Imagining the City - Auckland Photographer - Alex de Freitas - Urban, Weddings Portraits

Rusty and Clint Eastwood - Kawakawa, NZ

2012-01-29T21:08:00.000+13:00

Meet Rusty and Clint Eastwood. I met these two fine gents in Kawakawa during late December after a bit of a roadtrip with Coralee up to Ahipara. It was one of those moments where I'd missed the initial encounter. We jumped straight out of our car and bolted across the road to the bakery. We were hungry as! For what it's worth, the bakery food was average, haha. I still struggle to find a decent snack in Kawakawa. Open to suggestions! But I went back to the car to casually fetch my camera before introducing myself.

These two were just chilling on the main street singing along to Clint's clanky strumming. Obviously, that's not his real name, but when I introduced myself, that's what he said. It took me a few seconds to click...but when I saw the humor in it I just continued conversation as if nothing was even out of the ordinary. Rusty and his ol' mate Clint Eastwood. Haha.

At first I dismissed Clint's instrument as just a small guitar....but closer inspection revealed it was some kind of ukelele. "A tenor uke" he told me in his gruff smoky voice. Clint has been playing his tenor uke for far longer than I've even been on this earth. He was the man. Clint had a great course laugh. I told Clint and Rusty of my newly acquired banjo/mandolin. I'd been having trouble playing it in the conventional tuning, so I'd been experimenting with guitar tunings and stuff. Clint screwed up his face.....insisted I learn the GDAE tuning that it's supposed to be played in. I've been improving too, Clint!

After joking with me that my 'manjo' would be more suited to a big band in the 1970s with a giant brass section than hipster folk music in the 2010s, we parted ways. As always, I offered to email them a copy of the photographs I'd made....but Clint and Rocky didn't have email. "Not many of us care about email up here in Kawakawa" Rusty chuckled. Nor did they particularly care to see a copy of the photo. Clint was more worried that I'd shatter my camera lens photographing his "ugly mug". The lens was fine. the pie was average. And Coralee and I sung to the cheesy Northland radio stations all the way back to Auckland.

Kodak BW400CN, Canon EF50mm1.8ii, Kawakawa, Northland, NZ

Orewa, 0600hrs

2012-01-13T11:12:00.000+13:00

The waves have been pretty good this week. Well, not at the moment thanks to a pesky nor'easter. It's a bummer, because we are pretty busy. OK, crazy busy working through our first weddings of 2012 (and the last one of 2011!). That's cool though, because I was forced to get up early to go for a surf. I was indeed rewarded for my efforts. I watched the sun rise and spent a good two hours surfing perfect peeling Orewa Bar with only one other SUP out with me. It's been a late start to summer, but here's to more mornings beginning like this one!

FujiColor PRO400H, Orewa Beach, Jan 11, 2012.

December...

2012-01-10T14:44:00.000+13:00

December. Oh! December. Coralee and I took a sweet little getaway to Ahipara once we'd completed the final wedding of 2011. I couldn't swim because of a recent tattoo, so like any good husband...I took photos of others swimming. Before Annabelle and Matt's wedding in Taupo, I managed to catch the first few floats of Taupo's Santa Parade. What else.....aha....Christmas with the Johnstones! Joshua and Isaac stoked with their new radio controlled cars and then all the kiddies crashed out watching movies that evening. Christmas with my side of the family is the very last image. Oh, and there's a few 2am shots of Tauranga Harbour thrown in there for good measure. Enjoy. Alex

Various cameras, Kodak BW400CN, FujiColor Pro800Z, December 2011

Federal Street

2012-01-01T22:21:00.000+13:00

I've been back to this exact spot on Federal Street multiple times. You see, I've got this particular shot in my mind and I'm really trying to make it happen. I suppose the streets aren't as predictable as that though. So, just in case I don't ever make the photograph I'm really hoping to make. Here's one that comes close! First post of 2012. Happy New Year everyone!
Alex

Canon EF 50mm f1.8II, Ilford FP4, November 2011.

Atop a red rock, Phil and Tanya are engaged...

2011-12-21T09:32:00.001+13:00

It all happened in a flash. Early Sunday morning. Coffee. An impromptu drive to Muriwai in the rain. A winding track up to Tanyas favourite red rock with a view of the ocean. Then appeared a break in the wet. Next thing, Phil was down on bended knee. I knew it was coming but was not yet prepared. The Olypmus Trip 35 snapped away. Some focussed correctly, others not. Some exposed acceptably, others not. All a part of the fun and mystery. Then we celebrated. Two of our bestest friends in the world....engaged! The ring was incredible. These two are incredible. The perfect match. Five minutes later there was fish and chips and champagne and berry cider under the shelter of umbrellas as the rain resumed. Congratulations Phil and Tanya!!! We are soooo stoked for you guys!!! Coralee and I are so glad that we could be there with you to witness this special moment on this adventurous day. Let's adventure together forever :-) Married adventures. haha.

Alex

Olympus Trip 35 - Kodak BW400CN - Dec 18 2011 - Muriwai NZ.

Trip 35 life...

2011-12-15T12:30:00.000+13:00

I love my Olympus Trip 35s. I've probably owned at least 8 of them. They keep breaking and I keep finding new ones. Hands down my favourite point and shoot to carry around and shoot dusty overexposed snaps while out and about...

I got a new Trip 35 a few months ago and loaded up the film. But we got busy and I forgot it was there at all. I actually couldn't for the life of me even remember if there was a film still in there or not. There's no way to tell once it's shut! Nevertheless, I took it out over the weekend to put it through it's paces. Inevitably, the first roll of film through any new camera ends up taking a lot of silly shots and self portraits and snaps of Coralee. I just want to get it through there to find out whether the new camera is exposing as it should at all. Turns out, this Trip? She's a goodie...

Plenty of films stacked up waiting for a post here. Just trying to find time. So enjoy. Get out there with your crappy camera and see how it turns out. My favourites are the super overexposed dusty scratchy frames that should probably just be throw-aways. Why I love the romance of the Trip 35.

Alex

Olympus Trip 35 - Kodak BW400CN - August-December, 2011.

The clan...

2011-12-01T21:50:00.000+13:00

Spent an afternoon messing around in the park with the nieces and nephews last month. Talk about a handful :-) I managed to stop them all for a moment or two to snap a few frames on the Mamiya 645 Super. FujiColor PRO400H. Straight out of the camera...

Surf's up...

2011-12-01T17:48:00.000+13:00

Me. Proud new owner of a true 10 foot+ logger. Posing. Hanging out for this wind to change. Ready to go at the drop of a hat...

Mamiya 645 Super, FujiColor PRO400H, By Coralee, Our house, December 2011

Meet John Musa...

2011-11-22T10:48:00.000+13:00

John must have thought I was crazy. He found me lying flat on the ground, covered in leaves and filth, trying to get some low angle shots of this awesome little pedestrian bridge at the bottom of Onewa Road near Onepoto Basin. He asked if I was a photographer. I suppose that would make sense....I was the only around person silly enough to spend an hour photographing curved plywood from all its different angles. I suppose that makes me a photographer. That or just particularly dedicated to embarking on extreme architecture explorations with a camera. John's little dog was called Nigel. How cute is that!? haha. I had driven all the way across the Harbour Bridge this day to check out the little bridge. Would you believe that John had too!?? No kidding! John's dad is always going on to him about how much taxpayer money this bridge cost to make. How much of a waste it was. We both disagreed. The bridge was a pleasure to stroll. It's not just something you walk across....but as we did....you can hang out, explore, enjoy. The curves of the wood are fantastic. I'm definitely taking my skateboard next time to get some plywood barrel time!

It was one of those days where I was struggling to get motivated. Work has been slow at home so I set out to clear my head for a bit. I'm glad I met John and Nigel. John was the most cheery, positive person I've met all year. He was stoked on life to the max. He encouraged me to create. To spend time doing what I love. To spend time with my wife and dog. To live life and enjoy life. Apparently he had once been involved in a lot of design, creative, photography type work. Now he just lives with his parents and pays his way by walking Nigel and stuff. I hope I managed to leave John feeling even one tenth of how much he encouraged me. Encounters like this are what Imagining the City hopes to document. Imagine if John, Nigel and I had just walked silently past each other on the bridge. If John had just ignored the weirdo lying in the dust on the bridge. Do me a favour....smile at a stranger today. I'll try do the same :-)

Ilford FP4 Plus, Onepoto Basin, Oct 2011

Auckland City at Night...

2011-11-21T14:00:00.000+13:00

I'd just arrived home from band practice. It was 2am. I was too pumped up on the two 500ml cans of Blue V I'd downed over the course of the two hour midnight drive home from the Bay of Plenty. I crept up the stairs, kissed Coralee on the forehead and quietly whispered to her that I was walking into town. Any other wife might be shocked. But this is pretty typical behaviour for me. I'm lucky she understands. There was the most heavy blanket of fog outside. Not fog fog....but the clouds of almost rain type fog. I figured there would be a few photographs to have. At 3am on a Tuesday the city is eerily quiet. I walked along Ponsonby Road and down Franklin Ave. Not a soul. At Victoria Park, the clouds were whipping past the Sky Tower at an impressive rate. At times it would disappear. Then pop back out for a few seconds. Everywhere I went security guards would hassel me. They never expect someone to be out enjoying the city at night. After I'd explained to the guards at the Wynyard Quarter I was up to no mischief.....I pointed my lens at the ships. They were barely visible beneath the cover of rain....but you could hear the sounds. Clanking. Winching. The ships were not asleep. I walked through a deserted Fort Street towards the Museum. The rain was retreating so I climbed the Auckland Domain hill in an attempt tto catch the cloud. As the cloud left the CBD, I'd followed it a little further into the sky. Then it left....and I trundled on home. 4am. Bed.

Ilford FP4 Plus, Auckland City, October 2011.

Wedding Location Scout - (alternate title: Summer's Here!!)

2011-11-10T18:36:00.001+13:00

We're pretty excited about this weekend's wedding. We have been for months. The venue's taking shape...the weather's looking good...the bride and groom, fantastic! All the stars are aligning. We headed up Matakana way to check it all out a few days before and, of course, to scope for some interesting looking locations. Take a look....I think we hit the jackpot! This is how Coralee and I roll on loaction scouts. Coralee is never without pen and notebook in hand. Heck, we have an iPad and iPhones....but she refuses to do anything but jot down notes the old school way. Me on location scouts?...well, I carry the bags. Lots of bags. Nothing new there. Haha.

We discovered an epic summery field just around the corner from the venue! What do you reckon, Rebecca? This'll work aye. We shot these just five minutes after we saw you guys :-)

If you get over looking at dozens of test shots I took of Coralee....at the very least....don't these photographs remind you that summer's on it's way! yes yes yes!

EDIT: Coralee just came home and saw that I'd posted a gazillion portraits of her messing around in her best model poses...and she was a little embarrassed. To that I say, IT'S my blog! and also, yes you were messing about being a bit of a model...but we were testing the location. Would it be better having photos of me!? I think not...plus I reckon these are hot. And I'm sure everyone else viewing them does too...so there! I'm leaving them up!

Coralee's half marathon...

2011-10-31T14:59:00.000+13:00

On Saturday morning we met some prospective clients. On Saturday afternoon we had a shoot on the West Coast. On Sunday morning Coralee ran a half marathon. On Sunday afternoon we had a another shoot (also at a West Coast beach). It was a full-on weekend to say the least! Well, particularly so for my beautiful wife. I'm gonna be honest with you...Coralee wasn't the worlds most committed half-marathon trainer...but that didn't stop her running the distance with flying colors. I hung out with Spencer at the final corner and quite literally watched five thousand and something people run by before caught a glimpse of my exhausted wifey. I told Spencer that her 'mama' (prounounced ma-maaaaa) was coming....so she desperately kept her eyes on the five thousand competitors that ran by too. At the finish line I caught one portrait of an unable to move Coralee before she gave me the expression that revealed her true feelings. "Never again" she told me, as she reflected on how crazy the people who run full marathons are! A highlight of the day for me was definitely dropping Coralee to the ferry terminal at 5am. Driving through town, hundreds of fresh energized runners flocked towards the ferries as hundreds of drunk people stumbled out of nightclubs, smashed bottles, brawled and pretty much made out with each other in any available dark corners. It's been a while since I've been in the city that early. A different time. Good work, Coralee! I'm super proud of you indeed. I'm always proud of you....but particularly proud that you nailed this one on such a slack training regime :-) It seems as though I'm on massage duties for the rest of the week - possibly even carrying-up-the-stairs duties too.

Ilford XP2, EF 50mm f1.8, Adidas Auckland Half Marathon, October 2011

Kat + Martin - Engaged on film

2011-10-25T16:43:00.000+13:00

It was a couple of months ago now that we hung out with the lovely Kat & Martin for their engagement session at an abandoned bowls club. On the day, Coralee was ripping around, excited about all the overgrownness and just generally owning the shoot. That's cool, because her images were pretty rad...So I used the occasion to click through a few frames of film. Now, I haven't been using Pro400H for long, and these shots were taken before I really learnt how to expose it to my liking (like these). Nevertheless, it was fun to shoot the analog way on a shoot we pretty much always do digitally. Kat and Martin are awesome. We're shooting their wedding really soon. Pretty pumped! Maybe I'll bust out the film camera......if they let me :-)

FujicColor PRO400H & Kodak BW400CN, Newmarket, Auckand, August 2011

Tattoo Stories: Savage

2011-10-20T14:04:00.000+13:00

Meet Savage. I wanted to start to document the last few tattoos that Steve creates before he shuts shop in December. The end of an era. We've already covered Coralee's tattoo, and before I begin to stalk random people as they are being tattooed, I thought I'd best start with me old mate Andrew Savage. Savage is a police officer. I've known him since we were teenagers, but I'm sure he didn't look so much like the hulk back then. Savage reckons that if you're gonna be a police officer you may as well be as big as you can. For example, if you're more ripped than your partner.....when a baddie approaches, they're more than likely to pick on the smaller weaker looking policer officer. Can't argue with that, Savage :-). Savage has a bunch of stuff covering his chest and ribs. All of it tattooed by Steve. I remember when he got his first tattoo....the stars on his shoulders. Today Savage was getting his ribs tattooed. I arrived at the studio as Steve was drawing. A mean looking hourglass with the text, 'time waits for no man'. It looked badass. Savage has some older stuff on his other ribs and Steve did a good job of matching the hourglass's size and shape to keep things nice and symmetrical. I couldn't stay for the whole tattoo - which is silly because that's kind of the point of these 'tattoo stories'...but you get the picture. Plus, watching someone be tattooed on their rib cage, I reckon, is almost as bad as being tattooed there. Savage sat like a champ and had a few days off from his all-night shifts to heal up before he puts back on that bulletproof vest and hits the mean streets once more...

K Road folk...

2011-10-19T20:56:00.000+13:00

Met these two guys on K Road shortly after I met Eric. It was midday. They were both a bit tipsy. I didn't catch their names, but the woman stumbled up to me first. She boldly asked me for a cigarette, so I obliged. We chatted, but it was difficult to communicate. She loved K' Road though, that's for sure. Not long after we'd met her man friend came stumbling out of the food-court. He also asked me for a cigarette. I tried to explain I'd just donated her one but that didn't seem to phase him. He wanted one too. Without much of a choice I offered the man my last smoke. They didn't stay to chat and he immediately began to wander off in the direction they seemed to be travelling. They were headed west. I suppose there is a bunch of bars up that way. As she left the woman insisted I give her a big hug. I hesitated. "I've been sick" I said. "I haven't even been hugging my wife with this sore throat". She proceeded to hug me anyway. I asked that perhaps I could get a photograph of them in return for the hug. They posed and I had no time even to think about camera settings. So that's that. This photograph cost me two cigarettes and an awkward hug followed by a kiss on the cheek. All that and it's not even in focus. Aah well. I suppose the 'hang loose' is kinda crisp. This was K Road on that day. I do enjoy K Road...

No home...

2011-10-19T15:23:00.000+13:00

These images have no home. They almost didn't make it at all. But for some reason I cut them some slack. No story in particular. No film nor place in particular. Just photographs. Experimenting with a zoom lens. On the road. Around home...but as always, starting and finishing with Spencer.

Neeraj

2011-10-14T13:48:00.000+13:00

Meet Neeraj. Last week I showed up to the university an hour early for the class I was due to take. I'd gotten my timings mixed up (I missed the class the next day entirely!). With camera in hand I set off for Queen Street - a place that I once spent many hours wandering each day, but have since stopped visiting so frequently. People bustled by doing their thing. I struggled to find anything I felt I could document. Lately, it's in the quiet, sitting type places that I find I'm more likely to meet interesting subjects. Perhaps I'm just not up to bothering people on their way. Anyways, Neeraj was hanging out on Vulcan lane with another one of his NZ Herald pals. They were chatting away and I interrupted to ask if I might take their photograph. The other guy quickly responded that it would not be a good idea, as they were on the job and they shouldn't really be seen together. He swiftly disappeared.....wheeling his yellow cart laden with newspapers - presumably to his prescribed post. But before he did, he volunteered Neeraj for the photograph. A photograph of one of them would be no problem, he explained. I snapped one frame of Neeraj.....but he was reluctant and looked away. As I went to put the lens cap back on I called out his name, "hey Neeraj!" and waved goodbye.....as he glanced I quickly clicked the shutter a second time. I'd caught his face this time.....and off to class I went.

Ilford XP2 Super, EF 50mm f1.8, Queen Street, Auckland NZ.

Mr Prescott

2011-10-14T10:08:00.000+13:00

Meet Mr Prescott. Coralee and I live just around the corner from Photo Warehouse. I don't like to get my films done there, mainly because it's too expensive, and because they take a day or two to get it done....but sometimes I'm just too lazy to drive to my favourite little 1hr Kodak lab. On this morning I'd woken bright and early and walked up the hill to drop off two films for developing. You may have noticed, I've been mixing it up and experimenting with Ilford XP2 Super, instead of my regular trusted Kodak BW400CN C-41 black and white. Luckily, I was feeling good about my experiences with the XP2 so far, so I bought two more rolls at the shop to play with.

It was lucky, because on my way back down the hill home as I was loading a new film I ran into the charming Mr Prescott. He was sweeping his driveway and I couldn't help but say hello. I've noticed Mr Prescott's house many times before but never seen any signs of life. His flagpole proudly displays Tongan flags and his house looks tidy, but tired. Loved but lived in. One of the last bastions of pacific island presence in the gentrified streets of Grey Lynn. You know the ones? Us well off white people have slowly but surely cleansed the area of it's original occupants to make way for our gleaming white villas with electric gates and swimming pools that barely fit in our small backyards. It's a sorry story, but I was glad that Mr Prescott had managed to hold his ground so that I could meet him this day.

He didn't speak too much english - a true citizen of the Kingdom of Tonga. However, Me Prescott had indeed been in NZ for many many years.....at this very address in fact. We chatted about things. His sweet straw broom, about our shared street, Scanlan Street, and most of all, about the rugby! He was particularly passionate about his team - as are many Tongans. I explained to Mr Prescott that I lived just a few houses down and I would love to take his photograph. He happily obliged, giving me the perfect staunch gaze straight through my lens. I tend to avoid close up headshots of strangers, unless they're feeling comfortable enough - so I took the two full/mid shots and explained to him that i'd email him a copy. He peered at the screen of my iPhone where I anticipated recording the address he was about to give me....however he nodded and pointed to his letterbox. Aah, regular mail I deciphered. "No problem" I explained...."I'll pop a print in your letterbox when the films are done". It was then I felt confident enough to get in a little bit closer....So that's where I'm off to now....to drop these three prints in the lovely Mr Prescott's box.
Rad. Alex.

Ilford XP2 Super, EF 50mm f1.8, Scanlan Street, Grey Lynn NZ.

Auckland Kendo Club

2011-10-12T12:27:00.000+13:00

Last week I visited the Auckland Kendo Club to check out what goes on. For most of the evening I sat firmly in my spectator's chair on the sidelines. Kendo is full of ritual and protocol. I was scared to move around, let alone point a camera at people. The trainers are stern and disciplined. Everything about Kendo is structured and disciplined actually. By the end, once everyone had put on their full gear and began some sparring, I felt a little more comfortable edging myself around the dojo. I got a few frames, but I look forward to returning at some stage - knowing the little more I do now, I feel as though it'd be a chance to get some interesting photographs. Here's documenting my evening....

Ilford XP2 Super, EF 50mm f1.8, Auckland Kendo Club, Panmure, Auckland NZ.

The hole...

2011-10-12T10:28:00.000+13:00

Last week I tweeted that I was going to jump down 'the hole' for a photo mission. It was pouring with rain - the mist of it thick in the air - so of course, no-one chose to join me. In hindsight I should've taken down a camera bag. I got soaked.....which is cool...but the camera and tripod took a beating too. Fingers crossed they live to tell the tale. I stumbled around the muddy base with the camera tucked in my belly under my sweater. The hole is a curious place. I'm sure many of you are familiar with this place....but most of you have never been inside. I'll take you next time....be your tour guide. It's great fun.

Unfortunately, because of all the rain, the base was fully submerged. On occasion, you can walk across the concrete bottom. I met two other people adventuring down there. They were searching for a location for their band to play....but decided it was a bit muddy. It was! I destroyed my jeans and shoes bigtime. I was even muddier than Mike! There's a story behind the close-up self portrait. The camera was inadvertently left on timer when I tried to take a handheld shot. Determined not to waste a frame, I turned it on my soggy self. It was a fun adventure. I literally live one block away from this giant hole. Next time I'd like to take my inflatable boat down and go for a paddle! Who's keen!?

Ilford XP2 Super, EF 50mm f1.8 & EF 28-80 f3.5-5.6, SOHO Square, Ponsonby, NZ.

Interiors

2011-10-12T09:49:00.000+13:00

Earlier this week, inbetween editing weddings and engagement shoots out of our ears, we shot a few interiors....

Te Mata Peak revisited...

2011-10-11T16:20:00.000+13:00

Last year on the University of Auckland Geography 315 field trip in Hawkes Bay I was lucky enough to discover Te Mata Peak for the first time. So this year I knew exactly where I wanted to go as soon as I had a spare few hours. I took a van-load of students up with me...I don't think any of them had ever been. We wound our giant van up the precarious windy winding road and made it to the top. The view was exactly as I'd remembered. Before we went up the peak we spent some time at the Craggy Ridge winery below. You can really understand the name once you're there....there is indeed, a craggy ridge towering above the vineyard. As the students conducted their research, I jumped a fence and attempted to make friends with a bull before finding that he'd rather not.....so I visited the horses instead. Initially they were jumpy....but I bonded with them and before I knew it they were posing for their portraits too...

Kodak BW400CN & FujiColor Pro400H, EF 50mm f1.8 & EF 28-80 f3.5-5.6, Te Mata Peak, Havelock North, Hawkes Bay, NZ

Balling in the park...

2011-10-11T11:04:00.000+13:00

A couple of weeks ago I introduced you to Tonga, Soul and John. I see Tonga and his crew in the park all the time.....we both just seem to hang out there a lot. Today I ran into Tonga and his buddies down the other end of the park at the big basketball court. Tonga hadn't seen the photographs I took of him last time, so I showed him on my iPhone. He was pretty impressed that I had Facebook on my phone (the things we take for granted eh!). He hadn't logged onto Facebook in ages, so hadn't seen the images I'd sent and tagged him in. It was a perfect day. I hung out with them all for a bit. I hadn't shot a basketball in six months, since my shoulder operation....so it felt good to sink a few! I was late to drive to Tauranga for band practice but I shot a few frames as we played and generally got up to mischief in the park. It was pretty funny when they were all throwing themselves at the fence. Before I left I reminded Tonga I hadn't yet got a photograph of his tattoo. So here it is. Grey Lynn Central! That's pretty rad if you ask me. I'll take my iPad down to the park later on this week to show the guys these photos. I'm sure they'll be stoked. Happy Tuesday all!

from Alex.

FujiColor Pro400H, EF 50mm f1.8, Grey Lynn Park, Auckland NZ.

Eric Frost

2011-10-06T17:05:00.000+13:00

Meet Eric Frost. I met Eric on a bench opposite Sal's Pizza on K Road. I was waiting for my pizza! Eric and I were sitting right next to each other on the bench, but it took us a good five minutes before we exchanged a word. I think I instigated. I saw his side profile (first image) and felt as though it deserved a photograph. I asked him for permission and he agreed. Eric kept his gaze straight ahead and didn't get all awkward or embarrassed as many people would. He wasn't up to much, just like me really.....made his way out to K Road to watch people go by doing their thing. Eric knew quite a bit about photography. He had spent many years working in Melbourne on the fringe of the industry. He had many friends in film production and stuff like that. We spoke about my brother for a bit. Andrew is a film-maker currently based in Montreal, Canada. Eric had other professions too. My favourite was when he explained he did counseling and mentoring to criminals and gang members in Australia. I told Eric of my fascination with gangs and the underworld. He said that he knew way too much about those aspects of life. He knew things that he couldn't possibly share with me. I was intrigued. Before I went to collect my pizza I asked Eric if he wanted me to send him a copy. He was interested but didn't have an email address. He tried to remember his daughter's email address so that I could send a copy to her. He didn't see his daughter too often. She was also a wedding photographer and lived in Gisborne. We couldn't figure out what her email address was, but he gave me her name and I told him I'd track her down on Facebook to send her a link. I figured if we were sending his daughter the photograph we may as well get one of his face too. We did....and I left Eric to his people watching to collect my pepperoni pizza. It was good (but my mouth is still just a little bit blistered from that first steaming hot bite)!

Ilford XP2 Super, EF 50mm f1.8, Karangahape Road, Auckland, NZ.

GPOYW

2011-10-05T14:24:00.001+13:00

Me and me old mate the original 1961 Canon Canonet rangefinder...

Mike

2011-10-04T21:12:00.000+13:00

I'd been hanging out with Steve at his tattoo studio in New Lynn when I came across Mike. Well, to be truthful....at first, I didn't come across Mike. Like so many opportunities in life, I passed Mike right by. Lucky I had a change of mind. Mike was hitch-hiking on the corner of Great North Road and Titirangi road. It had been a long day. I saw Mike with his thumb out but I just drove right on by. In my defence.....Mike, next time you should really hitch a little further away from such a busy corner - give me time to think & stop).

This particular day I'd missed two photographs that I really wanted to make earlier in the morning in Kingsland. I regretted not seizing the moment as I'd seen it. Not wanting to make the same mistake again, I screeched into a u-turn (when it was safe, of course) and headed back around for another lap. Mike came running as soon as I pulled over. He may never know that I had hesitated the first time around.

Mike had a great white beard. His moustache was stained light brown from a lifetime of cigarettes. His leather vest was worn. As were his boots. His entire person spotted with mud. Mike spoke quickly, almost, but not quite at the point of stuttering. He had been out hiking in the Waitakeres. His favourite place. I asked him where he was going....."Herne Bay" he replied. "Great", I said. "I'm headed right around that way". As we drove I chatted with Mike. He was impressed with my car (a tiny blue Mazda Demio). I told him the story of how I'd crashed it when I was driving in my sling when I shouldn't have been driving at all. And how my dad kindly donated the money to bring 'Peewee' back from the dead. Once I told Mike that I had been visiting Steve, our conversation turned to tattoos. Mike had amazing stories behind his. To name a few, he had Maidens, unicorns, trolls and castles adorning his skin. He was a true fan of fantasy. Mike's nails were painted with tribe-like patterns and his wrists had enough bangles and charms on each to make a noise as he moved.

Mike was particularly passionate about Lord of the Rings and Narnia. He really did believe in witches and goblins and trolls. Determined they were out there, Mike spends his time hiking in the Ranges, seeking the most furthest, quietest place he can find. Once he gets there he just sits silently. He reckons they are scared of cities and people and guns and stuff.....but is hopeful he'll stumble upon some one day.

As we drove onto the motorway, halfway home, we both agreed that our favourite thing in life is PEOPLE. People and the stories and journeys. How totally different lives can intersect and live harmoniously (or otherwise). I'd been telling him about this blog and my photography, and how it stands for many of the same things. I dropped Mike to his place in Herne Bay. Some kind of joint living/boarding arrangement. He didn't have an email and wasn't too fussed about me mailing him a copy of his photograph but he happily stood as I snapped a few frames.

Kodak BW400CN, EF 50mm f1.8, Herne Bay, NZ.

Abandoned Farm House, Napier/Hastings.

2011-10-04T12:04:00.000+13:00

In a post last month I included a few images of an abandoned house I visited on the side of the Napier-Hastings expressway. They were the few color frames I shot on my camera with a wide angle lens. But you all know too well that my favourite tool is the 50mm f1.8 and blacks and whites! So here's a few more...

The house sits right on the side of the road between Napier and Hastings. The fence is high and there are no deer around. Perhaps an attempt by the farmer to keep curious people like me out.....or perhaps it's a rule, that fences along motorways need to be extra high to prevent stray stock. Either way, the fence presented a challenge. Especially due to my recently operated on shoulder. I parked up my Ford Transit rental van on the verge and looked for a way in. After walking down the fenceline away from the house at least 1000m I discovered a gate which I was able to climb. The house itself was fenced off in a small acre lot. As if they dont let stock in there often. Being so easy to spot it had clearly been visited by a number of vagrants like me, however, much of the house was still in tact. The cupboards were full of rusty cans, still full of their preserved contents. Milk bottles were everywhere. I claimed as many as I could carry. One bottle for each finger and thumb I have basically. I tetered back to the fence with my haul and deposited it so that I could fetch it when I was back with the van.

The flooring was gone and layers of wallpaper peeled off in each of the rooms. I could pick at least three layers of previous decoration. Telling the story of the families that had occupied this place prior to a major expressway tearing through their back yard. Curiously, there were empty walnut shells EVERYWHERE. Is this something the birds are finding and storing here? or did the previous occupant just really like walnuts and milk? They were in the drawers...the cupboards...on the floor....in the oven...everywhere.

A highlight of my trip were the darting swallows that had made the house their own. If you look closely you can see them ripping around in the last photograph. The swallows weren't at all bothered by my presence and would dart in and out of the house through small gaps in the smashed windows with precision only a little bird like that can possibly have. They were vocal and made me feel welcome.

I saw the farmer a few paddocks over. I didn't want to cause any trouble and I was due to pick up a group of students at a nearby vineyard.....so I made my exit...walking along the fenceline 1000m, jumping a gate, and then walking 1000m back. I collected my milk bottles and set on my way. The milk bottles jangled in the glovebox for the rest of my trip. They're now as shiny as new and holding flowers on our windowsill at home. I enjoyed the Hawkes Bay. Yes i did.

Kodak BW400CN, EF 50mm f1.8, Napier/Hastings, NZ.

Reimagining. New Auckland Art Gallery.

2011-10-03T12:38:00.000+13:00

Paid a quick visit to the renovated Auckland Art Gallery the other week. Well, I checked out the exterior. A few years ago, when we lived downtown, these streets were mine. I'd ride my bike through the city daily.....checking up on my city. I knew everything that was happening. Even the people you'd expect to be hanging out on certain street-corners. My visits to the CBD are so infrequent now, that an entire art gallery can be changed without me even realizing. The exterior is beautiful. Art on the outside entices people to come closer. The branch full of red blossoms was so attractive that not a single person could walk by without investigating further. I only had two shots left on this roll. As much as I wanted to hang by the red flowers and get some candid shots of people exploring the peculiar red blossoms in a childlike wonder, my inner architect looked up. The inside appeared more fascinating than the exterior. The angled wooden panels continued from outside to in. It was cast and spacious and one could see up many levels. A small child stopped her caregiver to investigate some giant hanging flowers. It was as if the woman would have just kept walking if the child had not held her back with all of its might. I feel like me and that li'l kid shared the same fascination with this building. We couldn't help our eyes wandering. Feasting on the newness. Or something like that.

Kodak BW40)CN, Canon EF 50mm f1.8, Auckland Art Gallery, September 2011.

Grey Lynn Park.....again

2011-09-27T22:01:00.000+13:00

If you're a regular reader it will come as no surprise that Spencer and I spend way too much time in Grey Lynn Park. We love the place. Well, she loves weeing and pooping, sniffing around and fetching balls and I love the people. Grey Lynn Park is full of all types of wonderful people! It's a pretty unique neighbourhood if you ask me. There's one day, I can't quite remember which one, that the skateboarders all gather at the small ramp. Maybe it's a Sunday? Anyways, they often bring a big speaker box and pump some music as they jam. I see the same faces a lot, but I've never actually introduced myself. After a few laps around the park Spencer and I were still not ready to head home. The day was too beautiful not to see the sun set down past the western horizon. I asked the guys if I could grab a few shots as they skated. They were cool with that. I didn't take consecutive photographs. Rather, I'd throw the ball for Spencer.....then grab a photo.....then congratulate Spencer upon her successful return. I sat up on the ramp for a while, but Spencer couldn't quite understand....she'd freak out and try and run up the ramp to join me. That didn't quite work with the burly skateboards flying around from any angle at any time. It's always challenging to shoot into the light with film. You don't get the reassuring check and reshoot that digital allows. I just played it safe. This is the park as it was, that sunny spring afternoon...

Kodak BW400CN, EF 50mm f1.8, Grey Lynn Park, September 2011.

Someone you might know gets tattooed...

2011-09-27T20:18:00.002+13:00

Last week, someone you may know got tattooed. By Steve. Her first. She shall remain nameless until she has shown her parents (I did't pressure her! Mum, Dad!). The story behind this set of images is a little shorter than normal because, well, the pictures can do most of the talking. I sped through an entire roll of film, capturing only a handful of the great facial expressions she made for the entire time. Afterwards, I got tattooed. It was a fun day. I feel bad for laughing while she was getting it done.....mine was on my arm, and that's easy, and all I wanted to do was go home. haha. The last image is a before/after. So, I guess mum knows now eh!?..nameless person in the images. XO

Steve

2011-09-26T15:00:00.000+13:00

Meet Steve. Steve is a close friend of mine - and is also the tattooer responsible for the majority of my tattoos. Steve runs a shop out of New Lynn called Ronin Tattoo. He is pretty much the man, and that's an understatement. Ronin Tattoo shares a space with Western Tattoo. When Steve's not tattooing, you can pretty much guarantee he'll be sitting right here at this window in the Western Tattoo shop (or up the road getting dumplings). This window seat is where the magic gets done. Phone calls, drawing, smoking, conversations with clients. I've sat at this window with Steve hundreds of times and that's why I was drawn to this photograph so much. It's such a familiar sight to me and anyone who has ever sat there opposite Steve would surely agree. This day Steve looks forlorn and exhausted. It's my favourite when a photograph comes out exactly the way I remember that moment. Steve was in the middle of tattooing my arm. My arm was killing me too. My second sitting that day. I'm surprised I managed to keep the camera level. Overexposing B&Ws is something I'd like to learn to do better. I'm happy the way the blacks came out grainy and grey.

In other news, I've started a Facebook Page solely for Imagining the City, that way I can get posting more frequently and not worry about spamming all the good folks who are fans of our Coralee & Alex page but couldn't care less about photos like this one of Steve :-) I'd be super grateful if you could head on over and like the page.....if you're keen on keeping up to date that is.
Rad. Alex.

Kodak BW400CN, EF 50mm 1.8, New Lynn, Auckland.

Tonga, Soul and John

2011-09-19T16:09:00.002+12:00

I walk through Grey Lynn Park with Spencer pretty much every day, rain or shine. Often I'll see Tonga and his boys hanging out in the park, but I've never really exchanged more than a hello in passing. Sometimes he has a little scruffy black dog with him that scurries through the mud with Spencer. Doggie must have been at home this day. Tonga often has trouble getting it back once it's burning laps around the park! I'd been hanging out at the skate ramp for a bit photographing people and Tonga had never really noticed my camera before. He asked what it was for so I sat down with them for a chat. From left to right, meet Tonga, John and Soul. We hung out for a bit. Laughed at Spencer's obsession with the tennis ball in my pocket and shared a few beers. They were cold and everything. Thanks guys! On me next time!

John had just been tattooed on his neck this day. A tribute to his family name. We chatted tattoos and tattooers. Tonga has some amazing tattoos, but that post is for another day - maybe he'll let me photograph them next time. The boys had been sending around texts that they were in the park and before I knew it the crew had grown.....I was late to play Johnny Cash covers with Steve so I had to say goodbye but I knew the group was just going to keep multiplying. Something was happening at 7pm that they were gathering for....I wish I could've stayed a bit longer to find out.

Hopefully I'll catch Tonga and his crew next time I'm strolling through the park with Spence...

Kodak BW400CN, Grey Lynn Park, Auckland City, NZ.

Roadside...

2011-09-19T15:11:00.000+12:00

Last night, at 1am, on the drive home from band practice I pulled over for a roadside bathroom stop. Too much V and candy! The moon was almost touching the hilltops (which i found unusual for 1am!?) and there was one thousand stars...stars that don't reveal themselves in the city where I live. I sat the camera on a nearby fencepost and let it do it's thing for 30 seconds while I did mine :-) I've always been fascinated by these paddocks that are sculpted like this. Some form of drainage? Do they grow stuff on these fields? Do livestock graze there? I heard the sound of tires approaching as I squished through the muddy grass back up the verge to my car, so I sat the camera on the road and captured the moolight as the car sped by in the darkness. And just like that, the film was done. The sweet hum of rewinding.

Kodak BW400CN, Mangatawhiri, NZ.

Natasha and Rachel...

2011-09-08T11:47:00.003+12:00

I love taking the University of Auckland Geography 315 field trip to Hawkes Bay like I did last week. It was my second time. Until last year, I'd spent little time down that way other than short stints raking leaves and playing with horses at a ranch in Maraekakaho. On this particular day I was chilling for an hour in Taradale while some students I was driving visited Church Road winery nearby. It was here I met Natasha and Rachel. The girls were greeting all passers by with a smile and offering them baking. I seemed to be meeting a lot of kids that I thought should probably be in school, so I asked. Turns out it was their high school's annual work day. All the junior students spent the day out working in some form or another. Natasha and Rachel had spent the previous evening baking up a storm. They had all sorts of delicious baked goods. I particularly had my eye on that banana cake....but I couldn't possibly fit it in after having already sat and ate myself silly at a cafe named Gecko something just before.

Their goal was to make $25 each for the day. Each piece of baking only cost $1. When I met them it was mid-morning and they were already past halfway in earnings. I reckon they had no trouble getting there. I didn't ask them if they'd taken into account the money they spent on ingredients though. Perhaps they just raided the pantry at home. It was nice to meet you, girls. How much did you end up making? Is there a baking career in your futures? :-)

Kodak BW400CN, EF 50mm f1.8, Taradale NZ.

Wynyard Quarter. Kingsland. Newmarket - Tuesday 6th Sept, 2011

2011-09-07T13:25:00.001+12:00

If you've recently tuned in, you might have noticed I've begun to post more images of people. The reasons are many... I mean, my favourite thing about photography is people....and stories. Heck, Coralee and I tell the story of peoples weddings for a living! We love it! Sure, I believe an image can tell a story on it's own.....but in my opinion, images with accompanying stories are even more awesome. However, the truth is....when it comes to photographing people....I basically have no balls (sorry for my language mom). It's true. I don't. I've actually spent years photographing strangers on the street from a distance. I made some interesting images...but I didn't know anything about the subjects. So that brings me to now. My latest mission has been to grow me some balls. Each day I'm out and about trying to meet people. Sometimes I meet a bunch....and sometimes I just sit around too scared to approach anyone....but I'm learning. And hearing some cool stories along the way. Hopefully you won't mind if I continue to share....

Yesterday I took my third adventure down to the new Wynyard Quarter. My first visit returned not a single photo....and the second was spent lunching in a swanky restaurant. I first stumbled across Wayne and his buddy taking a smoko break from their jobs at Jack Tar. We both remarked on what a stunnning day it was. "This is my office" smiled Wayne, gesturing towards the blue rippling ocean at our feet. "Not bad" I replied, "this is kind of my office today too I suppose". I explained to him that I was a photographer and that I'd like to take his picture - if he'd let me. Wayne said that he was probably a feature in many foreign tourist's photo albums. His mate asked me if I had taken a photo of the rusty sterns of two fishing boats moored to our right. I hadn't. He explained that he'd sat and watched at least six tourists take that exact photograph since he'd sat down for his cigarette. "I did take a photo of their bows though" I told him. "Does that count? Haha".

Wayne was suprised to hear I was shooting with film, but he appreciated the art form. He had taken a photography course back in 2009, just to break up his IT career at the time. I shook Wayne's gloved hand and left them to their office view.

Kodak BW400CN, EF 50mm f1.8, Auckland City NZ.

Next I stumbled across this handsome fella waiting for the bus nearby the new children's playground and basketball courts. As we chatted he missed at least three of the free city circuit busses, so he can't have been in that much of a hurry. When the fourth bus arrived he almost missed that too. Luckily the two BMXers who are pictured in the next image helped chase it down for him. The old fella was wandering around the space clearly admiring the design and construction. We struck up conversation with one of the contractors who was trimming the steel bolts affixing the lamp posts. He'd just purchased his book - a pictorial history of Fulton & Hogan works around the country. He'd worked with Fulton and Hogan for many years. He shared with me the pictures in the book which he was involved in the construction. The Wynyard quarter was a great new space he thought, although he didn't like the dirty storage tanks and boat builders nearby. I disagreed. Told him I liked the contrast of industry - working fishing and constructions - alongside meandering paths and fancy restaurants. My new BMX friends chased down his bus and I bid him farewell. Wish I'd caught his name!

Alex and Andrew were riding some of the new terrain that's appeared lately around Wynyard Quarter. They would patiently wait for children to finish their sliding down the grassy mounds before performing a whip or something similar over what was a pretty nice looking hip for a BMX. Alex and Andrew looked like they should be at school so I asked..."It's exam study break", they replied. "Exams? Already?". "Practice exams....if it was real end of year exams we'd be screwed" they laughed. We knew a bunch of the same people. I told them I was a bit of a 'fixie kid' and we knew the same people.....T White, WazMan, Teva, Baxter...

I told them I used to do a bit of BMX...but I thought Alex's no brakes thing was a bit nuts. He seemed to have it dialled though. He liked no brakes downhill for a bit of a rush. I reckon he's crazy! haha. Nice to meet you guys. Good luck with your exams!

Up in Kingsland I was waiting for my buddy Joel by the train station where I met Wayne and Warren. They live over in Sandringham, but were just out enjoying the sun having a few brews. They offered me one. I told them "thanks, but I really shouldn't before 12". It was 11:53. I met Joel for lunch and then headed off to my favorite little Kodak lab in Newmarket to get my film developed. It was only a silly 24roll, rather than my usual 36 ones. Only, the film wasn't done....this one let me shoot 25 frames...

I parked up in Newmarket and wandered around.....looking for that last frame. I found that little alley of asian businesses and hung out there for a while. It smelt pretty filthy actually....but I wanted to find someone there to photograph. It's here I met Henry. I was admiring his fish. They smelt terrible...but they were impressive. He couldn't tell me what kind of fish they were....and he definitely didn't want to pose for a photo with one....but I caught him in action just when he least suspected. The film rewound.......and that was Tuesday.

Rangi & Rewai

2011-09-06T12:03:00.002+12:00

I met Rangi and Rewai hanging out in the same plaza that I met the previous folks. We had a sweet little chat. Rangi's dad (Rewai's uncle) had just come back from staying in Mangere last week where he won a karaoke competition on Maori TV. I think Rewai was up there for the week too. We spoke quite a bit about South Auckland. Talked about its relative size compared to the Hawkes Bay. I joked that Mangere is probably bigger than the entire Hawkes Bay. "Nah, no way" Rewai replied, "maybe as big as Hastings". We spoke about gangs and tattoos. Rangi had a small tattoo on his hand. He did it himself. He planned on getting a real one once he'd turned 15. A big Maori design on his arm. Rewai said he wasn't getting one until he was 18. I took Rangi's email address so that I could send him a copy of the photograph. Rangi, Rewai, that email's on its way now. Nice to meet you boys. Let me know next time you get to visit Mangere!

Kodak BW400CN, EF 50mm f1.8, Hastings NZ.

Gentlemen

2011-09-05T17:38:00.001+12:00

Met these fine looking chaps outside enjoying the afternoon sun in Hastings last week. They were more than happy for me to capture the scene. I'm not sure what's more fascinating to me, the cultural juxtaposition in this particular space (one dominated by skaters and downtown employees on smoko breaks), or the fact that four grown men are comfortably aligned four deep on a park bench that would normally be most most comfortable with two, or maybe three...

Kodak BW400CN, EF 50mm f1.8, Sept 2011, Hastings NZ

August on Film...

2011-09-03T21:54:00.000+12:00

August was a big month for Coralee and I. We spent parts of it all across the country. As always, we recorded some evidence of our travels on film along the way.....well, those films that have emerged from their cameras thus far.

Enjoy!
Alex

Kodak BW400CN & FujiColor Pro 400H

Bill

2011-08-29T18:32:00.000+12:00

I met bill today whilst out wandering the streets of Napier. The university class I was supervising were in a city council presentation...A presentation which I could not possibly bear to sustain for a second consecutive year. I sat across the road from Bill. Often I'll spend too much time pondering how best to approach strangers. On occasion that means that the moment passes and the stranger carries on with their business before I summon enough courage. On this occasion, Bill approached me. He slowly hobbled accross the road towards where I stood curiously staring back at him. I must have been glaringly obvious.

Bill was after some spare change. He'd spent all morning visiting the banks only for all the banks to tell him that he withdrew his last cents last week. Upon Bill's request I handed him a couple of bucks loose change from my pocket, offered him a smoke and we sat on the bench to rest and chat. We had no problems swapping stories at all. Bill told me he was an epileptic. He had just been at the doctor and was struggling to get the meds he needs. He has some kind of epilepsy where he can sense the seizures coming....but there's nothing he can do about it other than prepare for it. For Bill, preparation often means downing a bunch of wine. Bill told me he enjoyed the occasional drink. Lucky for him, his flatmate is a 'bit of a wino'. Quite often, his flatmate would wake up in the morning and wonder where all the wine went - of course, Bill consumed it during the night.

Bill is originally from Napier, although he spent some time travelling the country as a shearer and even spent a few years in Australia. He was just in Tauranga last week, but he prefers Napier. To him, Tauranga just feels like a more tacky version of Napier. He saw my tattoos so I shed my jacket to show off my latest ink. Bill thought my tattoos were just 'amazing quality ink'. I told him my friend Steve in Auckland does them. I told him that Steve is the best! I saw tattoos emerging from beneath Bill's sleves so I asked him to tell me some stories. He didn't know where to start so I suggested perhaps he tell me about his favourite or most noteable. Immediately he smiled and rolled up his sleeve to reveal his phoenix tattoo. 'This', he said, 'was a birthday present from my girlfriend at the time'. She had told him that he could get a tattoo for his birthday, so they set out to the local studio. Once the phoenix was completed they went to pay, however his girlfriend had 'forgotten' her cash and credit cards. Bill paid for the tattoo himself. 'She wasn't a keeper, that one' he remarked.

Once Bill had finished his story I told him that I must be on my way. I offered him one last smoke and wished him the best for his doctors visits and efforts with the banks. I told him I'd be around all week....perhaps we'd run into each other again. Bill said he would be around...and I hope I do.

50mm 1.8, Kodak BW400CN, Napier NZ.

Rowboat at dusk

2011-08-15T09:12:00.001+12:00

max that ISO...add a little artificial grain to disguise the fact...my city...catch that rowboat at dusk.

Canon 50D, 50mm f1.4. Stanley Bay, NZ

July as it was...

2011-08-08T12:08:00.001+12:00

I wasn't quite sure what to do with Imagining the City for a while there. We made a few changes over at the Coralee & Alex blog and I thought that maybe this site should just be smushed in with the main blog. But then I was like....who am I kidding? The stuff that lands here is kinda different.....and probably not what potential brides and grooms are going to be wanting to sift through at least. So here we are. Back at it again.....and to kick it off, I present to you July 2011. Well, a smattering of what has been developed thus far. It's busy times on the Coralee & Alex front. We're chokka with engagement shoots pretty much every weekend until the wedding madness begins. We're loving it. Super excited to call hanging out together and making pictures our full-time job pretty soon.

As for Imagining the City? Well, I've been slack. Films in cameras sitting for months. I hate that. I've got a handful of projects that I've been dreaming up and should really get my ass into gear and start shooting. I've been lazy. Clicking the shutter on a daily basis sometimes feeling like a chore. I'm drinking tea. refueling....and you can expect a lot more regularity from herein. I promise. Enjoy the mammoth post. haha.... All analogue....All around the country.....On all sorts of films from a whole bunch of cameras....don't even ask :-)

1956 Cadillac

2011-07-19T17:08:00.001+12:00

I'm now the proud owner of an amazing old Mamiya 645 Super. Becky had kindly been lending me the camera for MONTHS and I finally got my act together and paid her for it. It had been ages since I'd even used it. Sitting in the camera was a film that had been there since Zoe and Joe's wedding. Developing films like this sometimes such a great surprise. Up popped these frames of the most amazing Cadillac that was parked outside the Bendon outlet store in Kopu. I captured them as Coralee looked around inside. Anyone who has ever holidayed on the Coromandel knows all about this compulsory stop at the Bendon factory. I didn't really feel like hanging around the one rack of male undies that day! haha. So I stayed outside and marveled. The car was the most brilliant soft purple color and these images remind me of why people wax lyrical about medium format. Often, you can't see much difference with 35mm films, but I reckon these shots show the awesomeness that only MF can achieve...

Kodak Portra 160NC, Kopu NZ, Jan 2011

Imagining the City

2011-07-19T17:04:00.002+12:00

Hi, I'm Alex. My wife Coralee & I are photographers. www.coraleeandalex.com.

Imagining the City is about the places I go, people I meet and photographs I make along the way.....It's also about sharing fragments of the stories behind them.

I hope you enjoy. Thanks for stopping by...

Our Coralee & Alex website can be found here. And our blog, here.

Takapuna Beach

2011-05-23T11:24:00.000+12:00

Coralee and I have had a hectic last few weeks getting through the last of our wedding editing and with me having only one functional arm and stuff like that. As a result, Spencer's missed out on her weekly walks along Takapuna Beach. This morning I was up at the crack of dawn to take her there and she was most certainly pleased. Spencer's usually quite timid and reserved...but this morning she was tearing around in circles and wagging herself silly. She even chased some seagulls that were at least the same size as her. You know, those giant brown ones. I managed to stop her in her tracks for a wee portrait. The sky was clear and made a perfect gradient from white around the sun to deep blue on the other side. Rangitoto was covered in a wisp of fog....remnants of this morning's heavy cover. As I walked along the beach with my $5(!!) takeaway flat white in hand I watched a yacht hoist anchor and move on for the day. I'd love to sail a boat like that. A schooner I believe, but forgive me if I'm wrong. The water was like glass, with only a passing ripple every now and then as the wind woke up for the day. Every property along the beach is surely worth millions of dollars but that little yacht was able to sail right up and experience the view for a night....then move on - in search of an equally amazing spot to rest tonight. I liked that...

Panasonic LX3, left handed point'n'hope, May 2011, Takapuna Beach

cold

2011-05-20T14:55:00.000+12:00

All of this freezing cold weather over the last few days reminded me of this image of Coralee. Up Mt Eden - last winter. That's my coat she's snuggling in! I imagine I was probably about as cold as I feel right now. Like, can't feel my toes cold! It's ok though. I would have just been stoked that she walked up with Spencer and I in the first place...I miss that mountain. I've traded a view of the world for a sodden muddy Grey Lynn Park (which I also love for different reasons) :-)

Kodak BW400CN, June, 2010.

The life of a one armed bandit...

2011-05-18T16:01:00.000+12:00

If you didn't know. A few weeks ago I had a reconstructive operation on my shoulder to fix years of snowboarding injuries and surfing wipeouts and bails off bikes into car windscreens and stuff. Well, finally I can have a strong shoulder like a regular boy! I can't wait to smash into things and flip off stuff and generally just do what guys should be able to do at my youthful age of 27. If I may, there are many downsides to having an arm in a sling for two months. Typing this post with one finger for example. Other things include being unable to tie my own shoelaces or turn off the tap whilst brushing my teeth at the same time. I can't play my bass or even play keys with my right hand so band practices for me have involved a lot of playing single bass nots on a keyboard with my good hand and learning to operate a (right-handed) DSLR with my left hand and a bit of guess-work as to where I'm even pointing it. Here are Sleeptalkers in all their filmy glory practicing hard on some fresh new tunes that are sure to delight your ears in coming months...

Fujicolor Pro 400H, Mt Maunganui, May 2011

the ends of rolls...

2011-05-18T15:15:00.001+12:00

I try always carry a camera loaded with film on me (well, pre shoulder operation I could). I figure that if we're going to be shooting digital for our job, I want to make sure I still engage with analogue image-making as much as possible in everyday life. Sometimes it's hard. The camera gets left at home in favour of iPhone apps that happen to be in our pockets anyway. I always have too many cameras on the go simultaneously. My least favourite and favourite part of having multiple films in multiple cameras is that they sit there half-exposed...forgotten. Sometimes for months! That is, until I remember, and finish off the frames for a bit of fun at the end of someone's wedding day. I can't comprehend shooting an entire wedding in this way....(just yet)...but I thrive on the challenge of making a few shots when the opportunity does present itself. It did, just as we were wrapping up with Nicola and Jon last month. Nicola, Jon....a few to tie you over until the digital ones arrive :-) Enjoy!

Fujicolor Pro 400H, Hamilton Bay, Herne Bay, April 2011

Sleeptalkers

2011-05-15T20:44:00.001+12:00

I play in a pretty sweet band called Sleeptalkers. You should head over to our Facebook page and say yo! At the moment I can't really do my extreme rock moves on the bass because my arm is in a sling... But I've been learning to play some synth and stuff. Here's a few (left-handed) snaps from practice. Taken on the trusty lil' LX3 with the iso through the roof in the parts where a regular two-handed person would be playing bass. We have some pretty big plans for this year and have been working away on some rad new songs for your ears...but in the meantime you should get on over to iTunes and grab our track Where The Sun Hides. If you want, that is...

Friends...

2011-05-02T11:03:00.000+12:00

Just a short break in our regular scheduled wedding programming to get in a few frames of hangtimes with friends. We love our friends! Can't take the good times for granted that's for sure. The (last) fire at Phil and Tanya's place...

EF 50mm f1.8, Fuji colour pro 400H, April, 2011

A quick 24 roll of BW400CN...

2011-04-12T11:05:00.000+12:00

I have a love/hate relationship with Kodak BW400CN. It's cheap, found everywhere, quick to have developed and it's pretty sweet as far as C41 Black and White films go.....but I HATE that the images always come back in various sepia tones. They are never true monochrome. Apparently the scanners in cheapo kodak labs aren't calibrated or something. I don't really know. But you know what, I'll probably keep shooting this film when I can. Sometimes I process the shots in true monochrome. They can look amazing with a little oomph in the contrast....but sometimes I'm lazy...and I just want to use the images as they came - like today. Last weekend was the first weekend Coralee & I actually attended a wedding as guests this entire summer. We had an amazing time. I snapped a few frames before (sure enough) my camera batteries ran out after a good year or so of service. This weekend also marked a move in house for us. This blog post coming at you from our new and improved more spacious abode in Grey Lynn. Before the wedding I took a few photographs on our last walk in the old neighbourhood with wee Spence. Hope you're having a good day......Enjoy!

EF 50mm 1.8, Kodak BW400CN - April 2011

No-one ever seems to take the overpass...

2011-04-06T14:47:00.000+12:00

No-one ever seems to take the over pass between AUT and Albert Park. Presumably some planning requirement meant that had to be built to allow students to cross busy Wellesley Street. Maybe it's also because winding up that ramp onto the overpass one covers five times the distance of just crossing the road itself. I wound my way up there. On a rainy day. To peer over the edge...

Fujichrome Sensia 100, Feb 2011

Playtime

2011-04-04T16:34:00.000+12:00

We took some sweet family portraits with Yvonne's beautiful great big family last week. But that's not the point of this post. The point of this post is one of the things I love most about this job......playtime! While Coralee was off with the big kids getting some posed portrait type shots....I was tumbling around in the grass with the littlies. Funny how it took a whole hour to get these guys to smile for a group shot.....but as soon as you just let them play....I've got grass-stains on my jeans. haha. It was worth it!

A short break in editing....

2011-03-31T16:07:00.000+13:00

I've spent all day editing some images from Andrew and Sarah's wedding day. I'm not gonna lie, it was super dimly lit in that church and a challenging task to photograph indeed. It was one of those churches that is as dark as anything, but with massive stained glass windows streaming rays of light in just to keep you on your toes with your exposures! Rest assured, as always, Coralee & I captured some GREAT photographs (which we'll be ready to share before you know it), but I felt like posting this image below right now because it's one of those small rewards you get after toiling over images all day. You see, this image started out life as pretty much a throw-away. The ISO is through the roof and it was ridiculously underexposed. My flash fired but the flash captured more of the foreground than the subjects tucked away in the entranceway there. I'd just turned my attention back to the bride after capturing each of the bridesmaids making their entrance. I didn't have time to adjust my exposure when I saw Sarah and her mother sharing a little moment through the viewfinder so I just clicked and made do with what I had. Turns out....this image wasn't a throwaway. I brought it back from the 'maybe' pile, and with a little bit of love (and a lot of natural ISO grain), I think she scrubbed up nicely - don't you!? These are always my favourite moments on wedding days....the candid, unexpected, opportunistic, luck-of-the-draw ones. The images that are impossible to plan...but you just have to keep your eye on the ball and be ready for them when they come. Yeah. Long post. Heck, it was nice for me just to take a break out from editing. Off for a quick spin around the block with Spencer before I get back to it. Hope you're having a sweet day. Alex.

Meet Spencer - the acrobatic puppy

2011-03-29T13:28:00.000+13:00

Continuing on in our little 'Meet Coralee' series (part 1, part 2)...how about a Meet Spencer!? If you didn't already know, Coralee and I are crazy about our little Cavoodle. It's embarassing (yeah, the name Cavoodle - but also our infatuation with her), but she actually is the cutest little companion a photographer could ever ask for. She's always up for a location scout (although sometimes she'll scout a little too far or for a little too long) and when it comes time to huddle in front of the computer and engage in some serious editing, she's more than happy to curl up in a ball and keep our feet warm for as long as it takes.

If only Spencer was as infatuated with us. Unfortunately it's tennis balls which are her one true love. Lately she's begun to take flight when we play fetch. Shes growing up and learning to be less gumby, and catch the ball in the air. Stuff like that. I promise this is the final post today. Just working my way through some films, that's all!

Fujichrome Sensia 100 - Auckland City, Feb, 2011

On top of the world in the Far North...

2011-03-29T13:13:00.000+13:00

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to take a university class on a field trip around the Far North. How beautiful is our country that I could be on top of the world one minute, and in the depths of an ancient Kauri forest the next!? I feel lucky to have taken in the view from the top of that hill! It's an exclusive private property which is only really accessible if you have millions of dollars to buy a little estate there. Kind of a shame really. This is a part of New Zealand with one of richest, earliest histories. Where the very first Europeans settled and gave their first Christian church services etc. Too many good stories. I got to hear a few on top of the mountain and beneath the forest. Enjoy.

Fujichrome Sensia 100, Feb 2011, Purerua Peninsula & Puketi Kauri Forest, NZ.

Slipping through the cracks...

2011-03-29T11:13:00.000+13:00

Sometimes I'll shoot a roll (or rolls) of film, get it back, then just forget about it forever. Mostly it's because I'm just not feeling the images. I hate that feeling when you see the film developed and for whatever reason it's not what you'd intended. I almost let this random roll from the Mamiya 645 Super slip through the cracks but luckily when I was rearranging folders on the hard drive it caught my attention. I've been enjoying the privilege of occasionally shooting with this medium format camera for far too long. It was kindly lent to me and I fear that I've massively overstayed my welcome in the time I've had it. So, before it goes back to it's rightful owner (THANKS BECKY!), heres a few frames from a summer's evening spent in Hahei with good friends. Have a great day everyone. I'm off to pick up more films. Fingers crossed this next lot is more satisfying. Don't even get me started on the roll of film Coralee had in the Holga camera pictured!....we shot the entire roll on long exposure 'B' mode instead of regular shutter 'N' mode. Rookie mistake :-)

Mamiya 645 Super, Feb, 2011, Hahei NZ, Kodak Portra 160NC.

Man vs. Plane

2011-03-19T21:02:00.000+13:00

Tonight's moon was supposed to appear way larger than normal - "the biggest in almost 20 years" they told us. So, I headed on up the mountain to see what I could see. As it turned out, the clouds blocked the view of the moon until it was high in the sky - past the point where it's close to the buildings and seems to be huge. I'd actually put away my camera by the time it even emerged at all. Still, I burnt a few frames anyway. I kinda liked this one - Man vs Plane...

I peered into the crater...
Just as I'd packed down all of my gear, the moon appeared. There was, no kidding, about one hundred Japanese men up there taking photos with their giant-sized Canon telephoto lenses. I have this thing where I don't really want to take a photo of a moon sitting abstractly in the sky once it's past the skyline anyways. So I just let them be and pulled out my phone...

It was super bright. I wish you'd been there with me...

Because there was approximately 1000 lenses simultaneously pointed towards the moon, I decided to give her a rest and point my lens somewhere else. The clouds were doing some swirling awesomeness and I fell in love with my city all over again...

The black and white accentuated the swirliness even more...

Before I finally began my descent home, I snapped the whole panorama. It was a fantastic sunset. Pretty much everyone I know was posting images to Facebook. We were all in different places, but our eyes were all on the same sky. For some reason, that thought makes me feel nice. Have a good weekend y'all...

Twos & Threes cafe opening featuring Avalanche City & Jocee Tuck

2011-03-16T09:35:00.000+13:00

Our good friends Toni & Liv of Material Creative invited us along to document the opening of Twos & Threes. The new cafe is in the atrium of Laidlaw College and, as usual, the girls have done an amazing job creating a beautiful, inviting, visually inspiring, sit a while and hang out space...At least, that's the impression I got on this evening...in the dark....when it was jam-packed with people.

The evening centered around performances by Josie Tuck and Avalanche City (Avalanche City whom you might recognize from this previous post, or come to think of it, off the TV and all over the radio lately! - Did you hear that Love, Love, Love went number one in the whole of NZ!? Legend, Dave!).

It was the kind of dim light where you don't really want to use the flash but you should be. The kind of light where you have to crank the ISO to crazy levels of ISOyness even though you know you shouldn't. Regardless, I got a bunch of sweet shots throughout the evening. Here's just a few highlights that I'm feeling at the moment. Enjoy...

An Imagining the City Wedding - Jayne & Zack - Auckland Wedding Photographer

2011-03-15T10:26:00.000+13:00

Remember meeting Jayne & Zack? These guys were too cute! They came all they way from Afghanistan and the United States to be married in a registrar's office in Auckland. I wish I could tell you more of their story - but it might be classified information. Maybe not, but it's also 1am and I'm rapidly fading!

Zack and Jayne's may be the only wedding that I ever get to photograph in a t-shirt. Come to think of it! I hope I wasn't underdressed, heh, sorry guys! Tanya came along to be a second witness (thanks Tans!) then Coralee and I had a blast hanging out with them across the city the next day before they set out to explore some more of the country on their own.

We tried to do this one a little differently. We looked for interesting textures and frames. Tried to use the built environment a little more rather than nature. Stuff that we mightn't usually be able to shoot in a more traditional wedding environment...an Imagining the City style wedding - if you will. Here's a little smattering of the images I've been working through thus far. Bon Voyage guys! More, many more, will be on their way across the ocean to you really soon!

Watercolours

2011-03-11T22:40:00.000+13:00

Just in the process of emptying and backing up tonights memory card from an Avalanche City show for a new cafe that's opened at Laidlaw College. I just grabbed this one . It's straight out of the camera....doesn't it look like a watercolour? Combination of overexposure, high ISO, wide aperture & a touch of hand shake for good measure :-)

Her Majesty The Queen...

2011-03-10T15:46:00.001+13:00

I'm currently working my way through Zack & Jayne's wedding which took place in the Auckland registry office. Soon I'll have a few more worth sharing. But for the time being, here's an image that's captivated me. I love that there is a framed portrait of the Queen looming in the corner as you're married....and on this day, I loved even more the light streaming in through the venetian blinds. Difficult to photograph?...yes...but I'm always up for a challenge :-)

Kerikeri Wedding Photographer - Nicola & Andrew - the first frame emerges

2011-03-02T16:19:00.002+13:00

As we speak I'm sitting in the dim corner of this room engaged in an editing marathon. An epic battle, mano-a-mano with Nicola & Andrew's images. Spencer's zonked out on the floor at my feet. She has recently figured out that the wooden floor offers a cool napping spot amidst this summer's heat and humidity. I was feeling lonely and exhausted and my wrist ached from being constantly attached to the mouse so I picked out these images to share. I picked them for many of the reasons they probably shouldn't be photographs worth sharing, but it's because of these that I reckon they are! Does that sentence even make sense? Let me expand...

You see, I was in the process of running down the hillside to find the shot...the sun was HARSH...the guests were in the way (not to mention, the sun umbrellas!)...a groomsman's head is behind Andrew's...you can even see Coralee's little head there in the bottom right corner (of course, she was poised and ready with a clear shot). It's cluttered. But despite all of these things - they're still photographs that I'm drawn to. I like the depth and the celebratory feel. It feels exactly like I remember the moment on the day. That's the kind of image that I like the most. Nicky & Andrew, if you're reading this, I'd say we're only a couple of days away from having you reunited with your photographs. I hope that this will tie you over until then. We had a blast at your wedding. It really was an awesome day!

Meet Zack and Jayne - Auckland Wedding Photographer

2011-02-25T11:40:00.000+13:00

Meet Zack and Jayne! I've just returned from hanging out this morning with the lovely Zack and Jayne in Auckland City where they were married at the registry office! We brought along Tanya to be the second required witness and it was a rad experience indeed. Congratulations you guys! Coralee and I are looking forward to hanging out a little more over the weekend....but until then, here's a bit of a peek. Heh, I can't hide it...I love wedding days!

Gotta get to that wedding!

2011-02-21T18:15:00.001+13:00

A couple of weeks ago when Coralee and I tweeted about barely making it to Zoe and Joe's Gisborne wedding, we really weren't kidding....see! The first image is the torrent of waters before we got the courage to cross. Four wheel drives had just begun to try their luck. Many had turned back. The second image is the same road, 24 hours later. Who'd have known!? A few more images from our flooded journey follow. Stay dry, people. Stay dry.

Mamiya 645 Super, Kodak Portra 120VC

Behind the Scenes - Coromandel Wedding Photographer

2011-02-20T22:48:00.000+13:00

Otama Beach, Coromandel Peninsula, NZ. Once the bustle of the ceremony was over, and the bridal party had begun to make their way up to the reception festivities, we had the chance to relax with the beautiful Hayley and Matt on their own. While Coralee's the best at photographing these more intimate moments....I hung back and captured some frames from the shadows.... We can't wait to sit down with a cup of tea and begin to tackle these images. Some goodies in there for sure :-)

Imagining the Wedding...

2011-02-06T15:55:00.000+13:00

Sometimes there are images that just don't make the cut for the weddings we blog about and share on Facebook. That doesn't mean that they can't be shared on Imagining the City, right? I liked this one too much to let it slip under the radar...

Abandoned Buildings, Gisborne

2011-02-06T09:15:00.000+13:00

On the drive home from shooting a wedding in Gisborne, I noticed these abandoned buildings across the Waipaoa River from State Highway 2 - somewhere after Ormond and before you get to 'the gorge'. I found them on the map below. Can anyone tell me more certainly what they are?

Anyhow, the urban (rural?) explorer in me jumped at the chance of some unfamiliar ruins to wander and explore. I excitedly swerved in the direction of the crumbling buildings and promptly loaded up the Mamiya 645 Super which always awaits patiently for moments like these in the boot. I think I may have read somewhere that these are an abandoned meatworks. But I'm not positive. We really couldn't hang around long enough. You see, while exploring places like this really excites me...Coralee, on the other hand, was fearful and worrysome.

It was a perfectly sunny sky. Nearby residences, jumping a fence labelled 'Danger, Private Property', and the sound of dogs barking in the distance was enough to have her right on edge. She wanted to return to the car. I insisted she come explore. You can imagine the debate that ensued. As Coralee grasped the keys from my pocket, I hurridly scuffled between the buildings. They are really decrepit. Concrete hangs from steel threads, threatening to cave in at any moment. Ironically (if indeed they are a meatworks), I was startled to discover a herd of cattle sheltering beneath the largest structure in the shade. I approached slowly. Carefully. Quietly. Sometimes a bull would emerge from behind a nearby pillar and frighten me. It was then that I became a little nervous too. I've not spent too much time around livestock and each small movement I made prompted heavy sighs from the bulls. Their feet kicked up dust and every single one of their eyes was glued to me. Their horns were looking sharper then ever.

I never got to explore the shelving under there. Engines. Trucks. Counters and cupboards. Rusty hooks. Apparatus lay as if it had not been touched since the day the factory shut it's doors. In my hurry, I couldn't find a way up to the higher levels. That is, if the flooring up there still even exists. I'd love to go back. You should come too. The photographs aren't much, but it was certainly a thrill. One of those days that you really feel alive.... Enjoy!

Gisborne, Jan, 2010 - Mamiya 645 Super, 80mm f1.9, Kodak Portra 160VC & 400NC

View Larger Map

The Bayonets, Lydia Cole, Avalanche City, The Art of Sleeping

2011-02-05T15:20:00.000+13:00

Last night. The Bayonets, Lydia Cole, Avalanche City, The Art of Sleeping (Brisbane). Good friends. Good times. Organized by my good buddy Joel Bremner.

5DmkII, 85mm 1.8, 50mm 1.4

Imagining the City: The 2011 Inaugural Annual Print

2011-02-01T23:15:00.005+13:00

It is rather proudly that I introduce to you the first ever Imagining the City annual limited edition print series. As each calendar year turns over I find myself reflecting on the thousands of frames captured. Some are memorable, unforgettable even, while others sit in dusty piles of negatives in that cane basket in the corner. Or on 2010's external drives number 1,2,3 or 4. Coralee and I love nothing more than seeing our hard work put to (photographic) paper. So without further ado, I present to you:

2011 ImaginingTheCity.com annual print series (limited to twenty numbered sets)
...the edge of where the ocean meets the land

Over the past few weeks I have been busily working away between weddings to bring these super awesome high quality photographic prints to life. Each set contains three professionally framed black and white photographs which featured on Imaging the City blog some stage during 2010. The three images were produced using three separate cameras on three different black and white films. Those cameras include some of my favourites....The legendary Olympus Trip 35, An original 1961 Canonet Rangefinder and a trusty Canon EOS3000.

Each frame measures 10x12 inches. The black and white prints were produced at one of Auckland's premier photographic labs and are surrounded by a white mat with a black core which produces a cool black bevel around the print. The series is intended to be displayed as one piece (either vertically or horizontally) and will be limited to the sale of twenty numbered sets. For this reason I won't be offering individual prints for sale. Accompanying the set will be a short description by me, C. Alex de Freitas.

If you're interested, each set will be sold for $175NZD. Delivery is free (by my motorcycle!) within the greater Auckland area. However, I'm happy to ship them nationally or internationally for you. Just holla and I'll get a shipping quote.

The truth is, $175NZD is only barely enough to cover the costs of the framing, mounting hardware, and the prints themselves. Have you tried framing anything lately!?!? It's ridiculous! But that's cool, because at this stage I'd rather just see some of the photographs find good homes on all of your walls (or perhaps, boatsheds, as I've pictured below).

If you're interested in viewing a set in real life, you're more than welcome to come for a cup of tea and see my own. They are no longer hanging at the Stanley Point boatsheds. If you're interested in purchasing a numbered set for yourself, then get in touch by using the contact link above which takes you to the contact page on our website. It's EASY to pay. I'm happy with cash, cheques, bank transfer, or even PayPal if you feel like busting out the credit card.

I'm really stoked to be able to offer these to you guys, my friends and family. I put in heaps of effort making sure everything was on the highest quality, acid-free, professional grade materials. I know you'd bring the photos, the cameras, and myself a lot of joy if you decided to grab a set to adorn your walls.

Choice one!
Let's hang/highfive soon.

Alex
Imagining the City

(the real) Stanley Point

2011-02-01T21:35:00.003+13:00

To say that Stanley Point is a well-utilised photography spot in Auckland would be an understatement! The bold tin shed and pastel grey boatlockers make a perfect summer's day backdrop. Understandably, gazillions of professional photographers and amateurs alike take their subjects there...us included! This post is about what your missing when you're viewing those pretty engaged couples. The real purpose of the Stanley Point ferry terminal....for doing bombs. Big, badass, bombs! At any given high tide the kids will be out. I headed over there for a different purpose altogether - one which is quite big news and will hopefully be revealed tomorrow evening! (update: read big news here) But I couldn't help but ask these kids to climb up on the shed one last time to show me their best....enjoy!

Cory + Philippa - the medium format frames

2011-01-27T23:32:00.002+13:00

At Becky & Paul's wedding we shot a few rolls of black and white film. I sent them off to be processed. Stay tuned for a peep at the results of that. When it came to Cory & Philippa's wedding the following week, I suddenly realised there was still half a roll left in the camera I'd neglected to send away. You know the rest of the story. It was a perfect day. The mood struck for some film. Cory and Philippa were stunning. I got a few in focus. And a few not so much. 120 is awesome. I'm in love with the Mamiya 645. Black and White film is expensive and time consuming (especially when I get such great results from c-41 B&Ws). But it's something I look forward to whenever the opportunity presents itself. More weddings in film? Yes please!

Wedding details...

2011-01-25T20:15:00.000+13:00

Of course, we've been hard at work photographing and editing to our little hearts' content. You can (as always) view more comprehensive albums at our Facebook page. Sometimes though, it's the little details that catch my eye on a wedding day. At Phillippa's wedding it was the '55 Chevy. At Becky and Pauls - the beautiful piano sitting quietly in the corner of the room. I like to think once Coralee and I had left, and the guests had started to let their hair down, that someone pulled up a seat and played a song or two as the guests all sung along in chorus. Suppose I'll never know for sure :-)

O, Stormy Night!

2011-01-24T00:37:00.000+13:00

If I'm gonna head out on nights like this more often....I'm gonna need to invest in a more weatherproof camera! (Fingers crossed she still turns on tomorrow)

Panasonic LX3, ISO 1600, Dynamic Black & White Mode (jpg)

'55 Chevrolet

2011-01-15T21:57:00.001+13:00

The most terribly frustrating and boring part of photographing weddings in methodologically copying all of the files from all of the memory cards onto hard disk. It's boring because 70Gb of files takes a freaking long time. It's frustrating because as each new image pops up on the display you get excited and want to get down to editing right away but you cant! (For the record - Coralee's watching a movie on TV while I do this! haha)

I couldn't help but grab this one as it popped up. It just felt very 'Imagining the City'. Don't get me wrong now....Cory and Philippa's wedding was AMAZING!....Pip was BEAUTIFUL!....Everyone looked crazy FANTASTIC! But on this day I was particularly excited about....the CAR. A '55 Chevy. pastel, sparkling, adorned in lace perfectly suited to the theme for the day. It was tu meke! Now, back to that import. Two cards to go...

Bay Belle

2011-01-14T18:54:00.000+13:00

I've had a few Olympus Trip 35s over the years. You could say we share a simple love. Pointing (hoping) and shooting. I think this was incarnation number 3 or 4. Anyway, I decided to shell out and put some really nice black and white film in the wee lil fella for a weekend away in the Far North. Little did I know, these were the only shots I'd get before the lens (which is meant to be fixed on there for good) fell off. That's right, it fell off. Goodbye little guy. If only we could've shared a few more rolls. But never fear....my latest Olympus Trip is immaculate. A keeper for sure...

Ilford FP4 PLUS, ISO 125, Labour Weekend 2010, Bay of Islands, NZ.

Meet Coralee Pt. II

2011-01-14T08:00:00.003+13:00

Perhaps you remember last year when I invited you to 'meet Coralee'. I had just developed the first roll from the Mamiya 645 Super and had little idea what was going to come out the other end. Now, it's 2011 and we're well and truly into our first official season as wedding photographers. We love it! Waking up exhausted and barely able to stand the morning after a wedding and editing images over coffee with your wife truly is the dream. We'll never stop chasing it - I promise! Since then I've been lucky enough to get a few more rolls of film through the camera that has affectionately become known as, The Beast. Learning its limitations and the characteristics of different films. So without further ado I bring to you 'Meet Coralee Pt. II'. Out scouting shady locations for Rebecca and Paul's wedding on the most sunny scorching day of the year. Jan 8th, 2011. Here's to a year of many more rolls of medium format! I'd love to take a portrait of YOU with this camera. I love faces. Seriously. Call me and I'll come running!

Mamiya 645 Super, Kodak Portra 160NC.

No words - just vacation images...

2011-01-13T23:55:00.000+13:00

Brisbane/Gold Coast, December, 2010 - Olympus Trip 35 - Some old roll of Fuji 35mm from the Supermarket

Let's do this then...

2011-01-05T22:27:00.002+13:00

Lets do this! 2011 weddings officially begin tomorrow with the lovely Kelly and Aaron. To celebrate the occasion I picked up a lens that only dreams are made of - the 85mm 1.2. I'll be closer to the action than ever before. Coralee and I are off to bed with pre-wedding nerves. The good kind. Here we go!!

Hiatus

2010-12-31T09:58:00.000+13:00

It's been a while. Two weeks relatively disconnected from the world in Australia followed by more holidaying in NZ means the cameras have been resting and we've been doing things oldschool and offline. This photograph was taken yesterday on the Coromandel Peninsula. Kuaotunu. A holiday snap more like a scene from the Twilight series than a sunny NZ summer on the coast. Fingers crossed new year's day will start 2011 with a glimpse of sunshine. Hope you are happy and relaxed wherever you may have found yourself on the final day of this decade.

Megan and Lily

2010-12-19T11:38:00.000+13:00

When I was fortunate enough to first get my hands on the Mamiya 645 Super I decided to set out and teach myself the ways of the ancient art of portraiture. I ran a few films through earlier this year and then for various reasons (extreme PhD failure stress explosions of the mind) the camera has just sat silently away on the shelf for far too long.

We get the chance to use it at a few weddings this January and I'm determined to master it's 1980s medium format charm in 2011.

I wanted to experiment with portraiture. But I wanted to ensure I did it Photography by Coralee & Alex style. Did it work? Are you intrigued? Aren't Megan and little Lily the cutest!?

Lydia

2010-11-03T12:12:00.001+13:00

Mamiya 645 Super. 80mm f1.9. Kodak Portra 160NC. October, 2010.

The beauty of instant films...

2010-10-31T22:07:00.000+13:00

Our least favourite part of photographing weddings is having to wait so long before we can share a few images with the bride, groom and the rest of world. Other jobs, PhDs and hours of post-processing prohibit us from sharing the fruits of our labour right away. With that said, instant films are exactly that.....instant. So without further ado, I present you Ben & Rachael's wedding party in all of their Polaroid 600 glory...

We wish them a SUPER honeymoon in Japan. Rach, Ben....when you return we'll have a nice big pile of photographs for you to enjoy.

Bon Voyage!

(Oh, and bridal party...if you're wondering...I stole your Polaroids back!....Haha...I really wanted to scan them. I'll make sure Rachael gets them back safe and sound really soon!)

Joel

2010-10-21T15:52:00.000+13:00

Joel - Last Monday - 50mm f1.4 - ISO through the roof:

Let them eat cake!

2010-10-21T07:30:00.000+13:00

This is Tilly. When Coralee posted a long lost Holga print of Kahu's wedding cake it reminded me of another cake captured on film... Tilly's test-run of Toby's wedding cake. I ate more of this bad-boy than I should've! Trust me....that frosting!.....to die for. Keep in mind this was only a practice. The wedding cake was a three tiered monster. I saw the kitchen post-baking. There was frosting on the ceiling and walls. Not even kidding! Serious Tilly - Serious CAKE!
Mamiya 645, Kodak160NC, Kodak BW400CN, October, 2010.

Remember Phil? (Also - a request for your face!)

2010-10-20T18:59:00.001+13:00

Remember Phil? Well here's his other half....Tanya.
I'm falling in love with faces, portraits, eyes that tell stories and skin that's been far off places that I can't even imagine. I'd love to take your picture if you're game. Just think of it as an experiment. Me learning the ways of my monster film camera. No-one even has to see the results if you dont like. If you're game....message me. I'll find you. Anywhere in NZ. I promise! ...Portrait roadtrip!

If you needed a little context....here's them both not at all awkwardly posed in their back garden :-)

Random Holga Wednesday...

2010-10-20T18:06:00.000+13:00

Old films that slip through the gaps

2010-10-19T23:38:00.000+13:00

You know when you discover a little film that's been sitting inside some random camera for months and months or even years and then you hurriedly get it developed and sigh......reliving the days long gone by?.............yeah.

Spiral

2010-10-18T11:15:00.001+13:00

On my recent jaunt around downtown, I stumbled upon a staircase that I've ascended and descended many times before, yet, never paused to breathe or take a photograph...

Auckland Street Photography

2010-10-14T17:12:00.000+13:00

All the film I've been developing lately has been taking it's toll on our bank accounts....so, yesterday afternoon I decided to set out with an old flame - my wee Panasonic point'n'shoot. It was a wet, miserable spring afternoon and I captured a few OK frames as I took the long way to class (walked around in circles for an hour).

Engagements: Ben and Rachael

2010-10-13T11:39:00.000+13:00

I know that I like to post gritty black and white photos of nothing in particular....but it should come as no surprise that I also like engagements and smiles and butterflies and candy. Haha. We had such a great time with Rachael and Ben over the weekend. If you haven't seen the entire set then head over to our Facebook page. Do you 'like' us yet? We'd be so flattered if you did! Maybe even more so if you liked us so much that you decided to share our page with all your friends :-)

With summer well and truly on its way I hope that all of our weekends can be this much fun. Keep your eyes on Coralee's blog too.....because she'll no doubt have a few more goodies from this day to share.

Evening fly fisherman - Lake Taupo - September 2010

2010-10-12T10:01:00.000+13:00

Mamiya 645 Super - Kodak BW400CN

Holiday Snaps...

2010-10-08T11:26:00.002+13:00

School holiday family outing...

Focus on the eyes, son.

2010-10-07T13:54:00.000+13:00

They say for a good portrait the focus should always focus fall perfectly on the eyes. They eyes are where the viewer's attention is immediately drawn. I suppose that ruling would make this photograph of Phil a failure. But then again, photography isn't about rules. It's about breaking them. Or something like that. I shot a couple of rolls through the Mamiya 645 Super of friends. I suppose I learnt the hard way that f1.9 is near impossible to lock in a decent focus. Perhaps I'm too unsteady. Perhaps my glasses are a little out. Either way, next roll we'll be going for a little more forgiving f2.8.

Stanmore Bay

2010-10-06T19:37:00.000+13:00

Working my way through a few films from the past couple of months. A leisurely stroll along Stanmore Bay. Rainbow - Bike - Bird. I want to move to the Hibiscus Coast bigtime!
Olympus Trip 35, Kodak BW400CN, August 2010.

Antiques

2010-10-06T14:31:00.003+13:00

While in Palmerston North photographing the Marbeck's store for the Material Creative gals we went to this huge store filled with antique scores to pick up a final little table to sit in the corner. Rooms and rooms of mean as finds! I'm sure prices in Auckland are 10x what they were in Palmerston North. I came back with a few frames for Coralee....but I should've come back with a heap more!

Olympus Trip 35, Kodak BW400CN, Palmerston North, July 2010

Untitled

2010-10-06T12:30:00.001+13:00

Nothing like toasting a few marshmallows over a fire to mark the beginning of summer....
Mamiya 645 Super, Kodak160NC, 35mm f2.8, handheld 1/8 Sec, Whangaparoa - October, 2010.

From the road: Taranaki

2010-09-29T21:02:00.002+13:00

These images had a story. But I deleted it and instead give you them as they are. Second roll through the Mamiya 645 Super. Perhaps I need to pay more attention to precision focussing - the infinity focus feels too close. And place less faith in the prism finder's built in light-meter. Not as happy overall as the first roll, but still, we are coming to terms with one another and learning each other's ways. Another roll perhaps!?
Kodak 400VC - Mamiya 645 Super (35mm f2.8 & 80mm f1.9) - Taranaki/Taupo September 2010

Walk through the ol' 'hood...

2010-09-23T18:43:00.000+12:00

It was not long ago that I lived amongst the railway lines and container stacks. I'd walk this route frequently to get pizza or Coralee that cheeseburger she craved at 2am. Sometimes I'd walk it just for no reason at all. I remember dodging smashed bottles on the sidewalk so that Spencer didn't get glass in her wee paws and I remember Sal's Pizza only ever being a bike ride away. I remember boisterous concert goers after Vector Arena concerts and clambering down prickly slopes to the railway tracks where we'd explore the empty carriages and speak to the homeless guys passing time under the bridge.

Today I was simply off for a stroll to renew my drivers licence. Hooray for not having an unrecognizable photo of 15-year-old-me on it anymore. I took these photos for you. Or perhaps me? I'm not even really sure. Enjoying lately pushing the ISO of the LX3 in broad daylight. The shutter struggles to expose at 1/2000th of a second and the grainy effect is more often than not, pleasing.

Film, friends, and photographing for fun

2010-09-21T15:40:00.006+12:00

Toby's getting married next week. We spent a weekend away on the Coromandel Peninsula recently to celebrate the fact. It was everything a weekend away should be - poker, mates, sun, basketball and, of course, the stag dressing up in a wonder woman costume. I'm sure many young nerds' fantasies will never quite be the same after viewing this first image. I shot a bunch of supermarket Fuji films. Every roll was great! So I just had to share a handful of them with the world.

This blog - my own little corner of Photography by Coralee & Alex - has tended to be quite a personal one long before we even owned a camera that costs twice as much as our car. Perhaps I'm stuck in the 1999 days of spilling your guts on Livejournal. Nevertheless, it'll always be my own personal photography that I enjoy the most. The hanging with friends. Picking up that envelope of prints from the camera store. $30 cameras off of Trade Me. The empty streets as I walk home in the rain. So enjoy it. Bear with me. Or forget about me and just follow Coralee instead.

Whatever your thoughts - while everyone's struggling to keep up with the latest CS5 skills, insert fake sun-flares into their images and fill their frames with vintage props - I reckon it'll always be images like these that we remember the most. Where we were, why, what the soggy grass smelt like and who we were with.

(for those who are interested - the entire set from the weekend can be viewed HERE)

Storm Play

2010-09-21T14:51:00.000+12:00