Wednesday, 26 December 2012

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year Cheer!

I know the year is not quite over yet, but I'm sure you all agree, 2012 full of all its magic and tragic events flew by us at what seems a split second behind the speed of light!

So I hope my fellow friends in the southern hemisphere had a super Christmas and enjoying family time as we prepare for New Years Eve and 2013.
Those of my northern hemisphere friends, Merry Christmas!  Hope your day is a stunning one.

Yesterday was a full on day for my family & I, full of many special times and delightful memories.  Thank you family! Naturally with new years fast approaching, I have been thinking of new years resolutions!
I must refine them, but hey they always change and some will be deemed unimportant eventually.  Things I am thinking of are:
Spend more quality time with my family, do more trekking, do more baking, finish my diploma, start up yoga again, take more photo's, blog more and save money for an overseas trip! 

I would love to read what you NY reso's are, together we can grow and support each other.  

Earlier this month Hubby and I took the future adults to Zealandia in Wellington.  http://www.visitzealandia.com/
Such a magical place, that is highly recommended, the entry I would liken to a Jurassic park scene, with a hugh protective fence and earthquake warning (Wellington, not a place I would want to be in an earthquake full stop).  But that aside, once you are in, you will be amazed.  A gentle walk leads you to beautiful native bird life, flora and fauna.  The lake is man made and suffers a bit of algae, but other than that it's a magical place and well worth the trip.  Here are a few snaps below...  



 


Zealandia also makes a beautiful wedding venue.  If you are looking for a unique venue where you are close to nature, this is undeniably your spot!  Check out their website, they have a wedding information pack to download for more information.  I had always wanted to check out Zealandia, however after booking Maura & Steve's wedding photography there, I had a firm reason to check out the venue.  It's not always possible to pre check wedding venues first, however I am glad I set the time aside!  I not only put my own mind at rest but my family had a fun well deserved trip away.     

Well as I sit on my couch writing and glancing over my lounge, I'm reminded that my house was hit by a mad Christmas pressie monster (or was it two monsters?) and I have housework to do ><, so I will leave you now to enjoy your festive time.  

I will be back with a special thank you and reminiscent blog for the year that was 2012!    

Tuesday, 25 September 2012

Pinterest - Wow!

Gosh, I am so sorry my readers, again I have been busy and not so active in online social media.  I promise I will be back with full force, when I am not sure.  You have not been forgotten, Promise!

I have just discovered Pinterest, well that's a lie, I have known about it pretty much since it started, but tonight decided I will start a page, I will add any Food and Wedding Inspirations I find, so please check it out:   http://pinterest.com/melissathorburn/

Lovely and Good Night!
Mel.

Sunday, 22 July 2012

I'm not after an Accolade!

I'm not after an accolade, but maybe someone to do my housework wouldn't go astray...Finally I have a new blog entry! 


I really hate it when I loose touch with friends, family and "blogging", I do apologise it has been a couple of months now since my last blog!  Confessions to make, I have been busy with my number one LOVE; my family! then my full time work as a Product Development Technologist, studying, photographic portrait and wedding assignments and a wee holiday to my favourite place Mt Ruapehu and Tongariro National Park.    


Life gets awesomely busy, I like it this way.  If I'm not busy, I'm not alive.  


I'm no "supermum", many people a lot more than I do.  


Yes I work Full time as well and it's in a non photographic role too!  I work in the food industry and have done for 20 years!  I love food and I love my work!  I know I am one of those lucky young photographers that has the security of a day job, but the thing is I want to do both and try to do them both well!   


On the side I been studying towards a Diploma in Digital Photography since early 2011.  I am studying part time, hence why it is not completed yet.  Watch this space, hopefully in 4 months time I will be sporting an official diploma!  What an achievement that will be.  Although I class myself as professional (part time) photographer, completely the diploma just formalises the fact that I'm serious about this passion and I'm no "fly by nighter" and I'm training to serve my clients in the best way I can.  


I also have been involved in the Hawke's Bay Photographic Society (HBPS) for many years.  A previous role as committee member and secretary for several years helped me immensely.  the people I have met and assisted in my previous roles with the society have been amazing.  HBPS is an affiliate of the Photographic Society of New Zealand.  I am also a student member of New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography (NZIPP), I owe a lot to this institute and their amazing team of volunteers and supporters.  If you are a young photographer, just starting out or even an experience photographer, I recommend that you do get in touch with NZIPP/PSNZ and find out about your local area branch and go along to some meetings to see what the national photographic institutes can do for you.


Well, this seems to be a long over due introduction and thanks for reading.  Many of you know what I do and are very supportive and I thank you for that.  


I have a major project to complete this year for my final paper and I have decided to write and photograph a cookbook.  Some of you may remember me mentioning a book earlier when I started this blog.  I have several ideas on a subject earlier on, some of them I will have to park until I have sufficient time for them.  But a big dream I do have is to write a vegetarian cookbook.  I always thought my first cookbook would be vegetarian, so now I have the opportunity, lets see if I can!  I have very limited time for this and I might have to call on some of my friends and family to help me in the process, borrowing equipment, kitchens and the "willing" use of your taste buds and stomachs!


Today I actually need to do some test shots for my book proposal.  Time wise I am on the wire, so I will finish up this blog to go and feed my camera and tummy!    


However before I go as a reward for reading my blog today, I would like to share some photo's from the past couple of months.  Firstly a Burlesque shoot, this is my gorgeous sister Marie whom was helping me out for an assignment.  A few holiday snaps and a sneak peek from a wonderful wedding I shot last weekend.  My next blog will be about the couple - Michael and Michelle from Perth, who chose to come to Hawke's Bay to get married!



  







My stunning sister Marie!

Mt Ngauruhoe at twilight

Mt Ruapehu at twilight

The old Hapuwhenua Viaduct - Old Coach Road, Ohakune. 
  
Michelle and Michael's big day 14th July 2012 






Talk again soon. 
Arohanui, Mel,          



Sunday, 20 May 2012

Good old fashion film

The last couple of weeks have been a tad busy with work, birthdays (my son turned 9 earlier this month), studies, not a lot of sleep but still a whole lot of dreaming! 

Last week saw me dust off the film camera for a school project.
Quite an exciting thing as it has been many years since I have shot film.  I used Kodak Professional ISO400 film and here are some of the results.  Apart from a wee crop on a couple of the shots, these are as they have been shot, no photoshop editing!  I had to refrain from it, yes it was hard but I wanted this project to be a pure film result, I feel the images ooze Retro and that is what I wanted!     

One of our moggies "BB" short for Big Boy.






Any film buffs out there?  Do you still shoot in film? There's something about the smell of film, I know those chemicals aren't the best.  But it's rather nostalgic when I pop open a film canister.  

I bought my first camera when I was 16 years old, it was a SLR Pentax.  I learnt to photograph in film, those where some years ago now, but I remember taking this camera with me everywhere (apart from school).  I used to document a lot of my teenage years.  My pony, my family, boyfriends and the food I cooked at polytechnic.  I don't think much has changed these days apart from the appendage is a more convenient digital SLR Canon and the documenting continues as I capture my children and clients memoirs.

Oh, and how many times do the young kiddies say after you have taken a digital image say "Can I see it?" as they race up to view the back of the camera.  Quite the history lesson when you shoot in film and say, "Well actually no, you can't.  There is no screen on this old thing, it's a film camera!"    

Lets hope film never goes obsolete!
I was told by a friend travelling to France a couple of years ago, they shoot a lot of film over there.  Hmmm, I have always wanted to go to France!

All images copyright of Melissa Thorburn Photography, 2012.

Sunday, 6 May 2012

Artists Wanted Competition

Melissa Thorburn: Click "Collect Me" to help me win $10,000 and a show in the most immense exhibition of art in New York City : Art Takes Times Square.

Saturday, 28 April 2012

Anniversary trip to Auckland

So for awhile now, I have been wanting to write about my last trip to Auckland.  My hubby and I celebrated our 10th year Wedding Anniversary late March, so to celebrate we headed off on a road tip for a couple of nights and a concert.  



Our Friday "Anniversary" night was spent wondering around the CBD, checking out the night life and our celebration meal was at the fine Sharakau Japanese Restaurant on Queen Street.  Paul indulged in a seafood sushi set and I a vegetarian bento box.  Clearly my eye's were bigger than my stomach!  But boy was it delicious.  One thing we miss in the Bay is a Japanese Restaurant.    

The Saturday we headed straight to the Domain, I did want to take Paul to the Mt Eden landmark as I enjoyed it so much at my last visit, but after spending most of the day at the domain and museum, we had to give that a miss.  I bet even with a week in Auckland with all the sights, one still would not get to do everything.  I look forward to when we take the kiddies up there.

The Auckland War Memorial Museum


These two top images were actually taken during my February Auckland visit.  However it was late in the day and was closed as I walked through the Domain.  This latest trip again we were blessed with fantastic weather.





The Charlton Light Machine Gun

Ok, there is oodles of history in the museum, so much to write about, but as I'm not a great writer, I wont go on too much. 

One thing that took my eye was this gun.  If you have not seen it before, this is a Charlton Rifle, it's a light machine gun designed and patented by an Englishman Mr Philip Charlton, living in New Zealand in 1941.  

Around 1500-2000 were assembled by woman in the Charlton Motor Workshop in Hastings, New Zealand.  It was built to fill a shortage of light machine guns at the time. 
In service1942-1945
Used byNew Zealand
Production history
DesignerPhilip Charlton
Designed1941
Produced1942-1945
VariantsElectrolux SMLE Model
Specifications
Weight16 lb (7.3 kg), unloaded
Length44.5 in (1150 mm)

Cartridge.303 British
Calibre0.303 inch (7.7 mm)
ActionGas-operated semi-automatic
Rate of fire600 rounds/minute
Muzzle velocity2,440 ft/s (744 m/s)
Effective range1,000 yards (910 m)
Maximum range2,000 yards (1830 m)
Feed system10-round magazine or 30-round Bren gun magazine
SightsSliding ramp rear sights, fixed post front sights  (sourced from Wikipedia)

     
It was a fully automatic rifle made from redundant "Lee-Enfield" rifles from the Boer War.  Designed to be used as a semi automatic rifle, however had the function to be used as a full  auto should it have been needed.  I'm loving the inventive and resourceful nature of Mr Charlton, however it saddens me as I think of it being used in war. 

Unfortunately there are very few of the Charlton rifles left as most were burnt in an accidental fire in a Palmerston North armoury.  Luckily for us there are a few survivors in museums in New Zealand and England.     

I have had to google a bit to find information about the rifle, please check out my Clipix folder to read some articles: http://www.clipix.com/clips.aspx?clipboardid=120834

Spit Fire

A beautiful lotus from the Winter Garden, Auckland Domain 
Apparently camera's aren't allowed in the winter garden.  Oops, didn't read that sign until after we had been in.

So after several hours at the Museum if was time to leave to visit friends and get ready for the concert.  

So after a wee rest from all our walking around the domain and museum, we headed out to visit friends Jacqui, Sean and their family.  Jacqui has been an awesome online friend for many years and "when in Rome" as they say, it was time to meet in person.  Awesome thing was Paul got on with Jacqui and her husband (I knew they would).  Well to be honest my hubby gets on with most people, he's a fantastic conservationist!  Thanks Jacqui, Sean and kiddies for a lovely hour or so, the historical and inspiration discussions we had!

Then it was onto the show, Blaqk Audio and Evanescence at the Vector Arena.  What excitement, Paul could hardly hold me down as I screamed out and jumped franticly.  Wow, finally after many years of being a fan of  bands AFI and Blaqk Audio, I got to see Davey Havok and Jade Puget live.  Sadly they only played for about 30 minutes and I wished I could have been there professionally photographing them with my DSLR camera.  The mobile and pocket camera just didn't cut the mustard with Davey's energy as he danced and jumped around.  Evanescence was awesome too, boy Amy can sing!  The night raced on too quickly.  And now a month later already it's like a distant memory.

After the show, Paul and I headed but into the CBD to find Davey!   OK, not much luck there, but Davey did tweet me which was nice.  A simple "thank you" reply to my tweet to him.  Then we headed to a Ken Yakitori Bar for supper.  That was delicious, we tried Ginkgo Nuts, quite different, but nice. A lovely way to end the night.  A shame our departure out of Auckland wasn't so good.

Yep our car broke down.  Not a nice feeling being strangled in a huge city on a Sunday.  There were lots of "What if's" and "If only it broke down on Saturday".  But life is life and we had to soldier on with a plan.  After the roadside assistance couldn't help and our car was towed away to a secure lock up, my cousin and his family kindly offered their home and a bed.  Thanks so much to Glen, Ashwin and Erika.  You were awesome company and I hope we can return the favour in time.  So after spending an extra night in the big smoke, the next day we pursued to get our car fixed.  Ever thankful to a mobile mechanic and before we knew it we were on our way home.

A huge thanks to my supportive Mum and bonus Dad for taking extra special care of our kiddies and my bro for house minding while we were away!  An awesome trip away experiencing new adventures and home is always great to come home to.  Now it must be time to plan another holiday, this time with the kiddies. 

Wednesday, 25 April 2012

ANZAC Day and a new find...

Firstly, Happy Anzac Day xxx  Lest we forget.

I caught most of the live dawn parade at Auckland's War Memorial Museum on TV this morning as my hubby was at the Hastings Dawn Parade.  Maybe next year when our children are a little older, we will all be able to go to.  As I watched TV I was welling up inside.  It is always moving to watch, but to actually participate a dawn parade must be something else.  I will have to take many tissues!


A great website for you to learn more about ANZAC is  http://www.anzac.govt.nz/significance/index.html   


I think it is awesome that the younger generations are embracing ANZAC, paying their respects and keeping it alive.  It is nearly 100 years since World War One.  My children will be nearly 12 and   8 years old then, it would be a worthy trip to Gallipoli if my hubby and I can save enough for it.




On another note, this morning I also discovered an online trading site Art Fire, it's an international site and full of really cool creative sellers.  Well it didn't take me long to find the cool vintage things and I bought a book that's 73 years old.  More on that when it arrives in the mail.  It might feature in a photo or two in time. 

I'm not sure if I will set up a selling page there, perhaps when my book is published ;)

Well I better go and socialise on this beautiful fine day.  I hope you all have a great day remembering those amazing men and women who fought for us, the animals they took with them to assist and those who lost their lives, so that we could have freedom.