Stradbroke Silhouette

Today's image is from Stradbroke Island. While Katie was taking a nap, I managed to go exploring and find the perfect place to take photos of the sunset/stalk people playing on the beach.

Here is a brilliant short film in the spirit of Halloween: http://artisticthings.com/between-a-short-film-by-tim-bollinger/

Reflect

This photograph was also taken the weekend I went to Rakino Island. I took it while on a water taxi on the way back to Auckland (notice the Skytower and the CBD on the horizon). Last year, it was Meredith's and my goal to make a movie a block, but we never did it because we got too busy with class. Well, after reading an article about Johnny Otto, somehow I think saying "I'm busy" isn't going to cut it anymore: check out his film project here. Also, I read and interesting article today about net neutrality.... would you pay to access certain sites (think cable packages)? Click here to read the article.

Lone Dock

I took this photo while on Rakino Island a few weeks ago (remember my post about it here). The bright light above the hill is from Auckland. I tried to capture a few night photographs while I was on the Island, but the cloud cover and bright lights from Auckland hindered my ability to capture the stars trails. Oh well, I'll keep trying. However, I wanted a quick shot of the island dock and this is what I got.

Last night I found post on the Paste Magazine website (it, along with Nylon, is my favorite indie pop culture magazine) that listed several up-and-coming bands that are amazing. Even though the post is from August 9th, 2008, the few bands I sampled last night were worth a listen to, so I'd highly encourage you to check it out! Look at the post here.

PS: I added one-click quick reactions (try saying that 3 times fast) at the bottom of each post. Let me know what you think!

Splat

My internet was not cooperating yesterday, so I was unable to upload an image. I don't think today's image is anything special, but I decided to post it because it makes me happy. Last Thursday, I decided to celebrate with some friends because it had been last day of classes. One of those friends was Andrew, who is an amazing artist. He uses ink, nail polish, and straws to create beautiful works of art and he decided to teach Angel and me how to do it. As you can see, we got off to messy start. I never quite mastered the technique, but I plan to keep trying and incorporating it into my photography project that I started last winter break and continued through this summer while at home in South Carolina. It was a bittersweet night though because I was looking forward to finally being able to have some time to relax and catch up on work, but I was also sad that there was a limited amount of time left to hang out with these amazing people in this environment. However, what can you do but keep moving forward? I have confidence we won't lose contact with one another - after all, I do get block breaks once a month at CC.

Hazy Window

The other weekend I hiked to the summit of Rangitoto Island, a volcano in the habour outside of Auckland. The weather was typical of Auckland - raining one minute and completely sunny the next and the cycle continues... As you can see, the haze never completely went away, so I couldn't get a crisp and clear image of Auckland, but I was happy with this photo nonetheless, mainly because of the random pirate ship in the corner. The beach and two small volcanic cones are part of Devenport (remember my previous posts from Devenport: Beautiful Day, Bay View, and Old Wood). Here are some other views of Auckland's CBD: One The Way, Sunny Over the CBD, Sail On, and Made It).

Here are some truly disturbing images of our world that I believe everyone should see: http://gigapica.geenstijl.nl/2009/05/mooi_milieu.html -- nothing can just disappear.

Bouncing Colour

Another spring break photo for today. I took this photograph while on a boat tour of the Milford Sounds. It was a pretty cold and rainy day, but that didn't diminish the wonders of the area for a second - in fact, it may have made the sites even grander. It was quite possibly one of the most magnificent places I have ever been (even if there are way too many tourists), so I didn't think any of the images that I took did it justice. Therefore I decided upon posting this photo simply because it shows the atmosphere of the day and I liked how you can see the picture that he is taking on the back of the camera (any one who knows me knows I love taking photos of people taking photos).

Uni

Today's image isnt' that special, it just made me really excited. I took it in Albert Park, right off of campus and for the first time this semester, it actually looks like a campus! Yesterday was the last day of classes before semester, so everyone was taking advantage of the beautiful day and celebrating. I had the option of going on a hardcore tramp this weekend, but I just wasn't feeling it. So, instead I stayed in Auckland... and I don't regret it one bit. Last night I went to dinner with some kiwi friends and then ended up having one of the best nights yet. After dinner, we came over to my apartment, had some beers, and talked until 5am (hence the unltra late post today). In the group were kiwis, a german, a south african, and me (an American). We talked about tons of word issues mixed with some light hearted conversation... the kind of night I love. It was choice to hear everyone's points of view and the differences in our countries as well as our upbringins. It was an amazing way to the end the semester and start finals. Today, I woke up late, went to lunch at a sweet as burger joint with some friends and hung around K'Rd for a bit going through some vintage shops. I also managed to find a Colorado belt buckle to add to my collection (I mean, how could I really pass up finding a Colorado belt buckle in New Zealand??). Life is beyond good right now!

Walking Along

I took this photo over spring break while in Queenstown. The afternoon we arrived I dropped my bags off at the hostel and immediately headed out to see the town. I ended up finding the beautiful lake shore and a path that took me into a park. I was expecting to explore, but I wasn't expecting to have such a spiritual experience. There was just something about the town that made me beyond ecstatic. The beautiful lake, the mounains rising straight out of it, the great people all combined to make me peacefully happy and never want to leave the place. However, it could have also been the fact that by this point in time I had already signed up to jump off a 134m platform with nothing but a rubber rope tied to me the next morning...

Stradbroke Shark

So, Kaite and I thought that the Aussies on Stradbroke Island were just trying to see how gullible two Americans could be when they told us that a shark had washed up on the beach. Well... apparently, there actually was a shark down the beach from us. We finally saw it and marveled at it on our walk into town. The back half of its body was gone, as well as its eyes and all of its teeth (people had taken them I presume). At one point I did see one of its teeth still in and I got closer to grab it, but then.... the smell hit me. Ten times worse than anything my nose has ever encountered before. I couldn't handle it and therefore backed away without the tooth, oh well. Needless to say, this encounter made us really eagar to get in the water... oh, wait... haha

Spring Up

I apologize for not updating this past week. It has been a hard week for me, there has been a ton of work to do for class because this is the last week of class before exams and I found out some not quite so good news from home. As classes wind down, it's a bittersweet time. I am so happy to not have as much work now, but I actually loved some of my classes. I'm also excited to get back home to South Carolina and to uni in Colorado; I miss my friends, making films, and, as shallow as this may sound, my American brands (what's a vegetarian supposed to do without Amy's or Annie's?). However, part of me wants to throw everything out the window and move to this brilliant country and hang out with my kiwi friends till I graduate from uni (after all, I could call up Peter Jackson and maybe he'll let me make some films with him...). Well, I haven't been responding to anything anyone has sent me this week, but I've finally decided not to let my conflicting emotions drag down my last month or so in New Zealand - that would be pointless, let alone not so much fun. At any rate, I vented my frustrations by getting obsessed with a new TV show, writing a webseries, watching youtube, dancing the night away, and going around Albert Park to take a few photos - this is one of those photos. I liked it because you can see the Skytower, the landmark of Auckland, in the background but it's not the main focus. Anyway, tomorrow is my last day of classes - yikes!

To make up for my lack of updating, here are a few links to cool things I've found:
The New Civil Rights Movement - intersting article, I'd love to hear what you think about it.
World Animal Day Photos - great animal pictures, I'm really jealous of #30, that's never happened to me paddle boarding!
Alice - absolutely amazing editing, trust me, the 2:44 is worth it. (If you like it as much as me, check out this remix)
And finally, a friend of mine from CC has recorded an album and it's now avalible to download. It's really good and I'm not just saying that because Will's my friend. Several Girls Galore

Stradbroke Sunset

I had a wonderful five days at Stradbroke Island in Australia. My friend, Katie, and I happened upon it via google earth and just decided to go (the rest of our friends are taking a short trip to Fiji later). It was a great place and not the least bit touristy. Still catching up on reading emails and doing work that I missed, so it may take me a day or two to get back in the swing of things (once again). I took this photo at sunset one day, the sky had just cleared up after raining all afternoon and I enjoyed the silhouettes of people playing on the beach. I chilled on the beach for about two hours to watch the sun go down and the stars come out.

Water

I've been pretty slack this week on posting images, but it's been hectic around here. Every time I think it's going to calm down, the work load just picks up again. It's hard to believe that I only have two week left of classes (although, my last exam is not until the 11th of nov.) I took this image outside of Makarora, on the South Island over spring break. I liked the reflection on the lake as well as the steam rising off of it. It also ties in nicely to a link I want to share with you. I check the blog http://artisticthings.com weekly, it has some pretty out there stuff on it, but I always find something on it that absolutely blows my mind. Today I went searching the blog and landed on a link to Elena Kalis Photography. Her skill and creativity astounds me, I cannot stop looking at her photographs. Anyway, I just had to show y'all the link.

Unfortunately, the slack in updates is going to continue until Wednesday, because I will be just outside of Brisbane for the weekend. My main mission: to hug a koala. I hope you enjoy the links and I apologize again for being so lazy with updating!

Rope And A Hard Place

While exploring the island on the Stray Bus, we took a day hike/climb on the Franz Joesph Glacier. Once fully equipped with crampons, we made our way up the glacier, zigzagging along. It was tons of fun and an awesome way to get a work out. The ice and surrounding mountains were beautiful... but we did get in a few situations. I can see why they don't allow this in North America, but they definitely should. Why play it safe when you can have fun?

As beautiful as New Zealand is, you can only find these landscapes in the States: Huffington Post. I feel so fortunate to have visited all but 3 of these parks (thank you Block Breaks!)

On The Way

This weekend I headed to Rakino Island with a couple of friends. It is situated right behind Waiheke Island. There are 100 houses on the Island and only 16 permanent residents. More about it later!

Mirror Image

Mirror Lake - can you guess where it got it's name?

I promise longer posts next week, but this week has been crazy! So much work to do... it's hard to believe I only have 3 weeks left of classes and then 2 weeks of exams. I can't wait for classes to be over, but I'm really no where near ready to leave yet.