January 22, 2015 … the dying of the light*

New Zealand bush is unremittingly green.

Low flow in the Wainuiomata River

Predominantly evergreen, our bush tends to be less colourful than forest in other countries. I struggle to produce images that adequately share my response to being in the bush. Over the hill in Wainuiomata, the recreation area near the water catchment the bush is leavened with some plantations of pines and gum trees. Perhaps it might offer a different opportunity. I set out to walk the Gum Tree Loop which runs beside the Wainuiomata River and involves just 1.6 km of easy walking.

Gum tree plantation in the Wainuiomata Recreational Reserve

Needless to say, on a track thus named, there are gum tees, and as a result the bush is much less dark and dense than native New Zealand bush. They are taller too, than most local trees, and are very nice to walk amongst.

The clearing

A little further along the trail, there was a clearing  or picnic area that prompted me to try the panorama feature on the new camera.

According to the Met Office on the radio, we were experiencing rain and thunderstorms expected to clear overnight. A few fluffy clouds is all.

Later in the evening, there was that light again. I drove to the top of Normandale Road and used the panorama feature again , this time to capture the grand sweep of the view to the South.

Folds in the landscape

My last shot of the day attempts to convey the last light caressing the folds of the valley at the foot of Belmont as the night came closer.

That’s it for today.

* I omitted to acknowledge Dylan Thomas “Do Not Go Gentle Into that Good Night”  thanks to my friend Cliff for picking it up

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