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 service	1942-1945
Used by	New Zealand
Production history
Designer	Philip Charlton
Designed	1941
Produced	1942-1945
Variants	Electrolux SMLE Model
Specifications
Weight	16 lb (7.3 kg), unloaded
Length	44.5 in (1150 mm)
Cartridge	.303 British
Calibre	0.303 inch (7.7 mm)
Action	Gas-operated semi-automatic
Rate of fire	600 rounds/minute
Muzzle velocity	2,440 ft/s (744 m/s)
Effective range	1,000 yards (910 m)
Maximum range	2,000 yards (1830 m)
Feed system	10-round magazine or 30-round Bren gun magazine
Sights	Sliding 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. 

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. 

Picture Maker Manifesto

Once a upon a time there was a Manifesto of a Picture Maker

• Photographers are picture makers.  Picture makers are story tellers.
• Take your time, observe and record.
• A picture needs to speak to the observer, capture the emotional.
• The world is your canvas.  Start with your little corner of the world first.
• There should always be a fire inside of you and if it goes dim change what you are doing.
• Explore the unknown to keep the fire alive.
• The camera is not only your eyes, it is the paint and the picture is your voice.
• Rules are like tools, and tools can be broken.  But if you break them without reason or thought, then you are best to throw them out.
• You can never stage a missed event; it would be a lie if you did.
• A picture lacking technical skill is like ironing starch on your flannelette pj’s.
• A picture that is too technically correct is also like ironing starch on your flannelette pj’s.
• You may only have one shot at it, paint it carefully in your mind and perform with your eyes through the camera.
• Treat every moment like you are getting paid.  Be professional, but have fun too.
• Perform like you are getting paid top dollar even if you are not, dream a little, and pretend you are on a top model set.
• There may not always be a happy ending, not everyone will get your story.  Don’t let this discourage you, only you can create a happy ending for yourself!  Believe in yourself!

© Melissa Thorburn Photography 2011, All rights reserved.

Time

Well, today is my 10th year Wedding Anniversary, so Hubby and I had to stop off the see the church where our beautiful ceremony was held.

Well 10yrs on, it is standing proud as ever. We have since our big day there, attended many weddings and I have photographed many two. Each time with tears of joy in my eyes. 

So, to family and friends that have shared our day and been in our lives since, Thank you for being here. Here's to another 10 years xxxxxxxxxx

What have I been up to lately?

Versatile Jasmine

Hi everyone,  I am so sorry for I have not blogged for a few weeks.  I have been a wee busy with family, work, study, more work and business building and of course play time in the big smoke of Auckland.  Special thanks to couples that have booked weddings with me, I feel so honoured!  Next weekend I be photographing Simon and Megan's wedding, I'm so looking forward to capturing their special day. 

Recently I had two portrait sessions with two very athletic beauties.  Jasmine came to me to  help build her portfolio, which I was honoured to do.  It was a fun session with many quick changes, we shot 7 different outfits and I'm so pleased with the results.  For her first photo shoot, Jasmine did not show any nerves and was very confident in front of a camera.  Thanks to Jasmine and her friend Fleur for being there to help out and support Jasmine through this experience.    

Secondly was Cherry Boomb, I hadn't worked with Cherry before.  We had been trying to tee up a session for awhile.  Cherry is a treat to work with, her suitcase of clothing and accessories was bottomless!  Cherry has an alternative edge and yet she is still very versatile to deliver any look from contemporary, burlesque, conservative to steampunk and more .        

So I now have many images to help build my own portfolio.  Which is thankfully growing fast and with each shoot I do I feel my skills are growing as I explore new techniques.   With digital files and photoshop I tend to push an image as far as I can take it.  The in camera image often doesn't need touching up, if I have the studio lighting set up right!  Studio lighting sculpts beautifully.  However I thought I would show the progression in images below of Steampunk Cherry.       

Image on the left is as shot.  Image on right is with tones and exposure adjusted, fill light increased, saturated and vibrancy increased slightly.  I also added a skin softening effect, which is a pre set I have made to blur the skin slightly.  I love this finished image, especially how it has a metallic satin glow.  But even still I wanted a bit of an aged effect.

So I added an old paper effect (ok this is a filter effect), quite mechanical really and it's an effect that I am yet to teach myself.  Plus so dark vignetting to draw you in more.  

Please let me know what you think of the progression, what image do you like the best?  

This weekend I have invested time and money into more training with the notable photographer Sue Bryce, through CreativeLIVE :   http://www.creativelive.com/courses/glamour-photography-sue-bryce

WOW is all what is on my mind right now.  Sue is an amazing photographer and so pleased that she is sharing her skills and advice this way.  

From what I am learning from Sue so far is that I am on the right track re my eye lines, which is great!   But also learning amazing posing tips to accentuate the beauty of the human form.  And trusting my intuition which is something you can not buy, it's something that comes with experience.  

So I will leave you all now and hope you are enjoying the weekend.  The weather bomb has past the Hawke's Bay and sun is kind of out again, though not sure for how long. I hope that where ever you are that the weather has been kind to you and your love ones. I'm hoping to get out later to get some more landscape images for an assignment.  

Toodles, Mel.

  

    

Time for a new hobby or perfect an old one?

I have never been much of a sewer.  Always had sewing disasters; breaking needles, loosing patience, blowing up machines.  All which is rather sad considering my Mum is an ace at it.  My Mum mostly, but also with my Aunty, Nana and my eldest Sister helping made my gorgeous wedding outfit.  A four piece golden satin and silk number.  I'm feeling nostalgic as it was nearly 10 years ago, so I must post some wedding pic's.  Photography by Mark at Joshua Corporation, March 2002.  

If only sewing was a talent you instantly inherit.   But you know what I would take up sewing if I had this gorgeous machine like the new limited edition 160 Singer.  But I could also do with a new camera equipment as well.   

Knitting, on the other hand was something that did gel when I was younger.  I managed to knit myself a cabled cricket jersey, crochet pillow covers and blankets.  Fairly basic things, but still fun.  Though of lately with working, young children, writing, internet and blogging zapping my time, I haven't knitted since my children were little and I wonder if I would still remember how to cast on?  

Crafts such as these are such a precious thing, often taught by Mums and Grandmothers.  Have you thought about this too in the past?  I'm feeling the need to get back to my roots and brush up on some skills so I can pass them onto my children and their children.

  

To my Daughter Amber..."I will make your cake and decorate it, but just please don't ask me to make your wedding gown!"        

A Tribute

Day 34-366

A tribute to the 1931 Hawke's Bay Earthquake

Hastings City Centre 3rd February 2012

Today, 81 years ago at 10.47am a 2 & a 1/2 minute 7.8 magnitude earthquake shook Hawke's Bay.  The earthquake and fires to follow  without remorse took the lives of 256 people, with thousands injured.  Hastings and Napier cities were hit the most, both cities were almost levelled.   

There is so much more to tell about this earthquake, many of you know so much already.  My Nana has shared her tragic memories with me of the quake, to endure such a thing as a young school child would have been horrific.

Today in the centre of Hastings City there was a tribute, I was unable to attend due to work commitments, however upon taking my son into town after school we were able to site the tribute "HB Tribune Ltd" papers hanging up.  Lovely to see and read some pages quickly.  I will go back to read some more.

I hope to photograph some more of Hawke's Bays building's too over the next year,  Art Deco and Spanish Mission architecture is a love of mine.  With being a born and breed Hastings girl, there is plenty of it here to amuse me, thanks to the rebuild.   

Sadly earthquakes are much to common in New Zealand and in the Pacific Ring of Fire.  Often I wonder why we live here,  yes it's a beautiful to be and we are very lucky to be here.  But we can't live in fear. 

Years pass, People grow stronger cities rebuild, some a little faster than others.  I constantly think of Christchurch and my friends there.  Those Southerners are a hardy lot and I wish them much love and support!  I wonder what Christchurch architecture will be like when they are able to rebuild.  Will it be a themed style, eco friendly, Advant Guarde or plain Jane Modern and up most safe?