Autumn Bridge – Buy or view the Ōtepoti | Dunedin gallery
Autumn keeps drawing me back to the University for some reason, maybe it’s because I don’t spend a lot of time there or maybe it’s just a curiosity to see what’s going on. Either way there are pockets of colour all over the place like this view looking back to the botanical gardens.
St Dom’s – Buy or view the Ōtepoti | Dunedin gallery
Sitting on Smith and Tennyson Street, I always thought that this building was a little bit foreboding, cheerless or even glum. I always imagined that walking the halls in the middle of the night would be a spooky as hell. The kind of place where noises would play mind games. The offical style of the building is referred to as “stripped Gothic” or Gothic architecture bare of the ornamentation. Apparently when it was opened it was praised for being aesthetically striking.
Sea of time – Buy or view the Ōtepoti | Dunedin gallery
The South Pacific Ocean off the coast of Dunedin in stately form of time and tranquuility.
Dunedin Skyline Sunset – Buy or view the Ōtepoti | Dunedin gallery
The Dunedin skyline at sunset after a warm autumn day.
Spotted Shags – Buy or view the Ōtepoti | Dunedin gallery
Here’s a photo from one of my walks along the Otago Harbour. These two spotted shags were having quite an argument over one particular spot on the railing.
To the autumn song – Buy or view the Ōtepoti | Dunedin gallery
To The Autumn Song
Once a season whistling,
To the autumn tune.
On the other path,
And all the colours dance.
From the autumn shadows,
See the peaceful mind.
Southerly Swell – Buy or view the Ōtepoti | Dunedin gallery
When I started walking down the beach, I hadn’t realised just how windy it was. The beach was long, scattered with sand dunes that had taken a beating over the years as the southerly swells hit them. However I saw very little of them. I had left the car, full of optimism and excitement with a long walk along the beach but now that the wind had picked up, my face was full of sand, there was spray coming off the sea and staying upright was a battle in itself. As I looked along the coast, there was something more absorbing than before. It struck me that sometimes when the beach is at i’s most interesting, noone one is there.
Uni clock tower – Buy or view the Ōtepoti | Dunedin gallery
I walked through the University looking for autumn in the city. I wanted to see warm yellows, mixed with oranges, reds, ochre and olive colours. I wanted textures offset with iconic images that could only be distinctively Dunedin. My wants were few as I walked past the many buildings of various ages that make up Otago University. I went over a bridge and through a gate. My eye was caught by the particularly handsome gothic style clocktower, constructed from bluestone with Oamaru stone facings and slate roofs. I crossed the square, turned and found the view I was looking for.
Cumberland Street – Buy or view the Ōtepoti | Dunedin gallery
It was the most annoying part of my day, having to wait for a break in the traffic to get the right view I wanted. I’d been taking in the joy and wonder of walking through a city filled with autumn colour when my eye was caught by a line of green and yellow hues that ran parallel to the road. Unfortunately, at the same time a heavy and never ending line of traffic passed through at precisely that moment. Included in which was some type of a cattle truck that could be smelt before it arrived and long after it vanished from sight it left the smell of silage lingering in the air. Isn’t it a good thing photos don’t come with smells I pondered as the lights up ahead turned red.
Donald Stuart – Buy or view the Ōtepoti | Dunedin gallery
Not long before arriving I had been at the Dunedin Gypsy Fair and having left disappointed, I needed to enliven myself with some autumn leaves. Fortunately the leaves on the trees at Dunedin’s Queens Garden had yet to completely disappear and under the watchful gaze of presbyterian minister Donald Stuart, I kicked a few leaves around in between taking photos. It is autumn after all.
The Beach – Buy or view the Ōtepoti | Dunedin gallery
I walked along the beach, unsure if the day was going to get better or suddenly turn without warning. Not being fully prepared to get soaked (although I never am), yet intrigued by the beach I decided the only course of action was to get closer to the water. This move had proven fatal many times and I wasn’t at all confident that this time would be any different.
At The Dock – Buy or view the Ōtepoti | Dunedin gallery
I found my way back to the harbour where a container ship was at anchor. The day was bright and clear, the water was still and a nearby sign reflected off the water while the shadows of the dock lay in contrast. I looked at nothing much for a while before deciding to take my leave.
Autumn At Otago University– Buy or view the Ōtepoti | Dunedin gallery
I emerged at the University to find long shadows stretching across the courtyards, filling most of the spaces with a cool air that comes just before the onset of winter. The sun was still warm, yet the temperature in the shadows dropped sharply. I found a set of stone steps leading up to one of the lecture theatres, watched the autumn colours on a nearby tree and enjoyed the olden day charm that comes from being around buildings that were constructed in the 1880’s and have been lovingly maintained.
Harrington Point Military Complex – Buy or view the Ōtepoti | Dunedin gallery
The next day I found myself wondering through a very different set of architectural features. I had ventured down the peninsula past the villages of Macandrew Bay, Broad Bay and Portobello through Ōtākou and on to Taiaroa Heads. Having carefully parked my car at Harrington Point, ensuring it was almost nearly out of the way of any traffic that might pass by, I spent a captivating afternoon wandering, tripping and scrambling through an abandoned military complex. It seems the complex which was constructed on Harrington Point in the 1890s was built amid panic and fear that the Russian Empire might invade, which of course, never happened.
Purakaunui Bay – Buy or view the Ōtepoti | Dunedin gallery
The next morning I headed around the harbour. Following the main road that snakes its way along the shoreline from Dunedin to Port Chalmers. Then, heading over the hill that looks down to the harbour mouth I soon found myself enjoying the vista that looks out down to Purakaunui Bay. It really is the most tranquil and peaceful place to waste away the day in the sun. The hillside surrounding the inlet is filled with homes of all shapes and sizes. Some are old, some new but all are loved for the splendid surroundings they sit in.
Dunedin Exchange, Harbour & Town Belt – Buy or view the Ōtepoti | Dunedin gallery
I’d been walking for some time. Having dodged scooters, bikes, skateboarders and runners in the afternoon sunshine, the wind was now picking up. It was the type of northwest wind that typically rockets down that Harbour and hits Portsmouth Drive at the end of the harbour with a great rate of knots. Before turning back to the car, I took in the view of the city from across the water.
Dunedin’s Salt Water Pool – Buy or view the Ōtepoti | Dunedin gallery
This photo is a revisit back to the last day of summer, it seems a while ago now. Here in New Zealand and in particular the South Island, the Autumn temperatures are certainly taking hold. While the days have been fine, overnight temperatures are dropping to single figures with Dunedin Airport reaching -0.9° a few nights ago. Better make the most of the fine days while they last.
Wingatui Railway Station– Buy or view the Ōtepoti | Dunedin gallery
I spent a good portion of the day exploring walking tracks near the Taieri plains and on the way back I called in at Wingatui Railway Station or Wingatui Junction as it is otherwise known. These days it is pretty much unused as most railway stations are in New Zealand, however, it’s not hard to see how it would have been a busy place in its day. The original station was opened in Wingatui on 1 September 1875 with the present building constructed in 1914 and while it is still standing, the station closed on 13 August 1983.
Wingatui was once an important part of the Otago rail network as it was the starting point for the Otago Central Railway and for many years it was the station that provided service for nearby Wingatui racecourse.
Water of Leith– Buy or view the Ōtepoti | Dunedin gallery
It had been ages since I had been to a fair and while they often come to town on long weekends, I always seem to miss them. I remember them as places of fun and surprise, where you didn’t expect much beyond wasting a few dollars on games where you win cheap prizes, eat food that isn’t good for you while enjoying the surprise of finding something that you never knew existed, yet having seen it, couldn’t live without.
So, when I saw the Dunedin Gypsy Fair advertised for the long Easter weekend, I found myself strangely curious to see what it was like and driving there, even a tad excited. I had even ensured I had cash to spend, a real novelty for me. I think what I was really looking forward to was wasting my money on a game that is impossible to win. After all, there’s nothing like a good swindle to remind you of the value of money!
The Dunedin Gypsy Fair was to run over three days over Easter and it seemed sensible to me to attend on the first day. So, at around midday, in glorious sunshine and without a breath of wind, I parked my car and happily strolled off towards the group of mobile homes that were parked in a circular formation in the distance.
Well, I was there for all of five minutes, three of which I wished I wasn’t and one looking for an exit. Within 1 minute my expectations had been dashed. I was too old for the bouncy castle, I wasn’t interested in a temporary tattoo or having my face painted and I could tell right away that I could live without everything on offer in the surrounding stalls. Alas, I resigned myself to the fact that I simply am not the target market for fairs anymore. So, I departed by way of manoeuvring between two campers and headed for a pile of leaves somewhere, or maybe even a stream with a nice little waterfall.
No matter how often I see surfing, it still baffles me. It’s one of those sport that seems to get harder the more I watch it and just when I think I understand it, something happens that proves I haven’t got the faintest idea what’s going on. I had been watching some heats from the New Zealand’s South Island Surfing Championships, there was a reasonable crowd gathered along the Esplanade, most of whom where either eating ice creams or happy chatting in the afternoon sun. I tried for some time to think of a description of the waves that were breaking in front of me, but I really didn’t have a clue beyond wet and possibly cold!
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Ōtākou Marae Carving– Buy or view the Ōtepoti | Dunedin gallery
I’ve recently been curating a few collections which has taken me across images from multiple years of work. Some of the images have recently been published, others have not. As I came across images I’d forgotten about, I decided they deserved a repost and some extra air time.
Here’s a photo I took a few weeks ago while I was out and about on Otago Peninsula. One of the many carved posts that sit at the entrance to Ōtākou Marae.
Peninsula Road– Buy or view the Ōtepoti | Dunedin gallery
I’ve recently been curating a few collections which has taken me across images from multiple years of work. Some of the images have recently been published, others have not. As I came across images I’d forgotten about, I decided they deserved a repost and some extra air time.
What sums up driving in New Zealand more than the good old yellow and black winding road sign. It’s such the kiwi way, to link one narrow and winding road to another narrow and winding road with a steep, narrow and winding road.
Mount Cargill– Buy or view the Ōtepoti | Dunedin gallery
I’ve recently been curating a few collections which has taken me across images from multiple years of work. Some of the images have recently been published, others have not. As I came across images I’d forgotten about, I decided they deserved a repost and some extra air time.
The wonderful view from Mount Cargill across to the Otago Peninsula.
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Southern Coastline– Buy or view the Ōtepoti | Dunedin gallery
Here’s a photo I took while walking the Karetai track on the Otago Peninsula. The clouds had just started rolling up the coast covering Blackhead and St Clair. Within an hour, half the city was below low cloud. It’s one of the joys of living on the coast, you get to see the changes in weather patterns.
Also, yesterday you might have noticed some changes happening with the layout here at … from a Small City, that’s because I was making preparations for a few changes in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!
Summer In Dunedin – Buy or view the Ōtepoti | Dunedin gallery
I’ve recently been curating a few collections which has taken me across images from multiple years of work. Some of the images have recently been published, others have not. As I came across images I’d forgotten about, I decided they deserved a repost and some extra air time.
The Dunedin summer isn’t a fictitious phenomenon and here’s the evidence to prove it. Although like Hobbits, it can be fairly elusive.
Purple Toadflax – Buy or view the Ōtepoti | Dunedin gallery
With a bit of time to spare I ventured off the path to get a different view. The day was crsip, clear and warm so pushing my way through the long grass was actually kinda fun. After a short time I stop to look around and found I was surrounded by what I later discovered was Purple Toadflax.
Dunedin’s St Kilda Beach Buy or view the Ōtepoti | Dunedin gallery
I’ve recently been curating a few collections which has taken me across images from multiple years of work. Some of the images have recently been published, others have not. As I came across images I’d forgotten about, I decided they deserved a repost and some extra air time.
Here’s a photo from St Kilda beach that I really love. It’s got all the colours of a traditional summer palette. There’s blues and greens that are close to nature and contrasted with soft pinks and yellows. It’s cool and elegant in an understated way. So much much to love.
St Kilda Beach– Buy or view the Ōtepoti | Dunedin gallery
I’ve recently been curating a few collections which has taken me across images from multiple years of work. Some of the images have recently been published, others have not. As I came across images I’d forgotten about, I decided they deserved a repost and some extra air time.
Earlier in the week I mentioned colour palettes and how the traditional summer colours are cool. In summer, orange is a very hot, warm colour and it can also be very striking and distinctive. Here, the evening sky lights up bright orange as dusk approaches in dunners.
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Summer Boat– Buy or view the Ōtepoti | Dunedin gallery
I’ve recently been curating a few collections which has taken me across images from multiple years of work. Some of the images have recently been published, others have not. As I came across images I’d forgotten about, I decided they deserved a repost and some extra air time.
Here are those cool summer colours once again. I went exploring around the Otago Peninsula for signs of summer. The one theme I kept comin back to was boats. What says summer more than fine weather, the beach and a boat.
#lovindunners#fromasmallcity
Corner of Cumberland and Jetty Street– Buy or view the Ōtepoti | Dunedin gallery
I’ve recently been curating a few collections which has taken me across images from multiple years of work. Some of the images have recently been published, others have not. As I came across images I’d forgotten about, I decided they deserved a repost and some extra air time.
This was a quick city study one winter’s night here in Dunedin focusing on capturing the street lights and car lights on a chilly evening.