Back at Easter I had the pleasure and delight of watching the original 1939 movie the Wizard of Oz. It reminded me that there’s something quite wonderful and charming about watching a movie that was actually filmed on a set with real actors, backdrops that ever so slightly moved, props that wobbled and most of all no overly complicated storyline that seems to be the feature of any modern day classic film. Yes, I must confess to having enjoyed every second of the 101 minutes that Dorothy spent trying to get back home to her Kansas farm with her dog Toto to see her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry. I even found myself quite delighted when she clicked her heels together and said “there’s no place like home.”
@johncaswellnz – Eternity in ripples of reflection. Wandering finding curious and creative views as I amble down each charter’d street. #lovindunners#majesticdunedin#johncaswellnz
This image is all about the ripples and the reflections in the water. What I really liked was the way the wharf and boat were reflected in the water in such a a peaceful way.
@johncaswellnz – And thus I asked the former. Wandering finding curious and creative views as I amble down each charter’d street. #lovindunners#majesticdunedin#johncaswellnz
This is another of Dunedin’s lovely older buildings. Does anyone know it’s history?
@johncaswellnz – As does drop and shadows remain Wandering finding curious and creative views as I amble down each charter’d street.
I was chasing shadows across the Octagon earlier today as the sun dropped from sight. I originally started on lower Stuart Street and tracked the light and shadows as they shifted before ending with this wee scene. #lovindunners#majesticdunedin#johncaswellnz
@johncaswellnz – Because It’s So Wandering finding curious and creative views as I amble down each charter’d street.
Did you know that this building at the time of construction was the tallest in the southern hemisphere. Who would have thought in Dunedin’s quiet little Bond Street. It’s recently had beautiful golden foliage outside it throughout autumn.
This is another visit to the central themes and ideas of emptiness, silence, space and how human activity can be dwarfed by nature. Once again it’s an acknowledgement that even now, there are places where all the white noise of the world can be switched off for a while. Following on from the image I shared last Thursday, everything in the image has been included and excluded deliberately to achieve the feeling I wanted it to invoke when I look at it. It’s another long stare rather than a quick scroll on the screen.
At the moment I’m developing a description and colour palette of Dunedin in winter through single words or short poetic lines. I’d like you to contribute. Using one or two words, describe Dunedin and Otago in winter by commenting below. If you’ve not from Dunedin fear not, poetic winter lines like the one above will help as well.
It suddenly occurred to me the other day that Wednesday was quickly rolling around and I didn’t have anything to write for my blog. Without realising it, I had once again unbalanced myself and spent a bit too much time taking photos while not really thinking about what to write about. This happens to me from time to time, grasshopper brain I think it’s called.
To reconnect with my fascinating weekly insights into life in Dunedin I took a quick glance back over my blog. The intention had been to explore the themes of culture and identity in Aotearoa by investigating if Ōtepoti reflect it’s Scotish roots of Kilts, Haggis and Robbie Burns poetry? Are we a nation still obsessed with Fush & Chups, The Edmonds Cookbook and Hokey Pokey Ice Cream? Do we still have a No 8 Wire mentality? Are these items symbolic of life in Aotearoa or just of an urban myth sold off to tourists who drive on the wrong side of the road and decorate bushes with loo paper?
@johncaswellnz – In the autumn, through the leaves. Wandering finding curious and creative views as I amble down each charter’d street.
This is a visit to my autumn colour palette. It’s based on warm yellow undertones mixed with oranges, reds, ochre and olive colours. It also discovered mixes wonderfully well with textures.
This is more of a romantic notion than an accurate representation of a scene. To me, it’s a personal story rather than a work containing dramatic light or a moment of fascination. Everything in the image has been included and excluded deliberately to achieve the feeling I wanted it to invoke when I look at it. For me, this image is a long stare rather than a quick scroll on the screen. I must have looked at it for a good hour, making sure I completely understood it before finishing it.
This is another image of a theme and idea I’ve been developing and exploring recently. It expands off last week’s images that were called Peninsula Bus Stop with Dry Grass, Scott Hall and Shearing Shed and Load Ramp. All these images are about the relationship between human’s temporary existence within nature. I’ve been looking for signs of human existence that show a temporary nature, emptiness, silence and devoid of human noise. It’s amazing how quiet the world can be when you turn off all the white noise for a while.
This is an imageI took late last year. Its theme is a common one for me in recent times with this kind of work; traces of human life in silence and emptiness. I visit locations on the Otago Peninsula often and I’m always looking how objects connect with each other and the meaning they infer. Here a shearing shed and loading ramp are covered and surrounded in mist while the damp grass extends off the page. There’s a relationship here between man’s temporary residence against nature. “Shearing Shed and Loading Ramp” (2020)
This is another scene I found on Otago Peninsula. As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, I wasn’t out looking for something fascinating or interesting, instead I was viewing through the central idea and theme of traces of human life, silence and emptiness. I wandered around this hall for a while before I finally came across the composition I wanted. Sometimes I find I need to look at objects in multiple ways before seeing the arrangement I want. With this hall, I liked the hints of emptiness and silence that seemed to be present, it has traces of human life but also a tiny sense of drama. It’s very much about that human quality of connectedness and harmony in life. Title: Scott Hall by John Caswell (2021)
I came across this scene while I was exploring Otago Peninsula. I wasn’t out looking for something fascinating or interesting because the problem with that is so many things appear fascinating that it becomes impossible to capture everything the eye sees. Instead, my curiosity was based around a central idea and theme. Others might call it a vision. What I was looking for was traces of human life, silence and emptiness. Personally I loved the connection between the bus stop sign and the seat, the street sign and the no exit or turning sign. The relationship between these elements and the rest of the scene to me seem to suggest a way of life that is forgotten about in the city. Title: Peninsula Bus Stop with Dry Grass by John Caswell (2021)
I’ve photographed the Steeples Of First Church before. Usually it’s in the early morning or late in the evening. However, I’ve been meaning to taken a day time image of First Church for a while. It’s one of those land mark locations here in Dunedin that’s an important part of the city. It’s primary congregation was the Scottish Free Church settlers who first landed in Dunedin in the 1840’s. Plus, it’s got an awesome gothic feel to it. There’s little wonder it’s is regarded as one of the most impressive nineteenth-century churches in New Zealand.
In yesterday’s blog post Autumn In The Inner City I mentioned that after identifying an Autumn colour palette, I then went out in search of Autumn in the inner city. My goal was to find Autumn scene’s that also showed parts of the city. This is an image I found at Otago University with the old University clocktower reflecting in the windows of the Centre of Innovation with a Japanese Cherry tree sits in front.
I was watching a home decorating show the other day. Just why I was doing such a thing I can’t recall however it was one of those shows where a designer is given a hopelessly inadequate budget in which to update a mammoth amount of rooms in the space of only a few weeks. The project, from memory, was started in November and of course the family wanted it to be finished in time for Christmas. When they presented the designer with this timeline and budget, after much rolling around on the floor laughing, she politely told them they were being a tad hopeful and optimistic. This I discovered was interior designer code for not standing a snowball’s chance in hell of getting it done.
To sum things up and skipping to the end of the show, they went massively over budget and apparently two years later the job is still not finished. However, I did learn a few things from this programme. Firstly, I have no understanding how to place furniture in a room. If furnitureplacementdyslexia was a thing, then I’d have it! Secondly, I wanted to start thinking in terms of colour palettes.
It turns out that in home decorating, colour palettes are extremely important and while I wasn’t too fussed about home decorating with delicately placed objects or cushions, transferring a seasonal colour palette into art form seemed a very interesting idea. I thus set myself a mission. To identify a autumn seasonal colour palette and then use it in a photo.
A few days later after much reading I identified my autumn colour palette as based on warm yellow undertones mixed with oranges, reds, ochre and olive colours. It is also offset with earthly brown’s taken from the natural world such as rusts. I also discovered that this colour palette mixes wonderfully well with textures. And so, with my palette identified, I went out in search of autumn in the inner city.
I’ve been out hunting the Autumn vibes around Dunedin recently. Usually I head out into the bush and take in a few walking tracks while listening to bird life. This year however I’ve been more focused on finding signs of Autumn in the inner city and seeing how I can combine the two elements.
Taking photos in the city always feels rushed for some reason, no matter how much time I take. I think it’s the constant flows of traffic and people. For a change of pace I headed up to Ross Creek to watch and listen to the bush. After sometime I found part of a stream where the Autumn leaves kept getting trapped in the rocks before getting swept away. I wander where they end up?
I spent a pleasant morning casually wandering around various buildings that made up the city centre. I’m not sure when, but at some stage I headed through a mall that seemed to have a very interesting structure to it. In it I found this very funky ceiling. It’s outside the vegetarian and vegan deli Let Them Eat Vegan. It’s a very popular locally owned vegan deli here in Dunedin with lots of yummy homemade meats, cheeses, mayos, sandwiches and baked goods. If you wanted to call in and see them here are the details: What’s Good? The Baguettes are outstanding! The great thing is their menu changes everyday so you knows it’s fresh and never boring. Address: Albion Lane, Dunedin, New Zealand 9016 Open: Tuesday to Friday 11;00am – 8:00pm, Saturday 9:00 – 3:00pm
I wandered past the various eating establishments that had an abundance of offers for foot traffic like myself. They all seemed very enticing but considering I hadn’t actually done anything that morning beyond get up, they all seemed a bit lavish. In the end, after wandering in the delicious warmth that can only be provided from the sun on a public holiday I settled for a coffee from a local cafe called Star Fish. Happy and content I went on way.
I passed the morning by ambling about in town along George Street trying to remember where I parked, an event that took a lot longer than I had anticipated. Having left the town centre behind, and not feeling particularly warm, I headed for the Esplanade at St Clair. Upon arrival, with the wind dropping and the clouds breaking I stepped onto the Esplanade in bright but chilly sunshine.
I went for a walk at dawn the other day. Here in Dunedin there’s been a few good sunrises recently so I thought I should capture at least one of them. The great thing about being surrounded by so many hills is that there’s always lots of good options to view them from. Personally, I enjoy the beaches at St Kilda and St Clair. I took this looking over the Long Dog Cafe and Salt Water Pool on the Esplanade as people were coming and going for their early morning dips. It’s not a bad spot to have a coffee and read the paper on a Monday morning.
What’s more Dunedin than the students and their families walking along George Street. The Otago University Students Association organised procession along George Street happens before every Graduation ceremony that is held at the Town Hall in May, August and December.
Yesterday I mentioned how wonderful the Otago Harbour is and a few of the things that make it simply splendid. Well, the Otago Peninsula is just as good. There’s all sorts of tracks and paths to adventure along, old buildings to explore and sights to be seen. If you’re after wildlife, a little bit of preplanning is the way to go but as long as you have good walking shoes there’s heaps to see and do. Even on days like the one above when the low cloud, mist and drizzle take hold it’s a unique experience. It’s little wonder so many artists have used it as inspiration.
One of the best things about Dunedin is the Harbour. It’s simply splendid in so many ways. It may not be the big, grand showpiece that is Sydney Harbour, however there’s something close, personal and intimate about Dunedin’s Harbour. In one day you can see Albatrosses, Seals, Sea Lions, Penguins, go for a ferry ride, go fishing, visit art galleries, undertake any number of water sports, enjoy the many picnic areas, walk, run, cycle and of course enjoy any one of the many cafes, bars and restaurants that can be found at various locations.
Also, if you get up early in August you can have a view like this from the Ravensbourne over bridge as the sun comes up.
This week I’m having a change of pace. No words (well, no more than 26) or travel story/writing. Just some of my favourite creative images involving textures.
I’ve got a number of ideas on how to photograph this small jetty however all of them involve either sunrise or night time. So, I’m having to be patient.
This jetty here in Dunedin is called the Adam Scott Jetty. I did some digging but I couldn’t find any reference to further information about it. It left me wondering who Adam Scott is. The only one I know of is Adam Scott the Australian golfer. Thanks to Google, I am now also aware of an actor called Adam Scott and I now know there are at least 317 (that’s when I stopped counting) people called Adam Scott on Facebook. There are also many more many more called Scott Adam. I also found out that in White Cloud, Michigan there is an annual rodeo held for Adam Scott who at the age of 18 passed away during a bull riding accident in 2002. While it seemed unlikely that any of these Adam Scott’s was the person the jetty was named after, I need to come to some conclusion to satisfy my curiosity.
So, I’ve decided to make and believe the following widely untrue assumptions about the naming of the jetty. In 2013, having been so impressed with Australian golfer Adam Scott’s 2013 Masters win at Augusta, Dunedin residents named the Jetty after him in recognition of his wonderful achievement. The jetty was chosen as a symbol to the famous 16th hole water hazard on the Augusta course.
Smaills Beach is a wonderful location and a really popular beach here in Dunedin. It’s got a good surf break, there’s lots of wildlife and often you’ll find families playing on the sand dunes. Also, it’s a terrific spot for photos like night Aurora Australis hunters or summer sunsets.
Having spent a good period of time in the city visiting something that isn’t there and imaging what the most important building ever lost to Dunedin used to look like, I decided a walk in open space was in order. The most interesting and open spaced place I could think of that wasn’t beyond my lung capacity and would be achievable within 30 minutes was The Flagstaff Track.
It wasn’t soon after I started along the old bullock track up a short but steep walk up to Dunedin’s Skyline that I realised maybe a bush walk would have been more sensible. Before long the manuka scrub gave way to tussock land that stretched over rolling hills into Otago’s hinterland.
To an outsider I’m sure the meaning of The Flagstaff Track is perfectly clear. It’s a track that leads to where the staff of a flag was raised. They would be right of course, however it’s the purpose of the flag that seems to depend on which story you follow. Some definitions indicate that the flag signaled a ship had arrived in port meaning new supplies could be purchased. Other stories tell of when a flag was hoisted on Flagstaff Summit men would flock into the city in the hope of finding a wife.
… from a Small City. My daily musings from Ōtepoti to get you inspired. Read the blog, view the photos, embrace the creativity.
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Larnach’s Castle
