See them all at once
Look at thumbnails of all the photographs
from this country.
Each picture was made with the Agfa
ePhoto 1280 digital camera.
Auckland
Auckland is the largest city in New Zealand and spreads out form the
seaport and city center out over the surrounding hills. My first experiments
with my ePhoto camera led me around the city taking in the sights.
Auckland Greenhouse
Auckland Bench
Auckland blue doors
Auckland Stone Beauties
Kelly Tarlton's Underwater
Experience, Auckland,
Kelly Tarlton was a groundbreaking undersea explorer on the level of
Cousteau. After 20 or so years of planning, Kelly opened the Underwater
Experience in Auckland with the goal of recreating Scuba-diving for anyone
woh came to visit. He believed that most aquariums didn't give the visitors
the feeling of being in the sea. To achieve his goals he dreamed of transparent
tubes directly through the huge aquarium tanks. Since no one had ever tried
this he had to build it himself. The work paid off. Wallking through the
pedestrian walkways with sharks, rays, and uncountable numbers of sea life
floating around you in 270 degrees abouve your head is truly wonderful.
Kelly died in the 1980's but he is still a very reverred person throughout
New Zealand.
Crayfish
Turtle
Kelly Tarlton Underwater tunnels
Tunnel2
Shark 1
Shark 2
King Penguin
Paihia
Paihia is a seaside town three hours north of Auckland on the north
island of New Zealand. When the country was colonized by England Paihia,
and the nearby towns of Waitangi and Russell played important roles in
the relationships between the local Maori culture and the interloping Westerners.
Today, Paihia is a summer destination noted for it's fishing, sailing,
and scuba-diving. The economy is driven by tourism, and to a lesser extent
by fishing. Arriving from New York city I was especially surprised by the
friendlyness of the locals. Everyone says hello and is more than willing
to help you with anything from the best places to eat to helping you get
a local doctor.
This was the first serious amount of time I spent with the ePhoto 1280.
I had lots of fun using the LCD to compose the photographs, and I was inspired
by the light and openness of the land. I'd go out at 4pm and walk around
town enjoying looking at the lines and colors. Lots different than New
York City.
50 Sky
25 Arrows
Arrowpost
Paihia Tree and Light
Paihia Tree and Light 2
Building and Sky
Danni in window
Dive Deck
Divers
Pahia Dive Staff
Fire Reel
Strand 1
Strand 2
Urchin
Waitangi Reserve, Paihia
The Waitangi Reserve, a few kilometers north of Paihia, was designated
in the 1930s to commerorate the siging of the Waitangi Treaty. This treaty
was an agreement between all the chiefs of New Zealand's Northern Maori
tribes, and the United Kingdom. The Maoris accepted Englands protection,
while being assured of maintaining their local rule. The treaty also halted,
for several years at least, conflict between the English immigrants and
the indiginous people.
The reserve preserves both the house where the treaty was signed, and
several Maori buildings, war canoes, and artifacts in the museum. Adjacent
to the reserve is a 7 kilometer walkway through the local mangrove, an
important natural resource for the local fishery and bird population.
Waitangi ferns
Forest
Stone and Grass
Mangrove Walk 2
Mangrove Walk 3
Maori War Canoe
Waitangi Face 1
Waitangi Face 2
Russell
When Western shippers discovered New Zealand Russell was the first
major port in the North Island. Whalers, traders, and the like based their
operations in Russell, which became a very busy port. Eventually, the town
became known as, "The Hellhole of the Pacific" due to the preponderance
of visiting sailors to indulge in recreational activities that broke many
of the ten commandments.
Russell today is a sleepy port town, and popular destination with sailing
craft from around the world. My impression of the town was heavily influenced
by the hundreds of boats. Still working with abstracts, the different craft
provided plenty of subject matter.
Bay of Islands
Blue Tables
Funnel 1
Funnel 2
Funnel 3
Lifering
Old Boat
Russell Police Station
Long Beach Shells
Rotorura
Rotorura, when you say the name of this Nort Island town around New
Zealand, locals faces scrunch up and they make the universal expression
of having experienced something smelly. In fact, Rotorura is the land of
smelly mud. An active volcanic reigon, Rotorura is dotted with innumerable
vents spewing sulphuric gas, boiling water and interesting hisses and spurts.
But those same aspects also make the area fun. You can trek, drive, boat
or fly to active and dormant volcanos, dip yourself in hot springs, or
shower in thermally-heated water at the local hotels and guest houses.
So once you get used the the smell there's lots to do.
Rotorura is also host to a number of Maori activities. Perhaps a little
touristy, but home to lots of history, the Maori population is happy to
introduce tourists and local alike to dance, culture, food and war rituals.
Read, The land of smelly mud - Bus
rides and volcanic activity
Geysers
Mount Tarawera
Just outside Rotorura is the dormant volcano Tarawera. Just a smoking
mountain until 100 years ago, Tarawera exploded along a 25 kilometer ridge
in just over three hours, throwing millions of cubic yards of basalt into
the air and creating a mammoth gorge where the mountain once peaked.
Volcano1
Volcano2
Volcano3
Handrail
Volcano Scree abstract