Nature's balance

Some Waikato farmers are expecting a drought this summer after a very wet winter. Lets hope it's not like the 2007 / 2008 season in Karapiro area as shown in this image.

Detours in place in Te Poi

Water creeping across  entry road to Te Poi

Heavy rain causes Te Poi Road closure.

Te Poi Road is closed after tarmac left hanging after rains causes soil to collapse.

MPDC Staff discuss damage to Te Poi Road after todays heavy rainfall.

Life in the dark

My experiment with torchlight.

Entered: Five way club photographic competition. 

7.5/10  A classic flower image and it works well for it’s simplicity. Perfectly lit and technically very well handled but a bit cliche.

These competitions are great for extending my technical skills.

Local historical images

Hidden away for many years in my father's black box was a collection of black and white photographs with many of the faces of people I do not know. Some with smiles, but most with expressions that induce a desire to move through the image's surface as if encouraged to get in the photo with them. Who are these people?  Why is this moment in time and space captured?  What is their connection to my father that they are stored protected for many years. Is there, if any relationship to me? All these questions revolve in my thoughts. With my local community in the planning stages of celebrating our centenary including a book, I find myself again looking at those faces. Are they the people who have walked the localities I have? Are they the labourers who have built structures not only for their use but for those of their future the now current residents?

With a little research, some locals have recognised their parents and grand parents, while a few other faces are yet to be named. All gathered, we think for a sports workday in or around the 1917-1930's.

Smoke gets in your eye

I find that when I am testing an aspect of photography new to me, I loose all track of time. This has especially been the case when investigating a smoke trail project. The surprise are the many differing images that emerge within the smoke compositions.

bovine
© Esther Bell 2011

call
© Esther Bell 2011

smoking koru
© Esther Bell 2011

 

Hunga Hunga Hall

Out on Alexander Road between Te Aroha and Waharoa the Hunga Hunga Hall sits waiting for a new owner.

Hunga Hunga Hall
© Esther Bell 2011

Okoroire Community Hall

Each year another rural community hall is affected by the transformation of small farms with more people, to large farms and less people. Coupled with this migration, is our willingness to move about within larger concentric locations expanding our view of what community is. All this culminates in the demise of these once seemingly iconic structures. It is my hope to capture these buildings in the area before they completely disappear.

Okoroire Hall Dec 2010
© Esther Bell 2010

Okoroire Hall Removal Mar 2011
© Esther Bell 2011