I’m guessing Thursday must be power walking day on the Esplanade. This morning I saw two large groups of ladies power walking their way along the Esplanade and down the beach. One group even had their own music blasting away for inspiration. Just as they passed me Lady Gaga was telling them to “Walk, walk, fashion, baby, Work it, move that bitch crazy.” Then, as quickly as they had arrived, they disappeared off down the beach, into the sun, striding confidently and with purpose on the wet sand. #lovindunners#majesticdunedin#johncaswellnz
The Dunedin Salt Water Pool is closed at the moment for the winter season. Currently it’s been invaded by sand and seaweed from the winter storms that have been hitting the coast recently, however come October when it reopens, it’ll be sparkling at a wonderful 28 degrees Celsius.
This morning I was following the light beyond point as the waves broke near the pool walls. Access to most of the pool area is blocked off however fortunately the owner and top dog at the Long Dog Cafe allowed me access beyond the barriers. #lovindunners#majesticdunedin#johncaswellnz
It’s a stunning morning for walk along the sea wall today. A little chilly in the shade, but it is winter after all. I was doing just that this morning, only the tide was still going out so I was having to do some wave dodging to get the angle I wanted on this photo. The tide wasn’t out enough to safely stand on the rocks or beach so I was having to scramble back up the steps whenever a sizeable wave broke! #lovindunners#majesticdunedin#johncaswellnz
What else can I do on a day when Italy won the European Championship for the second time by beating England 3 – 2 on penalties at Wembley this morning (Sunday UK time) but include something Italian. Why not celebrate with your favourite pasta recipe and bottle of Peroni tonight for tea! #lovindunners#majesticdunedin#johncaswellnz
My current project I’m calling From The Esplanade – 30 Images In 30 Days. The goal I’ve set myself is to photograph St Clair’s Esplanade every day for a month. Today’s photo is day 12 of 30. Although I’m only aiming for 1 photo a day, often I end up with extra images and so today I’ve posted a few extra images from the first 12 days that didn’t get published. Enjoy.
Black and grey is a popular colour to be wearing on the Esplanade today. With the All Blacks in town to play Fiji tonight at Forsyth Barr Stadium, even the bitterly cold southerly wasn’t keeping groups away from the Esplanade to get a pretest meal. Personally, I was there to get a shot of what is left of the poles. There’s only four or five of them left these days however every time I see a photo of them it seems to be taken a dawn or dusk with a long exposure. I wanted to get a photo that was something a bit different and capture an alternative view of them. #lovindunners#majesticdunedin#johncaswellnz
The best way to sum things up today is messy. However, if you like a good synonym other words to describe the weather hitting the Esplanade could be chaotic or disheveled. The gales have been hitting the city all day, the rain got heavy this afternoon and there’s snow in the forecast tonight. It reminds me of the William Blake quote; “In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy.” #lovindunners#majesticdunedin#johncaswellnz
There was definitely ice and snow somewhere this evening if the wind coming off the Esplanade is anything to go by. The wind had that bitter, ice cold feeling it that seems to cut right through you. The sun had just disappeared down below the hill, throwing the whole Esplanade into shade and with it a temperature drop down to around 6 or 7 degrees. Best stay somewhere warm I think! #lovindunners#majesticdunedin#johncaswellnz
A touch of very light drizzle started to fall as I was wandering around the Esplanade this evening. The smell of wood burning from a log fire somewhere near by filled the air, a few businesses shut for the day as the lights flicked out while a steady stream of people casually came and went from Salt Restaurant. All the while traffic headed home at the end of Tuesday. #lovindunners#majesticdunedin#johncaswellnz
There was a strange, funky light on the Esplanade this evening. At the same time last week it was 3.7 degrees, tonight it was a massive 18 degrees. That’s unheard of Dunedin in July and a whopping 15 degrees temperature shift. Venturing along the footpath there was a very ominous feeling in the air, almost as if something catastrophic was going to happen. I really wouldn’t have been surprised if the sky had opened up and a UFO had appeared. Maybe it was the calm before the storm? Strange days in indeed! #lovindunners#majesticdunedin#johncaswellnz
I spent a couple of hours enjoying the surrounds of the Esplanade over the weekend. By the time I reached the roundabout on the corner of Bedford Street and Forbury and Victoria Road there was already a tranquil feeling about the place. The one thing to be said for the area surrounding the Esplanade is that it’s a wonderful place to walk, no matter what the weather. There are options to walk the local streets that populate the community, you can explore two completely different beaches, take in the Esplanade on the water front or completely give up and treat yourself to a coffee and a tasty bite from one of the restaurants and bars. On this occasion I decided to make the most of seeing the ocean, still, calm and looking very tranquil, if not a tad cold.
And so to Monday. I awoke at six o’clock in the morning to an extremely keen wind. Daybreak had arrived quickly and outside the wind sounded cold and looked worse! I decided to postponement my morning photowalk on the Esplanade till the afternoon in the hopes the weather might be a bit more tropical. Ten hours later I parked my car, stepped out on the footpath and carefully checked my trusty weather app. It read, currently 3.7° but feels Like 0°.
There seemed a delightful stillness to Dunedin over the weekend. It was the kind of weather that was perfect for enjoying the outdoors. So, I went for a walk on both Saturday and Sunday mornings to see what the world was offering. I walked for some distance and eventually I end up at the Esplanade. There I found the restaurants and bars doing a brisk trade and a scattering of people strolling in their own time along various parts of waterfront. The busiest spot by far though were the steps to the beach which judging by the wet footprints had been frequented by many surfers already that day and judging by the car park, more were likely.
I don’t often hear about people talking about Moonrise but, there it is, hanging a full 4 degrees above the horizontal line out in the Pacific Ocean. With today being a full moon I went in search of full moon myths and theories. What I discovered was that apparently the full moon makes you crazy, aliens inhabit the moon, the moon controls fertility, the moon is a hollow space craft, man never landed on the moon, the nazis had a base on the moon and my personal favourite, a rabbit dwells on the moon.
Midweek on the Esplanade in the early evening with the temperature sitting at around 8 degrees (water temp is 11), a light wind blowing, the surf a messy and the Salt Water Pool is closed. It all adds up to a fairly quiet spot. Thankfully, the foods great at the local restaurants and the light is awesome. #lovindunners#majesticdunedin#johncaswellnz
The days all get longer from this point onwards! Monday was the winter solstice here in NZ with Dunedin having only 8 hours 39 minutes and 11 seconds of daylight on the shortest day as the sun was at it’s lowest point in the sky for the whole year. This is the popular Catalyst Restaurant here in Dunedin which is open for breakfast. If you get the chance, try the waffles! #lovindunners#majesticdunedin#johncaswellnz
Late last month before autumn officially ended and winter began, I went on one last search for some autumn colour. There’s still some last pockets around the city however in general the trees are pretty well bare now. Fortunately around Queens Garden in Dunedin I found a few trees the still maintained a hint of the autumn colour palette. #lovindunners#majesticdunedin#johncaswellnz
Into The Shimmering Light Wandering finding curious and creative views as of Ōtepoti I amble down each charter’d street.
This is one of my favourite beach/surfing photos. I haven’t spent much time down at the beach recently, I really should change that. With this image I was fortunate with the timing. The National Surfing Champs were due to start that morning and I was following the light and making my way across the rocks at St Clair. As I did so one of the major female contenders for the Open Section just happened to launch herself into the surf at the same time. I kinda like the end result. #lovindunners#majesticdunedin#johncaswellnz
Names Etched Time Wandering finding curious and creative views as of Ōtepoti I amble down each charter’d street.
This is the old Railway Station at Sutton in Central Otago. I went on a search to find out more about it’s history but sadly I came up rather empty handed. All I can tell you from my google search is that if you go inside you can read names and initials of soldiers who served in the First World War, carved as they left for the front. Also, the station it’s self is only 5 kilometres from Middlemarch, 10 from the Sutton Salt Lake and only a few minutes away from the Orchard Sun Club, a Naturist Resort.
Lights In This City Wandering finding curious and creative views as of Ōtepoti I amble down each charter’d street.
This is George Street in Dunedin where the main shopping area is if your after fashion and other such items. I liked the idea capturing the buildings with a bit of glow coming from shops while the early evening sky lights up with a bit of colour.
Is Tyler Stent a local Dunedin artist? I always assumed he was however it recently occurred to me that this is a piece of information I should know for certain. I know he has had art on show at the The Artists Room on Dowling Street and you can find more of his work on Carroll Street (Ralph Hotere mural) and at the cafe the Morning Magpie on Stuart Street. Which is your favourite?
Any guesses what year the Jetty St overbridge was built? When it was opened it replaced the old Jetty to Vogel Street overbridge that spanned the train yards here in Dunedin. The original bridge was made of Port Chalmers bluestone and was built between 1883 and 1886 for horses and carts then later vehicles like cars and tracks. It was eventually demolished after the new Jetty St bridge was built. So, what year was that ….. > > > ….. the year was 1977, #lovindunners#majesticdunedin#johncaswellnz
Intersections have a lovely metaphor about them. They can say so much about the human qualities of life and choice, particularly if they remain empty and devoid of human activity. In this image, the two elements that I really think pulls the scene together are the mist & rain, along with the tyre tracks. The entire story of the scene comes together with the mist, the rain, the tyre tracks which are tied into the lovely metaphor that the intersection brings. For me, this is another long stare about life.
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?
The Hy & Mum (Day 16 of 30)
