Papeete, Tahiti Temple

Papeete, Tahiti Temple

This is the beautiful temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Tahiti.  

I am a frustrated photographer, still.  I know I've said this before, but I'll say it again.  We have had so many adventures and I've been so busy that I'm way behind in sharing with you a glimpse of where we've been and what we are doing.  For example, we've just arrived back in NZ from eight days in Samoa.  Yes, you read that correctly.  We've just returned from Samoa and I've posted a photo from Tahiti!  We were in Tahiti about a month and a half ago and this is the first photo from that beautiful paradise that I've shared with you.  I decided I can't post photos from Samoa, until I post some from Tahiti.  So here I go.  If you've never been to Tahiti and would like a glimpse of what I saw, stay tuned because for the next week or so I will take you on a tour of one of the most beautiful places in the world.  (Then I'll show you Samoa, another one of the most beautiful places in the world!!!!!) 

 

Auckland New Zealand Harbor

As we strolled along the Auckland Harbor one night we saw this beautiful, sleek yacht anchored.  It was VERY expensive looking and I thought this would make a nice photo with the interesting roof of the building as a backdrop.  I don't think The Auckland Tourist Bureau would mind this photo as an advertisement.  But what a difference from the view 45 degrees to the right..........

 I'm standing at the same location, and this is the view just a few degrees to the right of the yacht.  I loved the contrast. 


 

Marokopa Falls - New Zealand

Marokopa Falls

Beautiful Falls, but a very windy, misty day

Same shot, but B&W gives a different look and feel

Bridal Veil Falls #2, New Zealand

Bridal Veil Falls

The trouble with landscape photography is that you have to deal with the darn weather!  In the previous post, it was raining hard, and because the river was flooded, the waterfall was muddy.  When we were there this time, the sky was clear but it was very windy and cold.  I set a slow shutter speed to 'veil' the water, but because it was windy, the moving foliage was blurred as well.  You just have to compromise sometimes and do the best you can with what 'mother nature' gives you.

 

Bridal Veil Falls, New Zealand

BRIDAL VEIL FALLS, NORTH ISLAND

There had been much rain during the previous weeks, and as we drove to these falls we followed a river that was overflowing its banks.  We parked the car and started down the path leading to the falls which ran right next to the river.  It was raining still, and part of the path was flooded.  As we continued to walk the river continued to grow in size, the rain increased, and the path looked like it could flood or wash away at any minute.  By the time we made it to this location, I was too nervous to take much time composing a shot.  I set up my tripod, and while Jeff was saying "Hurry up, we've got to get out of here," I snapped about 3 shots, then we ran back to the car so as not to get stranded.  Since then we've been back to these falls and tomorrow I'll post a photo from the same location but not taken in such bad weather conditions. 

Coromandel Coast

Can you see Jeff taking a stroll on this beautiful deserted beach?  It is amazing to us that around almost every bend along the coasts of NZ are spectacularly beautiful, pristine beaches, and most of them are deserted!  This is truly an unspoiled paradise.  I'm used to the beaches of Southern California where you are competing with thousands of other people to find a square of sand to have a picnic or relax in the sun.

Castle Guardian

LARNACH CASTLE GUARDIAN

I really liked the dramatic light here.

Remember When.....

I don't know about where you live, but it's been a long time since I've seen a free standing phone booth.  We see them every once in a while here in NZ.  This fine looking specimen, (phone booth including occupant),  is in downtown Dunedin.

HELP!!!! HELP!!!! HELP!!!!

BLOGGING FRIENDS, I NEED HELP!

How do I get rid of spam?????? 


I keep getting this email:
(From)  Anonymous         (Subject)   [What Karen Sees] New comment on.........(then the name of a post)

The 'Address' line shows:
Anonymous   < no reply-comment@blogger.com >

The actual email message says:
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post........(then the name of a post)
Below that are numerous links to other websites.  

The interesting thing, is there is no actual comment on my blog so I can't delete it there.


I read about how to block junk mail on my email program (I use Entourage on a MAC), and it instructs me to add the sender's email address to a blocked email list.  The problem is, it said that the domain (the part of the address after the @) would be blocked.  Since the part after the @ is @blogger.com, that would then block emails from all my friends that use blogger.


I have no idea how to solve this.  I'm getting more and more emails from Anonymous every day, now about 10 a day.  If anyone can help me get rid of this I'd be so grateful.  THANK YOU! THANK YOU!


And here is a Phun Phriday photo to give you a smile:

The Famous BOOT Fence

LARNACH CASTLE - Dunedin, New Zealand

The Otaga Pennisula

A beautiful setting for the Larnach Castle

 Larnach Castle
This is the only castle in New Zealand.  William Larnach was a successful banker, financier, merchant baron, landowner and minister of the Crown.  He built the castle for his beloved first wife.  The lives of the Larnach family were exciting, scandalous and tragic.  Two wives later, William ended his amazing career and life with a gunshot to the head as he sat alone in a committee room in Parliament.

We were not allowed to take photos inside, so I had to be satisfied with photographing the outside of the castle with various compositions.  Here they are:

Close Up from the Side

Framed From a Distance

Leading Lines and Far Away

Just a Glimpse

 

The First Church of Otago - Dunedin

The First Church of Otago

There are many wonderful old churches in the town of Dunedin, as well as other beautiful old buildings.  I second Diane's comment in my last post that I hope Dunedin never has devastating earthquakes like its neighbor to the north, Christchurch.

Dunedin Train Station

Dunedin Train Station

We were told this is the most photographed building in New Zealand.  Dunedin, a beautiful city on the south island, is graced with many stately old buildings and impressive old cathedrals. 

 Part of the challenge of photographing buildings in a city is to find a composition that doesn't include distractions like wires, street signs, cars, etc.  I had to stand in the middle of a busy intersection to get this shot without including a bunch of street signs which were just out of the frame on the right.  Since there was no way I could get the shot without including the stop signal, I placed it so it would blend in with the solid gray bricks to be less noticeable.

The Boat Shed

We often see colorful little boat sheds nestled near the shores of the many lakes, bays and harbors here in New Zealand.  This one caught my eye because it was so bright and looked like it had just received a brand new coat of paint.  I don't know if it was the time of day combined with the angle of light, but the colors were so vibrant SOOTC, that I actually desaturated when I edited, and it still looks unnaturally intense.

Owharoa Falls, New Zealand

Owharoa Falls, New Zealand

A few Saturdays ago we took our third drive along the beautiful Coromandel Peninsula (where I took the photos from the last post).  Toward the end of the day we wanted to find some waterfalls that several people had told us were very photogenic.  We searched and searched, and drove right past several times, but finally found them.  They were just a few yards off the road, but hidden by foliage.  By the time I was ready to take photos it was already twilight and quite dark.  As long as I have my tripod, this is my favorite time to photograph waterfalls.  There is still some soft light, but it's dark enough to set a slow shutter speed to create silky soft water.  I agree with the people who told me these falls are very photogenic.   What do you think?

Coromandel Ocean View

1 - 2 - 3  Versions of the same Scene....

I'm Back!

We have been so busy this past month with missionary work and travel, that I've been a very poor blogger.  We've had some amazing spiritual experiences and some fun experiences while our two sons and their wives were visiting.  This month we've been to Tahiti (on missionary work), and Queenstown three times, both for missionary work and pleasure.  I have so many photos to sort, edit, save, delete, post, that it will probably take me years!  We don't have any traveling scheduled for the next month so I'll try to catch up and post something daily.  Just to warn you, however, that my posts for the foreseeable future will be random and in no particular order of time, place, or subject.  I just want you to see some of the wonderful and interesting sights I have seen during the first part of this year, so my goal is to just get them up.  So here we go........ 

  Cheerful Colors, Sad Face

A few weeks ago, on a Saturday, Jeff FINALLY found a car show.  (He really had fun talking cars when our sons were here as I'm less than adequate in that department.)  Anyway, while he walks around looking at cars, I usually observe the people and photograph those that interest me.

I've posted photos of the Maori people with their distinctive tattoos on body and face, but tattooing in general, is big time here in NZ.  I think I see almost as many women with tattoos as men, not just cute little flowers on the ankle, but elaborate body designs.  It is a bit sad to me.  I am always drawn to stare at these elaborate tattoos, especially on women, and it dawned on me that I rarely ever look at their faces.  When I do look, as an afterthought, they are often beautiful young women, but I usually never notice that because I'm so curious to discover what they feel is so important to them that they have chosen to spend the time, money, and pain to have it permanently embedded on their bodies.

I thought this young woman was particularly interesting because despite her bright and colorful clothes, make up, (and tattoos), she seemed quite sad in her expression and demeanor.  I'm certainly not implying this was because of the tattoos, I just thought it was an interesting contrast.

 

 Sexy??????

I was sitting in the shade fairly close to this purple car with this license plate, and this woman walked past.  Do you think her tattoos make her more sexy looking???

New Zealand Beach Fun

Early morning walk on Tapakuna Beach

Just hanging around!

Huia overlook

Whatipu Reserve

WE HAVE VISITORS!

Tyler & Emily

Dalin & Emily

Two of our sons and their brides came today to visit us.  And no, I didn't make a mistake, they both married beautiful young women named Emily!  We are so excited to have them here and show them some of the beautiful places, local culture, and wonderful people here in New Zealand.  

(Photos are VERY posed engagement shots)

Baldwin Street - The Steepest Street in the World

Baldwin Street - Dunedin, New Zealand

According to Guinness World Records, this is the steepest street in the world, at least that's what the sign says at the bottom. 

Making a photo look like what one actually sees is sometimes a real challenge.  It is often hard, for example, to capture the grandeur and vastness of a mountain scene.  If you use a wide angle lens, you will get a wide shot, but the mountains look small.  If you use a telephoto, the mountains look big, but you can't get much of the scene in the frame.  (Of course one solution would be to do a pano in this situation.) Anyway, this was one of those times when I couldn't capture what I was seeing.  I took photos from the bottom looking up, and I took photos from the top looking down (after I stopped panting and gasping for air after the climb).  I tried different lens, and shot from standing up to laying on the road.  But the photos just don't do this street justice.  We parked our car at the bottom and walked to the top, taking several stops to rest.  It was steep!  Every year as part of a local festival they have races up and down.  It's called the 'Baldwin Street Gutbuster'.

Here are some side views:

Colorful Sand of New Zealand

New Zealand has........

white sand beaches..... (Omapere)

black sand beaches......(Whatapu)

.......and orange sand beaches (Little Kaiteriteri)