Buildings Like Golden Spaceships

Hope

Lit up sign saying "HOPE" from a youth festival in Auckland.

Photography from August

A month inside studying, but a night out on the town. I rarely take my camera out but this is what the night life is like. One of the things I most enjoyed about moving to a digital SLR from a point and shoot was the crazy clarity coming through in my new photos. I just wanted more and more clear shots, no matter what I was shooting. Very low tolerance for noise basically. In these pictures, however, I've stepped out of my comfort zone so to speak and used the camera's highest ISO setting (3200). The result? I'm actually fairly pleased with them - and noise can be used to great effect. For instance, see what you can find. Plus, there is the added bonus of being able to take the photos by hand rather than take a tripod out clubbing.

High Street - The name says it all; by day you can swing into any number of shops and try on a $400.00 shirt, a crazy tie, or just some very precisely torn jeans. You could also sidle up to a cruisy joint like the 2nd floor Rakinos (not photographed), get some lunch or tapas, and chill out on the deck. At night the shops are closed but the bars are open. From the corner of Shortland Street you can dance with the kids at Met&Code to techno, or sit at the window in the stylish Corner Bar with a cocktail. Sitting at the window there is my preferred way of watching Shortland Street.

It's a late one and all of Auckland's youth are out in the street being silly. This guy lay down in front of a van. Way to ruin a good town shirt.

Upper Vulcan Lane - Vulcan Lane is one of my favourite streets in all of Auckland City, but I keep forgetting it continues beyond High Street. Everything up this end is closed now, and empty, quite a contrast with the rest of the area at that time.

O'Connell Street - Around the corner on O'Connell Street is Honey Bar - with an extensive cocktail list, a warm and classy interior, and Auckland's only open-air rooftop bar.

Also, some high heels, girls can't go to town without those!

And as an afterthought: Apartments on Symonds Street

As you can see, the impending due dates for my university study haven't completely put me off photography for the time being! Til next time...

Westhaven Marina

Officially Westhaven Marina is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere according to wikipedia, however the Westhaven website concludes they are only 'one of'. 2,000 berth strong it is home to many sailing yachts which give Auckland its nickname "City of Sails". 

My interest in the area again comes from how it looks at night. Great for night shots over water with reflections.

St Patrick's Square

These shots are from two different nights with my photographer friends. It was freezing cold, and I had to leave for the night because my fingers could not work the camera anymore. This was my motivation to buy fingerless gloves which are proving very useful for night photography.

Enjoy these photos, the square has an interesting light and water feature which is relatively recent; and I can't pass up an opportunity to take long exposures of water!

Location

Stormy Twilight

Twilight is a beautiful time of the day (despite "Twilight" the word being tarnished by pop culture). These two were shot here.

Central Business District area

Sky Tower

Hobson Street

Views of Hobson Street at night including St Matthew's in the City.

Hidden Gems

Parliament Street


Corner of Princes Street and Bowen Avenue


Victoria Park

Auckland's Carparks

Me and another photographer had the brilliant idea of climbing atop some of Auckland's car parks to get a higher vantage point.

Early Morning Under the Hobson Street Overpass

Photos taken from under the Hobson Street Overpass (mistakenly referred to it as Fanshawe Street Overpass previously) early in the morning

Mirror Smooth Waterfall at Lorne Street

I made a stop on my way home to capture these. Using a 30 second exposure the water is flattened, and the waterfall takes on a smoothed, softened texture. The long exposure brings out the colour in the background.