Six Word Saturday — hosted by Debbie at Travel with Intent
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Month: August 2019
On the bright side …
Raindrop on manuka flower. Image: Su Leslie 2019
The first six months of 2019 were the driest on record in Auckland, and now August is looking like being the wettest — with rain on 19 of 23 days, and more to come.
I’ve stopped worrying about parched soil and the water level in our tank, but I think I might need some taller gumboots (wellies, rain boots, Regenstiefel, botas de lluvia; whatever they’re called in your part of the world).
And of course raindrops on flower petals are rather pretty.
Manuka flower. Image: Su Leslie 2019
Manuka flower. Image: Su Leslie 2019
Friday Flowers
To be a pebble
“A rock, a large piece of rock weathers off a cliff and dives deep into a pool of gushing water. Back washed, It journeys roughly and knocks off other rocks, smashing through the waves as it loses itself in scattered pieces except for its core. That core travels far and wide, it coarsely gets ground by gravel pieces smaller than itself and bullied by boulders all of which it bears up as it withstands the pressure of a distant journey off the shore. At some point, it gets dry and it encounters mud, it gets smeared dirty but the mud doesn’t stick, the rain washes of the mud and it rolls off into the sand. It dances in the sand and dives into the bottom of the waves.
Rising like a phoenix through the ashes, it emerges polished, looking more beautiful than it did when it got edged of the cliff. It rises a pebble, smooth and sleek. Coveted by rocks starting their dive.
To be a pebble you have to run the turbulent tidal race.”
―
Wordless Wednesday
Making progress on the dining chair refurb. First seat cushioned and ready to cover. Image: Su Leslie 2019
Serene
“Nature is fuel for the soul.” — Richard Ryan. Image: Su Leslie
Monday Macro
Tulip: the colour edition. Image: Su Leslie 2019
All-weather crossing
Footbridge at Whananaki Inlet, Northland, New Zealand. Image: Su Leslie 2019
The 400 metre bridge across the Whananaki Inlet was built by the local community so that children living on the south side of the river could attend school, which is on the north side.
Prior to the bridge, children were rowed across the inlet by one of the teachers — not much fun in bad weather. The alternative is a 12 kilometre each way road-trip.
“In black and white you suggest …
“In black and white you suggest; in color you state. Much can be implied by suggestion, but statement demands certainty… absolute certainty.“ – Paul Outerbridge
Friday flora
Pohutukawa leaves; double exposure. Image: Su Leslie 2019
Constant rain and high winds in the last couple of weeks have left many flowers looking utterly bedraggled, particularly the magnolia, camellia and rhododendron flowers I so often photograph.
The most colourful find on yesterday’s walk were the pohutukawa trees, with their mix of bright green, red and bronze leaves. Perfect for another double-exposure experiment! This shot was a bit over-exposed, but I rather like the sof palette of greens and almost apricot shades that resulted.
When you see a chance
Kereru (native NZ pigeon) in a cabbage tree (tī kōuka, Cordyline australis). Image: Su Leslie 2019
Photography often relies on chance — being in the right place at the right time (with the right lens).
I’ve been trying unsuccessfully for years to capture a good shot of the tui and kereru that inhabit our manuka (tea tree), kowhai and tī kōuka trees. I only captured this shot because the tī kōuka berries offer such a feast that the kereru was in no hurry to fly away.
Ragtag Daily Prompt | fortuitous
