Rocks at Langs Beach, Northland, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
Air, water, earth; the visible elements in my landscape. But the strongest force to shape Auckland and Northland is its largely unseen, but ever-present volcanoes — fire in its most extreme form.
“‘Twas a wild, and stormy, night …” 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.
Days that began in heavy mist have ended with us barefoot and t-shirt clad on a beach.
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.
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!
More rain to come. Mairangi Bay beach, Auckland, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
Green-lipped mussels growing amongst the kelp and shells on rocks at Langs Beach, Northland, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
Although almost all of the (abundantly available) green-lipped mussels we eat in New Zealand are farmed, it is not unusual to see rocks in the inter-tidal zone of many beaches covered with densely packed rows of tiny juvenile mussels. A couple of days ago at Langs Beach though, was the first time I’d seen any grow large enough to take on the distinctive green colouration of the shell from which the derive their name.
Green-lipped mussels growing amongst the kelp and shells on rocks at Langs Beach, Northland, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
I’m not sure why the wild mussels around Auckland don’t seem to grow to maturity; pollution perhaps? Or environmental damage to their ecosystems from so many other beach users.
I hope the Northland mussels have a better chance.
This is the seashore. Neither land nor sea. It’s a place that does not exist.
Alessandro Baricco
Written for Sally D’s Mobile Photography Challenge at Lens and Pens by Sally
Scallop shell found on Langs Beach, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
As the tide comes in. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
