Ararata

Taranaki, NZ, Aug 2014: The country primary school is a rarity these days in New Zealand- at least operating ones are. These shells of former early childhood education dot the landscape- such as this school at Ararata in South Taranaki. Closed in 2000- as most country schools were around this time- Ararata school still stands, the target […]

Inhospitable

Hawera, South Taranaki, NZ, 2011: The final days of the old Hawera Hospital (1925-2012). Demolition was already well underway with at least half the complex already gone. I rigged a compact digital camera onto the hot-shoe of my DSLR to capture on video the state the place and what I was taking photos of- plenty of […]

House on the Hill

Rural legend says this house was transported to it’s spectacular hilltop location sometime in the 1980’s. Allegedly the farmer who owned the property, had intended to renovate the house and make it the family home. Apparently though soon after the building was in place, the couple separated and the man was left to bring up […]

The Watchtower of the Plains

Manaia, South Taranaki, NZ, August 2012: The Manaia Redoubt- constructed around 1880 on the site of the former pā Te Takahe- was the response by the local armed constabulary to the passive resistance of the Parihaka chief, Te Whiti, and his followers. The original wooden watchtower (35 feet high)- blown down in a storm and […]

The Dome of the Rock

Jerusalem, November 2005: As a holy city for Judaism, Christianity and Islam, Jerusalem has always been of great symbolic importance. Among its 220 historic monuments, the Dome of the Rock stands out: built in the 7th century, it is decorated with beautiful geometric and floral motifs. The Dome of the Rock is located on a […]

Mother Earth

At the fringe of this neglected community garden area, there was a strange new-age prayer circle thing. I didn’t find it peaceful, inspirational, meditative or any of those positive attributes- just plain weird, kitsch, humorous, tacky and kind of creepy. This “amphitheatre”, inspired by something called the Vortrovia Vision, is apparently called an Amphenium. Wow, […]

Hands Up

Whanganui, New Zealand, 2011: My nephew Mostyn surrenders- to the camera. Handprints of some 6000 people – from newborns to elderly – form the ceramic work Handspan, which now stands as a homage to peace within the area where the Rutland Stockade and Pukenamu Pa once stood. This Peace Sculpture was dedicated to “the promotion […]

A Mansion Has Many Rooms

According to local legend, this mansion house was transported to it’s current hilltop location in four sections, sometime in the 1980’s. Allegedly, the farmer who owned the house and property, had intended to renovate the mansion, making it the family home. With spectacular 360 views of the surrounding countryside, it’s obvious as to why. Apparently though, soon […]

4 Years

My blog just had it’s fourth birthday- and somehow I forgot about it. These photos were taken on a very cold January afternoon in 2004. There had just been a severe blizzard, but it didn’t stop me trudging around Manhattan in the snow- ending up in Battery Park at dusk. The plan had been to get the ferry out […]