Since I last wrote, I have spent a lot of time at the Hikoikoi reserve as I do whenever George (our annual resident white heron) is present. He seems to have made a derelict boat his home for the last three or four years at least.
George on a slow fly by
If you wait patiently and still on the breakwater nearby, he will show himself. Occasionally, if you are really lucky, he will launch himself and do a low slow flight around the basin, to arrive back near his launch point. In this case, I didn’t get him fully in my viewfinder until he was three-quarters of the way round his circuit.
A heavy lifter. The size is revealed by the man standing on its crawler treads.
When I stood up after my session observing George, my eye was caught by a huge crawler crane in the colours of the local Titan Cranes. I diverted past the crane on my way home an indulged my small-boy love of big machines by stopping for a few shots. This particular monster is a Liebherr LR1400/2 capable of lifts up to 400 Tonnes. It has recently been involved in lifting bridge members for the new Kapiti Coast expressway, and is being reconfigured for work at Wellington Airport.
Rainbow disappearing rapidly
My next image was a few days later from Petone foreshore after a night of heavy rain. The rainbow caused me to stop for the shot.
Chaffers marina
Later that day I had lunch with a friend in town who is also a photographer , so we walked around Chaffers Marina. I was attracted to the fresh rain-washed colours and textures of the city behind the masts and rigging of the yachts.
Tanks in alignment
Yesterday I was wandering in the Seaview area and liked the shape and textures of the tanks in the oil terminal.
A near perfect day
Coming back the other way, and a beautiful Wellington Winter day, I paused to construct a nine shot panorama stitch on the road around Pt Howard, beside the oil and chemical pipes that transfer essential cargoes from the ship at the wharf to the tank farm nearby.
Inside the breakwater at Hikoikoi
From there it was back to the estuary where George chose not to reveal himself. The trip wasn’t wasted, though as I caught some nice reflections.
Sandra II at her mooring
The quality of the day is revealed in this shot of recent arrival, Sandra II at her mooring inside the breakwater.
A well-travelled monarch butterfly
Then my phone rang, and it was Mary letting me know that there was a mini-swarming event among the monarch butterflies at Te Omanga Hospice. Overall it was a very rewarding day.
Hi Brian,
Some really nice shots, and especially the panorama. Wish you could send us some of that cool weather, as we’re in the 90s F with humidity to match some days.