Tag Archives: Auckland

Friday flip through the archives: on beach walks and reading the stories of the land

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This seemed appropriate for a Friday flip; both in terms of the current Daily Post theme of textures, and the conversations I’ve been having with Andy from Eye For a Pic about the geology of my hometown (and his), and of these “Shaky Isles” on which I now live.

Zimmerbitch

Waitemata sandstone; the sedimentary rock that forms the cliffs around much of Auckland's shoreline. Photo: Su Leslie, 2015 Waitemata sandstone; the sedimentary rock that forms the cliffs around much of Auckland’s shoreline. Castor  Bay, Auckland. Photo: Su Leslie, 2015

There was a moment, thirty odd years ago, when I considered switching from a social sciences degree to one in earth science — specifically geology. I like puzzles, and it’s always seemed to me that rocks contain all the clues necessary for a really good puzzle — if only one can read them.

Auckland, where I live, is built on around 53 volcanoes, and New Zealand generally is one of the most geologically active places in the world. Our rock formations then, are tapestries which tell of tectonic events on a monumental and destructive scale.

The cliffs of East Coast Bays, where these photos were taken, are comprised of sandstone; volcanic sediments deposited when Auckland was submerged under ancient seas.

Waitemata sandstone, with layers of iron and other minerals. Photo: Su Leslie, 2015 Waitemata sandstone, with layers of iron and other minerals…

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The Changing Seasons: June 2017

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Close up shot of fallen Liquidamber (?) leaf against black background. Image: Su Leslie, 2017

The last leaf. Image: Su Leslie, 2017

It’s mid-winter here; although some days you would be totally forgiven for believing it’s still summer.

Herald Island and the upper Waitemata Harbour, from Greenhithe Bridge. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
As the mist lifts, blue sky is revealed. Greenhithe, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
Rockpool, Langs Beach, Northland, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
Rockpool, Langs Beach, Northland, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
Late afternoon, Hamilton’s Gap, Awhitu Peninsula. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
Sunrise, Greenhithe Bridge, Auckland, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017

Days that began in heavy mist have ended with us barefoot and t-shirt clad on a beach.

Wharf, Hobsonville Point, Auckland, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
Sunrise on a misty morning, Hobsonville Point, Auckland, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
Rowers, Hobsonville Point, Auckland, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
Greenhithe sunrise. From Hobsonville Point, Auckland, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
Bringing in the boats. Hobsonville Point, Auckland, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
Herald Island and the upper Waitemata Harbour, from Greenhithe Bridge. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
Late afternoon, Hamilton’s Gap, Awhitu Peninsula. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
Lone quad-biker, on the beach at Hamilton’s Gap, Awhitu Peninsula. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
Late afternoon, Hamilton’s Gap, Awhitu Peninsula. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
Late afternoon, Hamilton’s Gap, Awhitu Peninsula. Image: Su Leslie, 2017

If there is a theme (or perhaps an obsession) in this month’s photos, it is light. Harsh light, filtered light, reflected light — or just the focus on a single object in the dark.

Close-up shot of arum lily, against black background. Image; Su Leslie, 2017

Arum lily. Image: Su Leslie, 2017

The Changing Seasons  is a blogging challenge hosted by Cardinal Guzman with two versions: the original (V1) which is purely photographic and the new version (V2) where you can allow yourself to be more artistic and post a painting, a recipe, a digital manipulation, or simply just one photo that you think represents the month.

These are the rules, but they’re not written in stone – you can always improvise, mix & match to suit your own liking:

The Changing Seasons V1:

Tag your posts with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons
Each month, post 5-20 photos in a gallery.
Don’t use photos from your archive. Only new shots.

The Changing Seasons V2:

Tag your posts with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons
Each month, post one photo (recipe, painting, drawing, whatever) that represents your interpretation of the month.
Don’t use archive stuff. Only new material!

 

DP Photo Challenge: Earth

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Stripping the earth. Earth-moving equipment sits by mound of scraped topsoil. Site of new housing development, Hobsonville Point, Auckland, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017

Stripping the earth. Site of new housing development, Hobsonville Point, Auckland, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017

I guess I am being somewhat literal in my interpretation of this week’s Daily Post Photo Challenge.

All around my city, topsoil is scraped and carted away, trees are wrenched out and whole ecosystems are destroyed. The land is stripped of its ability to sustain life, ironically to make way for more people who rely on the Earth for sustenance.

Am I missing something here?