Photo Blog

Now it's done!

Posted on 24 January 2019 When I photographed artist Elliot O'Donnell, aka Askew One, with his giant image of Rita Angus on the side of the Dominion Building in downtown Wellington, the portrait certainly looked a bit unusual to say the least. Little did I realise work was only being paused and that it would continue this week. Finally finished on Tuesday, I photographed it again yesterday. © 2019 Ross Collins

Meet the Fokkers

Posted on 23 January 2019 In what must be a very costly problem for Alliance Airlines, its Fokker 70 VH-NKU (at left) was joined in New Zealand over the past few days by VH-QQX when the former became unserviceable and a replacement aircraft (also bringing spare parts) was required to complete the airline's tour charter obligations. However it made for this very unique scene of two F70s on the ground in Wellington at the same time - perhaps never seen before and unlikely ever again. © 2019 Ross Collins

Hitching a ride

Posted on 22 January 2019 Young yachties on a 'learn to sail' course were being given a tow from Seatoun Beach back to the Worser Bay Boating Club as I was passing. © 2019 Ross Collins

Schmoozing

Posted on 21 January 2019 Touted by some as a rising star in New Zealand music, Reb Fountain was mixing the sultry with the upbeat as she performed at Gardens Magic in the Wellington Botanic Garden last week. © 2019 Ross Collins

Foggy farewell

Posted on 20 January 2019 'Seabourn Encore' was being confronted by a wall of dense sea fog on Friday while transferring the pilot to the Centreport pilot boat 'Te Haa' beyond Breaker Bay and Barrett Reef before continuing its overnight journey to Napier. © 2019 Ross Collins

One last look

Posted on 19 January 2019 Artist Elliot O'Donnell, aka Askew One, was making a final check of his giant portrait of Rita Angus on the west side of the heritage Dominion Building in downtown Wellington yesterday morning. Minutes later, his cherry picker had been removed from the site in Bond Street and the mural stood alone facing Willis Street. © 2019 Ross Collins

Short and sweet

Posted on 18 January 2019 Supported on drums by Adam Crawford, Bill Hickman was the first of two acts appearing on the Summer City Gardens Magic programme at the Wellington Botanic Garden last night. But after just 25 minutes, he was bringing his set to a close in a cloud of white fog - far too little from a consummate performer whom the greater proportion of the large crowd in attendance came to see. © 2019 Ross Collins

Because it was there

Posted on 17 January 2019 When this venerable Air Chathams Convair 580 (ZK-CIF, just 62 years young) unexpectedly arrived to threaten my view of the departing Alliance Airlines Fokker 70 at the Wellington International Airport earlier this week, the very least I could do was to photograph it - yet again. © 2019 Ross Collins

Wild welcome

Posted on 16 January 2019 The cruise ship 'Azamara Quest' arrived at Wellington for the first time in a blustery southerly early yesterday morning - weather reminiscent of that when its sister ship 'Azamara Journey' visited last year. © 2019 Ross Collins

Blast from the past

Posted on 15 January 2019 Best known for servicing remote Australian mining towns with fly-in fly-out (FIFO) air charter services, Australian second-tier charter carrier Alliance Airlines flew one of its venerable Fokker 70 twin-jet aircraft into Wellington late yesterday afternoon without passengers for a purpose not apparent at this stage. This may be the first F70 to be seen at Wellington since the King and Queen of the Netherlands used one for their visit in November 2016. © 2019 Ross Collins

What's for dinner?

Posted on 14 January 2019 Gulls were taking a keen interest as divers were emerging from the water at Moa Point at sunset last week. © 2019 Ross Collins

Quality control

Posted on 13 January 2019 The ratio of supervisors to workers was balanced strongly towards ensuring no shortage of oversight as a tiny patch of road was being sealed at the Taranaki Street/ Wakefield Street intersection recently. © 2019 Ross Collins

Anxious

Posted on 12 January 2019 Kev Fitzsimons was fronting Americana exponents Anxiety Club at their Summer City Gardens Magic concert at the Wellington Botanic Garden on Thursday night. © 2019 Ross Collins

Is he or isn't she?

Posted on 11 January 2019 "Polly Filla" seemed a little unsure of something while miming "Colour My World" to open last night's Gardens Magic programme at the Wellington Botanic Garden ahead of the main act - Anxiety Club. © 2019 Ross Collins

It's a jungle in there!

Posted on 10 January 2019 If the Council doesn't attend to the need for maintenance soon, a child could go missing in our local playground. © 2019 Ross Collins

Horses and cart

Posted on 9 January 2019 This magnificent half-size replica bronze horse-drawn chariot greets visitors to the 'Terracotta Warriors: Guardians of Immortality' exhibition at the Te Papa National Museum. © 2019 Ross Collins