Photography
Ian Brodie Image Portfolio
15/05/10 16:11
I am pleased to announce my new image portfolio is now live at Ian Brodie Photo.
The ability to easily update images, but more importantly showcase them in a much better style has prompted me to undertake this upgrade. Note I will be updating these images on a regular basis and you will see the galleries on the pages on this site also reflect links to the site as work progresses.
I am also please to announce that all images on the site can be purchased easily and safely.
I hope you enjoy it.
The ability to easily update images, but more importantly showcase them in a much better style has prompted me to undertake this upgrade. Note I will be updating these images on a regular basis and you will see the galleries on the pages on this site also reflect links to the site as work progresses.
I am also please to announce that all images on the site can be purchased easily and safely.
I hope you enjoy it.
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Tropical Heat
19/02/10 15:17
Little did I realise that I would be living in the tropics when I shifted to Matamata. The last week haas seen 90% humidity and temperatures in the high 20’s with the heat index (what it actually feels like) around 35C. This has meant a number of things for us;
However, there are a few upsides;
So, the second list actually outweighs the first!
The image below is of my first flowering frangipani - I am very happy!
- We need air conditioning
- It is impossible to sleep at night
- There are tropical insects everywhere
- The flys are VERY annoying
However, there are a few upsides;
- The garden is flourishing
- I can grow Frangipani
- I can grow Hibiscus
- I can grow Gardenia
So, the second list actually outweighs the first!
The image below is of my first flowering frangipani - I am very happy!
Happy New Year
01/01/10 12:12
As 2010 dawns I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a very Happy New Year. May it bring you all that you wish and dream. I start the New Year with some of my favourite verse from my favourite poet, Sir John Betjeman. I think it fits nicely with the image below.
Verses Turned...
Across the wet November night
The church is bright with candlelight
And waiting Evensong.
A single bell with plaintive strokes
Pleads louder than the stirring oaks
The leafless lanes along.
It calls the choirboys from their tea
And villagers, the two or three,
Damp down the kitchen fire,
Let out the cat, and up the lane
Go paddling through the gentle rain
Of misty Oxfordshire.
How warm the many candles shine
Of Samuel Dowbiggin's design
For this interior neat,
These high box pews of Georgian days
Which screen us from the public gaze
When we make answer meet;
How gracefully their shadow falls
On bold pilasters down the walls
And on the pulpit high.
The chandeliers would twinkle gold
As pre-Tractarian sermons roll'd
Doctrinal, sound and dry.
From that west gallery no doubt
The viol and serpent tooted out
The Tallis tune to Ken,
And firmly at the end of prayers
The clerk below the pulpit stairs
Would thunder out "Amen."
But every wand'ring thought will cease
Before the noble altarpiece
With carven swags array'd,
For there in letters all may read
The Lord's Commandments, Prayer and Creed,
And decently display'd.
On country mornings sharp and clear
The penitent in faith draw near
And kneeling here below
Partake the heavenly banquet spread
Of sacramental Wine and Bread
And Jesus' presence know.
And must that plaintive bell in vain
Plead loud along the dripping lane?
And must the building fall?
Not while we love the church and live
And of our charity will give
Verses Turned...
Across the wet November night
The church is bright with candlelight
And waiting Evensong.
A single bell with plaintive strokes
Pleads louder than the stirring oaks
The leafless lanes along.
It calls the choirboys from their tea
And villagers, the two or three,
Damp down the kitchen fire,
Let out the cat, and up the lane
Go paddling through the gentle rain
Of misty Oxfordshire.
How warm the many candles shine
Of Samuel Dowbiggin's design
For this interior neat,
These high box pews of Georgian days
Which screen us from the public gaze
When we make answer meet;
How gracefully their shadow falls
On bold pilasters down the walls
And on the pulpit high.
The chandeliers would twinkle gold
As pre-Tractarian sermons roll'd
Doctrinal, sound and dry.
From that west gallery no doubt
The viol and serpent tooted out
The Tallis tune to Ken,
And firmly at the end of prayers
The clerk below the pulpit stairs
Would thunder out "Amen."
But every wand'ring thought will cease
Before the noble altarpiece
With carven swags array'd,
For there in letters all may read
The Lord's Commandments, Prayer and Creed,
And decently display'd.
On country mornings sharp and clear
The penitent in faith draw near
And kneeling here below
Partake the heavenly banquet spread
Of sacramental Wine and Bread
And Jesus' presence know.
And must that plaintive bell in vain
Plead loud along the dripping lane?
And must the building fall?
Not while we love the church and live
And of our charity will give
First Day of Summer
01/12/09 20:09
The first day of summer has arrived and I look with dismay that my last update was almost two months ago. Not good for any sort of blog and for this I must apologise. Work is increasing here at Hobbiton Movie Set and that is my only excuse.
I must admit I am also trying to finish my Blurb book covering our trip to England last June and July and that is also running behind schedule.
My last two months have been gathering an image library of The Shire - some of which I have listed below. Media groups continue to visit on a weekly basis from around the world and it is just so wonderful to share the experiece of the set with them. By way of repetition a link to some text which I wrote a few weeks ago for the folks at Weta for their newsletter. Apologies if you have read it already.
In the meantime some images of the area and my first attempt at a poster for us.
And one from England.
I must admit I am also trying to finish my Blurb book covering our trip to England last June and July and that is also running behind schedule.
My last two months have been gathering an image library of The Shire - some of which I have listed below. Media groups continue to visit on a weekly basis from around the world and it is just so wonderful to share the experiece of the set with them. By way of repetition a link to some text which I wrote a few weeks ago for the folks at Weta for their newsletter. Apologies if you have read it already.
In the meantime some images of the area and my first attempt at a poster for us.
And one from England.
A Fantastic March!
01/04/09 09:26
What an amazing month March has been. Things have been a little busy and I must apologise for no update since February!
On the 7th March our son Travis married Belinda Thomson in Queenstown. It was great to have Travis, Belinda and their friends at home with us for the ten days prior. The house was full of noise and action (as well as a few clinks of bottles).
The wedding went off without a hitch (well I guess there was one) and we all had a fantastic day.
I had been asked to be the official wedding photographer, which I accepted with some trepidation as this was really my first serious attempt at a difficult job. In the end it all worked beautifully as I had my great friend Chris Hinch with me. Chris is a brilliant photographer but he also knows how to pose people - a skill I have yet to learn.
So the “A Team” worked hard and I am pleased to post just a few of the results. I must admit the weather was perfect - overcast and dramatic clouds.
My great friends at Heliworks provided the helicopter to travel up to The Remarkables and their absolute professionalism just cemented in my mind that they are the best operators in the country.
Now all has returned to normal - well sort of. Auckland next weekend and then back again the following week as a co-host for TV-3 and their ANZAC Day coverage. Then it will only be 7 weeks until we return to England for the summer airshow commentary season. Excellent!
On the 7th March our son Travis married Belinda Thomson in Queenstown. It was great to have Travis, Belinda and their friends at home with us for the ten days prior. The house was full of noise and action (as well as a few clinks of bottles).
The wedding went off without a hitch (well I guess there was one) and we all had a fantastic day.
I had been asked to be the official wedding photographer, which I accepted with some trepidation as this was really my first serious attempt at a difficult job. In the end it all worked beautifully as I had my great friend Chris Hinch with me. Chris is a brilliant photographer but he also knows how to pose people - a skill I have yet to learn.
So the “A Team” worked hard and I am pleased to post just a few of the results. I must admit the weather was perfect - overcast and dramatic clouds.
My great friends at Heliworks provided the helicopter to travel up to The Remarkables and their absolute professionalism just cemented in my mind that they are the best operators in the country.
Now all has returned to normal - well sort of. Auckland next weekend and then back again the following week as a co-host for TV-3 and their ANZAC Day coverage. Then it will only be 7 weeks until we return to England for the summer airshow commentary season. Excellent!
Video of the Year
20/02/09 10:47
I am an avid reader of Scott Kelby and his blog. If you haven’t been there you must check it out.
One particular area of his blog I have found fascinating is his guest blog Wednesday. Every one is a gem.
This Wednesday though he has really pulled one out of the bag.
If you do anything with this blog of mine PLEASE watch the video below. What Zack Arias has said in this clip is exactly what every artist feels - he is eloquent and clever enough to hit the button.
I must admit I do exactly what Zack talks about on a regular basis - probably we all do.
Just watch it!
One particular area of his blog I have found fascinating is his guest blog Wednesday. Every one is a gem.
This Wednesday though he has really pulled one out of the bag.
If you do anything with this blog of mine PLEASE watch the video below. What Zack Arias has said in this clip is exactly what every artist feels - he is eloquent and clever enough to hit the button.
I must admit I do exactly what Zack talks about on a regular basis - probably we all do.
Just watch it!
The Fantastic Nikon D700
16/02/09 14:16
After five full and fruitful years my venerable Kodak SLR/N has been retired. I wasn’t about to replace the camera so quickly but a shrinking NZ dollar against the USD has meant a number of price rises have hit imported goods.
Nikon is no exception and I was aghast last week to find out that my new camera of choice (Nikon D700) was increasing in price by up to NZ$3000.00.
Unfortunately my normal supplier (Kens Cameras) had run out of stock but I did manage to eventually track one down at the old price.
The big question is, am I happy with it? The answer is an unequivocal yes! I must admit me real camera of choice was the Nikon D3X but given the current pricing this camera is just right out of my league.
The D700 is just so many streets ahead of the SLR/N but that is understandable given the progress of 5 years digital technology.
Have only used the new camera a few times but I am impressed by (a) low noise, (b) sharpness and (c) speed. The same battery type as my D300 is an added bonus. I will be posting more images from the camera as I experiment!
Nikon is no exception and I was aghast last week to find out that my new camera of choice (Nikon D700) was increasing in price by up to NZ$3000.00.
Unfortunately my normal supplier (Kens Cameras) had run out of stock but I did manage to eventually track one down at the old price.
The big question is, am I happy with it? The answer is an unequivocal yes! I must admit me real camera of choice was the Nikon D3X but given the current pricing this camera is just right out of my league.
The D700 is just so many streets ahead of the SLR/N but that is understandable given the progress of 5 years digital technology.
Have only used the new camera a few times but I am impressed by (a) low noise, (b) sharpness and (c) speed. The same battery type as my D300 is an added bonus. I will be posting more images from the camera as I experiment!
Link Catch-Up
22/12/08 11:57
As we approach Christmas I looked at the desktop of the Mac and found some links I had put aside to post on my bog. So, without further ado here they are!
I also would like to thank all visitors to my website for your support. Have a wonderful Christmas and all the best for 2009.
NZ On Screen
A fantastic resource to help you discover the best of New Zealand television and film.
UK Photo Guides
A great idea. Personal and intimate guides to locations through England and the best places to photograph them from.
The Hunt For Gollum
This film will be free to view on the internet next year. Has a nice look and feel to it.
THE HUNT FOR GOLLUM - FULL Trailer 1 from Chris Bouchard on Vimeo.
Born of Hope
This film is currently in production and is a 60 minute Lord of the Rings inspired film that will be released free to view on the internet.
Born of Hope - 2008 Teaser Trailer one from Born of Hope on Vimeo.
I also would like to thank all visitors to my website for your support. Have a wonderful Christmas and all the best for 2009.
NZ On Screen
A fantastic resource to help you discover the best of New Zealand television and film.
UK Photo Guides
A great idea. Personal and intimate guides to locations through England and the best places to photograph them from.
The Hunt For Gollum
This film will be free to view on the internet next year. Has a nice look and feel to it.
THE HUNT FOR GOLLUM - FULL Trailer 1 from Chris Bouchard on Vimeo.
Born of Hope
This film is currently in production and is a 60 minute Lord of the Rings inspired film that will be released free to view on the internet.
Born of Hope - 2008 Teaser Trailer one from Born of Hope on Vimeo.
Books, Travel & Radio
15/12/08 11:41
Have just had a wonderful eight days in the North Island promoting Ian Brodie’s New Zealand. Had the great pleasure of talking to some wonderful people at some great radio stations.
We travelled by camper-van from Christchurch to Auckland which allowed me to revisit our backbone - State Highway One. I well remember as a child the slow trips through the Mangaweka but now it is all passing lanes and speed. Makes travelling easier but I think I prefer the older scenic route.
Visited the Weta Cave whilst in Wellington, a wonderful mixture of retail goodness and museum. You must visit if you are ever in our capital city.
So, my thanks to Kim Hill (National Radio), Wammo (Kiwi FM), Mikey Havoc (95 BFM), Suzy Cato (Big FM), Alice Worsley (Planet FM) and Bill Ralston (Radio Live) for your wonderful comments about by book.
The trip was a real holiday - the camera stayed in its case almost the whole time. The only chance to make a picture was at Lake Taupo (below).
Now we approach Christmas ...... phew!
Podcast (Interview with Kim Hill on National Radio)
We travelled by camper-van from Christchurch to Auckland which allowed me to revisit our backbone - State Highway One. I well remember as a child the slow trips through the Mangaweka but now it is all passing lanes and speed. Makes travelling easier but I think I prefer the older scenic route.
Visited the Weta Cave whilst in Wellington, a wonderful mixture of retail goodness and museum. You must visit if you are ever in our capital city.
So, my thanks to Kim Hill (National Radio), Wammo (Kiwi FM), Mikey Havoc (95 BFM), Suzy Cato (Big FM), Alice Worsley (Planet FM) and Bill Ralston (Radio Live) for your wonderful comments about by book.
The trip was a real holiday - the camera stayed in its case almost the whole time. The only chance to make a picture was at Lake Taupo (below).
Now we approach Christmas ...... phew!
Podcast (Interview with Kim Hill on National Radio)
Ian Brodie's New Zealand
27/11/08 10:09
After many months of waiting I am thrilled to announce the release of Ian Brodie’s New Zealand. It is now available in all good bookstores in New Zealand or from Amazon in the UK.
I am so pleased with the book, and very proud to have a book that shows the diversity and uniqueness of our country.
Over the next few weeks I will be promoting the book via television and radio in many towns. One interview I am really looking forward to is with Kim Hill on National Radio. If you would like to listen please tune in at 11-00am on Saturday 06 December.
I am so pleased with the book, and very proud to have a book that shows the diversity and uniqueness of our country.
Over the next few weeks I will be promoting the book via television and radio in many towns. One interview I am really looking forward to is with Kim Hill on National Radio. If you would like to listen please tune in at 11-00am on Saturday 06 December.
Pubs with Personality
07/11/08 14:57
To be released later this month is a wonderful guidebook to some special places in New Zealand.
Entitled “Pubs with Personality”, the guide features 150 pubs in New Zealand that have that little bit extra, with a good personality and a welcoming ale.
One of the authors is my friend Peter Janssen, retired Managing Director of Reed Publishing in New Zealand. Peter started me off with the Warbirds Over Wanaka book series in 1998 and he has been a great supporter. A very witty, eloquent person - this book also reflects his great personality.
The book will be available in all good book stores. A great guide with something special for me - the cover is one of my images of “Formally The Blackball Hilton” at Blackball on the West Coast of the South Island.
Entitled “Pubs with Personality”, the guide features 150 pubs in New Zealand that have that little bit extra, with a good personality and a welcoming ale.
One of the authors is my friend Peter Janssen, retired Managing Director of Reed Publishing in New Zealand. Peter started me off with the Warbirds Over Wanaka book series in 1998 and he has been a great supporter. A very witty, eloquent person - this book also reflects his great personality.
The book will be available in all good book stores. A great guide with something special for me - the cover is one of my images of “Formally The Blackball Hilton” at Blackball on the West Coast of the South Island.
A Reflected Light
06/10/08 12:47
St David’s Presbyterian Church
Luggate
New Zealand
This little church is at the end of our street and I have often wanted to photograph it but never found the right time. Last Thursday we had the most amazing sunset and I could see the time was right.
I was amazed at the way the light actually reflected onto the boards of the church - almost like the an inner light was emanating from the building itself.
Land for the church was donated in 1931 and the building was trucked from its original site in Hindon to Luggate.
Services are held on a regular basis.
Luggate
New Zealand
This little church is at the end of our street and I have often wanted to photograph it but never found the right time. Last Thursday we had the most amazing sunset and I could see the time was right.
I was amazed at the way the light actually reflected onto the boards of the church - almost like the an inner light was emanating from the building itself.
Land for the church was donated in 1931 and the building was trucked from its original site in Hindon to Luggate.
Services are held on a regular basis.
Flickr Fun
02/10/08 11:38
This week marks a special little moment for me. Since I started uploading images to my Flickr account in January I have now had 10,000 views. I am rapt with that.
What is really special about Flickr are my friends and the amazing images they produce. It becomes addictive and I now look at least twice a day to see what my friends have been doing. I have never met these people and in most instances I don’t even know what they look like. All I do know about them is what I discover from there photographic style. Fram an image I think you learn a lot about a persons character, there mood and what they think about life in general.
Thank you my Flickr friends - you enrich my life.
This image is for you.
What is really special about Flickr are my friends and the amazing images they produce. It becomes addictive and I now look at least twice a day to see what my friends have been doing. I have never met these people and in most instances I don’t even know what they look like. All I do know about them is what I discover from there photographic style. Fram an image I think you learn a lot about a persons character, there mood and what they think about life in general.
Thank you my Flickr friends - you enrich my life.
This image is for you.
Ian Brodie's New Zealand Pre-Order
01/10/08 10:37
Although my latest book Ian Brodie’s New Zealand is not released until 01 December 2008 it is pleasing to see Amazon in the United Kingdom have it for pre-order. So, anybody in England or Europe that would like to be one of the first to receive the book please follow the Amazon Link here.
The cover has not yet even been publicly released but now that Amazon have jumped the gun here it is below. The scene was taken no more that 500 metres from my home and goes a little way to explaining why I love this country and particularly why I do live where I do.
I will have further links to shops selling the book as we get closer to the release date.
The cover has not yet even been publicly released but now that Amazon have jumped the gun here it is below. The scene was taken no more that 500 metres from my home and goes a little way to explaining why I love this country and particularly why I do live where I do.
I will have further links to shops selling the book as we get closer to the release date.
Green Middle-earth Aotearoa
23/09/08 14:30
Had a great trip to Gore last weekend to talk at the “Books and Bubbles Event” at Paper Plus Gore. A good number of attentive listeners made it a pleasure to talk. The bubbly Kerre Woodham who acted as MC and also gave a wonderful speech certainly made the evening go fast.
The Paper Plus store in Gore (no rhyme intended) is the largest in the country and certainly has a great spread of books (if you are passing).
On the drive back home on Saturday it was really brought home to me how verdant this country is in Spring. Some places stay this colour longer than others - here at Raes Junction green will soon become brown but not before this tree sends out its tendrils.
The Paper Plus store in Gore (no rhyme intended) is the largest in the country and certainly has a great spread of books (if you are passing).
On the drive back home on Saturday it was really brought home to me how verdant this country is in Spring. Some places stay this colour longer than others - here at Raes Junction green will soon become brown but not before this tree sends out its tendrils.
Three reasons I know Spring is on the Way
17/09/08 10:25
At this time of the year there is a distinct nature gear-change as the cold winter weather is overtaken by the Spring Equinox. There are three things in Wanaka that tell me it is Spring.
1. The mad-dog nor-wester begins to blow and the rain comes but the south-wester that follows just doesn’t seem to have the polar bite with it. The mountains take on a tinge of green as the spring rain irrigates the tussock for a brief time before the heat of summer arrives.
2. The pale slivers of trees that have stood ghost-like for the last 4 months start to show tendrils of green.
3. The Winter-Rose stands defiantly against any frosts and demands attention from its simple colours of green and white.
1. The mad-dog nor-wester begins to blow and the rain comes but the south-wester that follows just doesn’t seem to have the polar bite with it. The mountains take on a tinge of green as the spring rain irrigates the tussock for a brief time before the heat of summer arrives.
2. The pale slivers of trees that have stood ghost-like for the last 4 months start to show tendrils of green.
3. The Winter-Rose stands defiantly against any frosts and demands attention from its simple colours of green and white.
The First Day of Spring
01/09/08 12:05
The first day of spring has arrived in the Southern Hemisphere. Typical spring weather in Wanaka is north-west winds as the sun moves down to our part of the world. As if on cue this morning I awoke to that “typical” weather.
These two images were taken this morning as cloud formed from an approaching front. As the front edges closer the orographic effect of the Southern Alps means the West Coast receives considerable rain and we receive wind. Edging closer the rain then starts to fall but in that window of fine the most wonderful clouds can appear.
The lenticular billow cloud is a common site in Central Otago. A glider pilots delight - we know rain is on its way.
These two images were taken this morning as cloud formed from an approaching front. As the front edges closer the orographic effect of the Southern Alps means the West Coast receives considerable rain and we receive wind. Edging closer the rain then starts to fall but in that window of fine the most wonderful clouds can appear.
The lenticular billow cloud is a common site in Central Otago. A glider pilots delight - we know rain is on its way.
Rievaulx Abbey
28/08/08 10:31
Rievaulx Abbey is a former Cistercian abbey, headed by the Abbot of Rievaulx, located in the small village of Rievaulx (pronounced 'Ree-voh'), near Helmsley in North Yorkshire, England.
When Rievaulx Abbey was founded in 1132 by twelve monks from Clairvaux Abbey as a mission centre for the colonisation of the north of England and Scotland, it was the first Cistercian abbey in the north. With time it became one of the great Cistercian abbeys of Yorkshire, second only to Fountains Abbey in fame.
Image processed with Photomatix Pro and Lightroom 2.
When Rievaulx Abbey was founded in 1132 by twelve monks from Clairvaux Abbey as a mission centre for the colonisation of the north of England and Scotland, it was the first Cistercian abbey in the north. With time it became one of the great Cistercian abbeys of Yorkshire, second only to Fountains Abbey in fame.
Image processed with Photomatix Pro and Lightroom 2.
England Revisited
26/08/08 15:03
Since the release of Lightroom V2.0 and Photomatix Pro 3.0 I am starting to revisit a lot of the images I took in England in 2006. The combination of these two very powerful software tools allow you to realise a depth of image and colour balance that earlier versions just did not allow.
Both photos below were initially processed with Photomatix as a single HDR image and then the colours were tweaked and balanced in Lightroom.
In Photomatix I tend to subtly adjust the colour range as I am not out to create a full blown HDR rather just add some colour contrast. I find I use a number of presents within Lightroom - especially those produced by Matt Kloskowski and obtainable from his website.
Neither of these images have had any work done within Photoshop.
Shaftesbury
Hay near Pickering
Both photos below were initially processed with Photomatix as a single HDR image and then the colours were tweaked and balanced in Lightroom.
In Photomatix I tend to subtly adjust the colour range as I am not out to create a full blown HDR rather just add some colour contrast. I find I use a number of presents within Lightroom - especially those produced by Matt Kloskowski and obtainable from his website.
Neither of these images have had any work done within Photoshop.
Shaftesbury
Hay near Pickering
The First Sign of Spring?
04/08/08 10:50
This last few weeks all we seem to have had is damp, misty weather. Saturday we had some sun for a little while and it seemed as if the garden rejoiced at this change. My snowdrops seemed to lift their head, these fore-runners of spring are a welcome sight in the garden.
