Photo Blog

I have been posting an image to this blog gallery daily since 1 January 2022 after previously posting a total of nearly 5,000 images to my first blog gallery from 2007 to 2021. I don't claim my blog images are 'fine art' nor do I consider them to be my 'greatest hits', but are simply drawn from the broad cross-section of images I am capturing from day to day for my own pleasure. Click or tap on any image thumbnail to see the full image, then click or tap on the title to see the full caption and technical image details. Questions or feedback are welcome by selecting the e-mail icon in the menu.

The bird and the bee
Posted on 2 October 2022 The third of my images of the ten bronze pigeon sculptures by Jonathan Campbell, which were recently installed around Wellington to mark the start of successful business enterprises, was captured on the edge of the Whairepo Lagoon in Frank Kitts Park on the Wellington Waterfront. This sculpture is installed in front of the Karaka Café which first invited the '3 Māori Boys' operation to stock its newly-developed Wai Mānuka non-alcoholic beverage (mānuka honey infused with lemon juice and sparkling water with no added sugar or colours), so giving the business an important break. A bee can be seen sitting in honey which is being stirred by the pigeon. © 2022 Ross Collins

Not saying much
Posted on 1 October 2022 My sense of humour was piqued by the juxtaposition of a recent and very creative real estate company billboard and the remnants of a very old example of business signage on a back wall of a downtown heritage building. Designed and built in 1904 as Veitch and Allan's department store in 1904, the building is best known as the premises of the L T Watkins printing and bookbinding business from 1911 until 1990. © 2022 Ross Collins

Echoes of old Havana
Posted on 30 September 2022 Someone has gone to a lot of trouble and not a little expense to erect this poster of the Cuban flag high above Cuba Street in downtown Wellington. The connection of the flag with the distinctly cosmopolitan streetlife below is obvious and while I have noted that the building houses the Floriditas cafe on the ground floor, I haven't been able to establish who can take the credit for this initiative. © 2022 Ross Collins

Just standing around
Posted on 27 September 2022 A ground floor window of the Victoria University of Wellington Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation in downtown Wellington was providing an odd display to passing foot traffic. © 2022 Ross Collins

2/10
Posted on 26 September 2022 Another of the ten bronze pigeon sculptures by Jonathon Campbell installed around the city to recognise various Wellington business enterprises, this is mounted high on the wall of the Wigan Street premises in which Nick Foster and Tim Robinson established the Delivereasy restaurant and store delivery business. © 2022 Ross Collins

Mum and the kids
Posted on 23 September 2022 When this family group came sauntering through the Wellington Zoo while I was there recently, it was providing a scene just as photogenic as many of the more exotic residents. © 2022 Ross Collins

Just one look
Posted on 22 September 2022 I was ready and waiting for the one quick glance from behind a tree that I needed to capture this portrait of a Golden Lion Tamarin at Wellington Zoo. © 2022 Ross Collins

Taking a dip
Posted on 19 September 2022 A pair of native saddlebacks (aka tieke) were attending to their personal hygiene in a creek at Zealandia yesterday. © 2022 Ross Collins

Cavalcade of colour
Posted on 18 September 2022 This profusion of hues can be seen at the Wellington campus of Massey University. © 2022 Ross Collins

Catch me quick
Posted on 17 September 2022 Our flowering cherry tree is now almost completely covered in blossom which means wind will come to destroy it very soon. So photo opportunities must be taken while they last. However it was this single branch, set against a schist wall, that that I selected for this image yesterday. © 2022 Ross Collins

In monochrome
Posted on 16 September 2022 When I looked down on the shapes and lines in this construction site in Kilbirnie, I thought there was the potential for a monochrome image there somewhere. It was only after I captured the shot that I realised this is a suburban motel property being used, like many throughout the country, to house homeless people. I presume the motel is now owned by the government which is now adding more units to accommodate the increasing number of the casualties of its economic and social policies. © 2022 Ross Collins

Taking a pounding
Posted on 15 September 2022 A strong southerly was lashing the French-owned container ship 'CMA CGM Seattle' (and this photographer) as it was entering Wellington Harbour on arrival from Lyttelton yesterday. © 2022 Ross Collins

Little and large
Posted on 14 September 2022 The Swedish vehicles carrier 'Turandot' was dwarfing the Centreport pilot boat 'Te Haa' as it approached the entrance to Wellington Harbour on departure to Noumea on Monday. © 2022 Ross Collins

It's been a while
Posted on 13 September 2022 Looking more than a little worse for wear, the interisland ferry 'Kaiarahi' was returning into Wellington Harbour yesterday morning for the first time since August 2021 when it suffered a serious gearbox failure. Since then it has been berthed at Picton while undergoing repairs. However sea trials commenced on Saturday and, after recommissioning, 'Kaiarahi' will go back into service operating initially as a freight-only service. © 2022 Ross Collins

On top of 'Old Smoky'
Posted on 12 September 2022 The scene was shrouded in smoke yesterday as a unit from the 16th Field Regiment of the Royal New Zealand Artillery was firing the final cartridge of a 21 Gun Salute from the Saluting Battery at Point Jerningham overlooking Wellington Harbour to mark the accession of His Majesty Charles III as King of New Zealand. © 2022 Ross Collins

Signs of spring
Posted on 11 September 2022 Our weeping cherry tree is offering photo opportunities at present. © 2022 Ross Collins

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