 PM	#11
Rense Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Zetten - The Netherlands Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,050	Chris, great photos from a lens that isn't too easy for many! I like the first ones, with the blue, blue sky!

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01-17-2010, 03:13 PM	#12
MoiVous Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 677 Original Poster	Originally posted by Sailor "Diving Man" is exceptional, in my view. Jer Thank Jer - its at the top of my list and graces my wall at work! Originally posted by mitsilad Thanks for the photos and comments about Nz's. As a Wellingtonian I was interested in the colour of the sky. How did you get it so blue? If only it looked good this summer - 2 or 3 days of sun since 24 December 2009. The joke is that we are having a mild winter! cheers Graeme Thanks for looking Graeme - and I sincerely meant what I said about NZ - I'll be back! As for how blue it was in Wellington, there was almost no PP on those images. But it was a very crisp day (about 10C from memory) with that usual Wellington wind. I suspect its a combination of the weather, the low sun, and the lens. As for winter in summer - can you send some over here? We've had a fairly warm dry summer so far, with at least 2 heatwaves (in excess of 35C, but closer to 40C most of the time) so far (mid November and last week) and I suspect another one soon. Originally posted by PentX Girl A really nice series Chris! Thankyou for viewing! Originally posted by Class A Nice series, and I agree that the diving man is the stand out shot. It might have benefited from a bit of fill flash, just a little so that it doesn't destroy the nice rim light effect. Next time you're in Wellington, let me know and I'll invite you to a drink. Thanks for the comments and for enjoying "Diving Man". Yes, he is a little dark, and may have benefited from fill in flash. I think it was centre weighted average metering too, so the background made him a tad dark. I'll keep the fill flash in mind in future - now that I have new flash As for that drink - I might just take you up on that (due there again next year) Originally posted by fractal What a top lens.. and a great series. Thanks for sharing Chris. Thanks - I appreciate the comments. It is a great lens, and spends a lot of time on my camera when I'm in tourist mode. Originally posted by Rense Chris, great photos from a lens that isn't too easy for many! I like the first ones, with the blue, blue sky! Many thanks Rense. I was pretty lucky with the blue sky that day - it was the only day I got to do any shooting - and the light was perfect. I think the secret with this lens is to practice lots and look from lots of different angles (high/low/left/right/portrait/landscape) to find the best viewpoint. Guess I brought that idea from my film days, when you had to stretch that roll of film and get more keepers! Thanks to all for looking - again - for what I thought was quite an old thread. Cheers

01-17-2010, 07:19 PM	#13
Class A Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 11,213	Originally posted by MoiVous As for that drink - I might just take you up on that (due there again next year) Sure, send me a PM nearer the time, if you like.