Saturday 20 February 2016

Because the good girls did their homework!

Like I said in my previous post Sue W and I went to a photography course on getting our cameras off AUTO.  On Friday we headed out to do some practice, our focus was movement of water, learning to use shutter speed.  Of course I got side tracked by numerous other beautiful photographic moments.  So get a drink and sit back and enjoy a few snaps at Hamilton Gardens and Hamilton Lake.

 Moving water, tick!

 Side tracked by nature.

 Indian Char Bagh Garden.


 More Water!


Welcome to the Italian Renaissance Garden.


Plenty of moving water.


Side tracked by the peacefulness of this place.


Through the tunnel to the mini amphitheater.

The balcony above the tunnel.


 Lights strung up everywhere for the Festival of Arts.


Then it RAINED, I mean poured down.
We sheltered in the tunnel.

Also at the Hamilton Gardens in the big Pavilion there is this amazing wooden carved panel that I took snaps of with my little hand bag camera, I love this massive carving. 

 All behind glass to protect it and keep it clean.

What talented people!

There is so much detail that you just need a few closer looks.



Very cool isn't it?

We made it back to the car slightly wet but none worse for wear and decided to go and have lunch at the cafe at Hamilton Lake.

The rain stopped so after lunch we wandered about lakeside with all the locals.


These are older than me and still being enjoyed by young kids today.
The paint job is mint.

A modern new playground that meets all health and safety regs has replaced all the fun things we all played on when young.  I love the line of old pastel painted benches.

 Big old Palm trees that house bazillions of Pigeons.


Colourful planted traffic island.

Today en route to visit a friend a stopped off at an old iconic Fountain in Hamilton, a favourite of mine maybe because it has been around for so long and still looks good.

Simplicity of moving water.



Think I might just be getting the hang of water in motion!!

NEXT!!!

 

11 comments:

Jazzy Jack said...

What a lovely visit to my favourite Kiwi gardens.
The Indian garden is still a mad mass of colour and peacefulness I see.
You are definitely getting the hang of water, look at it hanging in the air...geddit?
I adore that wood carved panel. Hard to remember it is all wood!
Xo Jazzy Jack

Fiona said...

Ace photo of the edge of the fountains with water droplets tumbling over. By jove, I think you've cracked it! x

Vix said...

The Indian and Italian gardens are absolutely gorgeous.
Your photos are always fabulous. xxx

Nancy J said...

You have those shutter speeds all sorted!! Beautiful carvings, and down here, we have COOL!!! The heat wave has gone for a few days, almost pleasant in the day, rain greened up the grass, and all is well in home and garden. More seeds have been saved!!!

Julie said...

Great photos Sue ... just catching up on your posts, Loved all your outfits in your last post too :-) You & other Sue are doing so well with your photography. You have captured the Hamilton Gardens so well that I feel inspired to visit again. That Founders Theatre fountain ... I remember driving past it often & seeing little Maori children playing/bathing in it :-)

Goody said...

You sure learned how to master moving water photography-in a hurry! That's incredible. Those are such beautiful gardens in your photos, they must be phenomenal in person.

The children's playgrounds where I live are so "safe" now that there's no challenge to playing. I don't know how I managed to survive to adulthood given all the stupid stunts I did like jumping from the top of a slide on a dare. Now the slides are all enclosed to prevent such daredevil feats.

Leeanne said...

Love!!! fabulous photo's.......thanks for sharing.

Mel Baker said...

Absolutely fantastic photos!!

Beth Waltz said...

I can certainly understand your fondness for that simple contemporary "flat" fountain, Sue. Your beautiful photos do justice to its repertoire of effects!

But what is the mama wolf nursing Romulus and Remus doing in a fountain in an Indian garden in Hamilton?

The carved wood panels reveal the waldteufels that were hiding within the tree. Here's a magical scene for chidren to explore in their imaginations! Do any of the characters represent figures from juvenile literature, I wonder?

Connie said...

Such fabulous photos!!! So...water you up to next?

freckleface said...

I don't even understand what off auto is, but whatever it is, you have produced some truly stunning images. NZ always looks picture postcard perfect through your lens, you are very talented. Xxx