White ducks on ice

With the recent cold weather and a continuation of -8C frosts, there is plenty of ice around. The duck-pond down near the Pleasant Point Domain has frozen over. All the ducks have gone except 6 rather tame ones which come when called.

South Canterbury snow, June 2015

We recently had a big snowfall which dumped around one metre on the ski fields. The same storm moved north and caused havoc with the biggest ever flood recorded in Wanganui.

Six days later we managed to get out on an afternoon with  the camera. Below is a selection which have had a little processing.

The Albury area is lower down so a bit of a thaw on.

St Pauls Catholic Church at Albury

The Fairlie Basin from Mt Michael

Fairlie

Just up the road from Fairlie is the village of Kimbell.

Main Road Kimbell house

Kimbell Gallery, not open despite the sign although the artist is on duty.

Old house at Kimbell.

Four Peaks from Mt Michael

The Farm Barn at Mt Michael.

Steel wool fun.

I had the opportunity with the Timaru photographic club to spend a weekend at Moeraki. One of our exercises was to play with flaming steel wool after dark. some spectacular results were obtained. It started off with experimentation to find the best exposure and focus. Cameras on tripods and manual setting used.

A wide angle lens is required and pre-focus using the manual MF focus setting selected. All these shots were at ISO-100.

Shot  details: 10s at f/6.3

 All the remaining shots were at 6s at either f/8 or f/7.1.

So how was the steel wool used?

Firstly, steel wool does burn but will only smoulder when a lighter held to it. For best results, the finest grade (e.g. 0000 grade) works best. Makes sure it is not impregnated with soap - like you would get for cleaning pots and pans in the kitchen.

When it is heated and you blow on it it will spark and burn faster.

A small metal cage, like a cheap egg whisk tied to a piece of cord, swung around rapidly will make it spark and burn for a few seconds. Around 6 -10s is the maximum time for a display of sparks.

After a session at the boulders we went back to the town for dinner and then tried again outside on the street.

The rope holding the metal cage burnt through here.

Two burning cages.

The best way I found to click the shutter was by cable release when the sparks really get going.

After the first 6 seconds, and the sparks had nearly finished, I pressed the cable release for the next shot.

After the steel wool had burnt and sparks flying, you are left with molten iron to get the cage of light around whoever was in the middle.

The only concern was the molten bits of iron spread out and a possible fire. Extinguish all hot spots!

In the above photo there is a blue light stick on the ground. This was used to pre-focus and serve as a guide as the where to stand with the steel wool.

Taiko Landscape

A collection of a few photos taken out behind Timaru overlooking the Taiko Valley. The day was fine but the atmosphere was a little hazy. It was a chance to use some ND graduated filters and other filters. However the results were not all that spectacular, probably because of atmospheric conditions and "operator errors".

 

The following are some of the better ones after a little post - production processing.

 

A nice sunset

Of course Murphy's Law would strike as the following night the sunset was stunning. By the time I realised it was at its best and in no position to get some shots from home. By time I would have gathered up my gear and driven to suitable spot it would have been past its best.

 

Lesson - anticipate and be ready in the right place, it might turnout to great or more than likely average.

NZ Pipe Band Championships Day 2

Day 2 started with the street parade through central Nelson. This lasted for 2.5 hours. During the afternoon the grade 1 and 2 bands battles it out before the displays and finally the march past of bands and the massed bands finale prior to the awarding of trophies to the winners.

(Day 1)

This selection of photos follows the Mackenzie band on this day.

Day 1