England
Happy New Year
01/01/10 12:12 Filed in: Garden | Photography
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
0 Comments
First Day of Summer
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.
Packing Up and Throwing Out
03/08/09 09:07 Filed in: Announcement
In the next 3 weeks I have to pack up seventeen years of gathering and shift. So, this will probably be my last update until September when I arrive in The Shire.
I have been working on a speech covering film tourism for the ITOC Conference in Gisborne. Will post this after the delivery!
I was also “tagged” by one of my Flickr friends last week - the results are below.
Finally - some of my latest images of our wonderful time in England last month.
1. I have worked in the travel industry for 34 years.
2. None of my jobs are jobs - I have loved every one of them as a passion. Work is to be enjoyed and if you can get paid for your passion you are lucky. I am. You must pursue your passion no matter what.
3. I love music. Mike Oldfield is my favourite.
4. I have had a camera since I was seven (my Dad brought me an Instamatic). My Dad loved his cameras (always Nikon).
5. I LOVE Lightroom. For the first time in over 40 years of capturing images I feel happy. It does all the things I have always wanted to achieve.
6. I am never happy with my images. I always look at everybody elses and think - wow .
7. I have learnt (in the last few years) to be happy though. I treat my images as my eyes. The way I may give treatment to an image is the way I want it - the way I see it. Digital imagery is no different to an artist with paints.
8. I am very lucky - I have been in the right place at the right time. Lord of the Rings, Narnia, film have been a fantastic experience.
9. I love my wife (Dianne) - we have been married 30 years and children Travis and Sally-Anne. I don't know how they put up with me. I don't deserve them.
10. I am a loner - but I could not be without my family.
11. I never thought I would sell 1.2 million books.
12. One of the proudest moments of my life was receiving a letter telling me I had been awarded an MNZM for services to tourism and writing. Well - actually seeing stamps with my images on was up there as well.
13. I love Central Otago Pinot Noir.
14. This is the only picture of myself I like. Why? It was taken by one of my favourite film directors - Roger Donaldson on Oreti Beach.
15. I love England.
16. My closest friends are now in a better place - I wish they were still here.
17. I am very manipulative so I can get what I want.
18. Take photos - they are your memory - treasure them.
19. Flickr is addictive - I wish I could take images as good as my friends do.
20. I have lived in Wanaka for 17 years and now shifting to Matamata.
21. Tolkien is my favourite author - Arthur C Clarke is my second.
22. I get angry with people that sit around and wish for better - just go and do it!
23. I wish I had enough money to buy a D3X.
24. I am a gadget freak - I love Apple Computers!
25. Ignore number (6) because I am going to do it anyway. Just tell me you like it - I need praise.
26. I am scared of the water.
27. You MUST remain positive - you will win in the end.
28. I am really looking forward to shifting to Hobbiton but really scared to leave Wanaka.
29. I love history - it is what we are.
30. I smoke - I shouldn't. One of the most amazing times for me was on the set of The Lord of the Rings - smoking with Mr Anderson and the Captain of the Titanic.
31. I love clouds - that is why I concentrate on them in images.
32. I wish I had an eye for photography.
33. I love the stars - they are eternity. I want to go to the end. I must be a nerd - I have a telescope.
I have been working on a speech covering film tourism for the ITOC Conference in Gisborne. Will post this after the delivery!
I was also “tagged” by one of my Flickr friends last week - the results are below.
Finally - some of my latest images of our wonderful time in England last month.
1. I have worked in the travel industry for 34 years.
2. None of my jobs are jobs - I have loved every one of them as a passion. Work is to be enjoyed and if you can get paid for your passion you are lucky. I am. You must pursue your passion no matter what.
3. I love music. Mike Oldfield is my favourite.
4. I have had a camera since I was seven (my Dad brought me an Instamatic). My Dad loved his cameras (always Nikon).
5. I LOVE Lightroom. For the first time in over 40 years of capturing images I feel happy. It does all the things I have always wanted to achieve.
6. I am never happy with my images. I always look at everybody elses and think - wow .
7. I have learnt (in the last few years) to be happy though. I treat my images as my eyes. The way I may give treatment to an image is the way I want it - the way I see it. Digital imagery is no different to an artist with paints.
8. I am very lucky - I have been in the right place at the right time. Lord of the Rings, Narnia, film have been a fantastic experience.
9. I love my wife (Dianne) - we have been married 30 years and children Travis and Sally-Anne. I don't know how they put up with me. I don't deserve them.
10. I am a loner - but I could not be without my family.
11. I never thought I would sell 1.2 million books.
12. One of the proudest moments of my life was receiving a letter telling me I had been awarded an MNZM for services to tourism and writing. Well - actually seeing stamps with my images on was up there as well.
13. I love Central Otago Pinot Noir.
14. This is the only picture of myself I like. Why? It was taken by one of my favourite film directors - Roger Donaldson on Oreti Beach.
15. I love England.
16. My closest friends are now in a better place - I wish they were still here.
17. I am very manipulative so I can get what I want.
18. Take photos - they are your memory - treasure them.
19. Flickr is addictive - I wish I could take images as good as my friends do.
20. I have lived in Wanaka for 17 years and now shifting to Matamata.
21. Tolkien is my favourite author - Arthur C Clarke is my second.
22. I get angry with people that sit around and wish for better - just go and do it!
23. I wish I had enough money to buy a D3X.
24. I am a gadget freak - I love Apple Computers!
25. Ignore number (6) because I am going to do it anyway. Just tell me you like it - I need praise.
26. I am scared of the water.
27. You MUST remain positive - you will win in the end.
28. I am really looking forward to shifting to Hobbiton but really scared to leave Wanaka.
29. I love history - it is what we are.
30. I smoke - I shouldn't. One of the most amazing times for me was on the set of The Lord of the Rings - smoking with Mr Anderson and the Captain of the Titanic.
31. I love clouds - that is why I concentrate on them in images.
32. I wish I had an eye for photography.
33. I love the stars - they are eternity. I want to go to the end. I must be a nerd - I have a telescope.
In Memory
04/09/08 10:23 Filed in: The Hobbit | The Lord of the Rings
Thirty-five years ago this week we all lost our beloved JRR Tolkien to this world. On the 2nd September 1973 a light went out in Arda.
Guided by the Lonely Star,
beyond the utmost harbour-bar,
I'll find the heavens fair and free,
and beaches of the Starlit Sea.
Ship, my ship! I seek the West,
and fields and mountains ever blest.
Farewell to Middle-earth at last.
I see the Star above my mast!
In a totally inadequate form of memorial I completed this image last night. Taken in the Yorkshire Dales it is my impression of how Hobbiton might have looked after the Party Tree was destroyed by the evilness of Saruman.
Rievaulx Abbey
28/08/08 10:31 Filed in: Travel | Photography
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 Filed in: Travel | Photography
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
Lincoln Cathedral
18/08/08 10:56 Filed in: Travel
Consecrated in 1092, Lincoln Cathedral is one of those “must see” places when travelling in England. I spent a night in Lincoln a few years ago and found myself drawn there in the evening, the next morning and then back again for a tour inside.
These two images were captured as single frames and then processed straight from RAW as single tone-mapped HDR. Saved as a Tif file they were then imported into Lightroom V2.0 for final processing.
Away from time, always outside of time!
Between east and west, between dawn and sunset,
The church lies like a seed in silence, dark before germination.
Silenced after death, containing birth and death potential with all the noise and transitation of life, the cathedral remains hushed, a great, involved seed whereof,
The flower would be radiant life inconceivable,
But whose beginning and whose end are the circle of silence.
Spanned round with the rainbow, the jeweled gloom folds music upon silence,
light upon darkness, fecundity upon death, as a seed folds leaf upon leaf
And silence upon the root and the flower,
Hushing up the secret of all between its parts,
The death out of which it fell, the life into which it has dropped,
The immortality it involves, and the death it will embrace again.
Here in the church, “before” and “after” are folded together.
DH Lawrence 'The Rainbow'
These two images were captured as single frames and then processed straight from RAW as single tone-mapped HDR. Saved as a Tif file they were then imported into Lightroom V2.0 for final processing.
Away from time, always outside of time!
Between east and west, between dawn and sunset,
The church lies like a seed in silence, dark before germination.
Silenced after death, containing birth and death potential with all the noise and transitation of life, the cathedral remains hushed, a great, involved seed whereof,
The flower would be radiant life inconceivable,
But whose beginning and whose end are the circle of silence.
Spanned round with the rainbow, the jeweled gloom folds music upon silence,
light upon darkness, fecundity upon death, as a seed folds leaf upon leaf
And silence upon the root and the flower,
Hushing up the secret of all between its parts,
The death out of which it fell, the life into which it has dropped,
The immortality it involves, and the death it will embrace again.
Here in the church, “before” and “after” are folded together.
DH Lawrence 'The Rainbow'
Farewell Pauline Baynes
06/08/08 15:40 Filed in: The Hobbit
It is very sad to see the death of Pauline Baynes, as reported by my friends at TheOneRing.net.
When I first started reading Tolkien the imagery of these strange sounding places demanded I needed a map to follow these journeys. Even as a child I had a love of geography, spending hours poring over contours to find hidden places and secret glens. I distinctly remember (like it was yesterday) searching everywhere to find a map of Middle-earth, and eventually one was ordered in for me from our local Whitcoulls.
All of a sudden the adventure was real, progress could be followed. There were even little illustrations of places that until then I had only imagined. It was a treasure. It was drawn by Pauline Baynes.
That map hung on my bedroom wall in a home-made wooden frame constructed by my Uncle for over ten years and every reading of the book was punctuated with glances at that map on the wall.
Of course, Pauline Baynes accomplished much more; her images on the slip cover version of The Lord of the Rings provided me with a glimpse into Middle-earth and what it might look like.
In 2006 when I worked on Cameras in Narnia it was again a Pauline Baynes illustration of Lantern Waste that looked at me from the cover of my copy of The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe.
Thank you Pauline for all you have created in the fantastical worlds that I have had the opportunity to live in. Your achievements will live with us for ever.
When I first started reading Tolkien the imagery of these strange sounding places demanded I needed a map to follow these journeys. Even as a child I had a love of geography, spending hours poring over contours to find hidden places and secret glens. I distinctly remember (like it was yesterday) searching everywhere to find a map of Middle-earth, and eventually one was ordered in for me from our local Whitcoulls.
All of a sudden the adventure was real, progress could be followed. There were even little illustrations of places that until then I had only imagined. It was a treasure. It was drawn by Pauline Baynes.
That map hung on my bedroom wall in a home-made wooden frame constructed by my Uncle for over ten years and every reading of the book was punctuated with glances at that map on the wall.
Of course, Pauline Baynes accomplished much more; her images on the slip cover version of The Lord of the Rings provided me with a glimpse into Middle-earth and what it might look like.
In 2006 when I worked on Cameras in Narnia it was again a Pauline Baynes illustration of Lantern Waste that looked at me from the cover of my copy of The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe.
Thank you Pauline for all you have created in the fantastical worlds that I have had the opportunity to live in. Your achievements will live with us for ever.
No 10 Downing St Visit
23/06/08 09:45 Filed in: Travel
The Prime Ministers Office has posted a You Tube video of our visit to No. 10 Downing St to promote the Spitfire.
A Proud Tradition
17/06/08 14:48 Filed in: Travel
A brief update. We return to New Zealand today but I just had to post these two images taken at the wonderful Kemble Air Day last Sunday.
One of the highlights of this trip has been commentating the amazing Typhoon which is now in service with the RAF. The aeroplane is special in itself but what makes it amazing is the display pilot this year. Flight Lieutenant Charlie Matthews is from Wanaka, New Zealand. This is cool as well but the really special thing is that Charlie is the nephew of my closest friend Tom Middleton.
Tom was sadly killed in a tragic accident in Wanaka. He would have been so proud of Charlie but as I commentated I could feel Tom standing beside me with one of his favourite quotes - this is fantastic matey.
What a magical moment to see Charlie carrying on the proud tradition of his family and aeroplanes and the proud tradition of New Zealanders flying with the RAF.
What a wonderful time it has been. More updates when I get back to NZ.
One of the highlights of this trip has been commentating the amazing Typhoon which is now in service with the RAF. The aeroplane is special in itself but what makes it amazing is the display pilot this year. Flight Lieutenant Charlie Matthews is from Wanaka, New Zealand. This is cool as well but the really special thing is that Charlie is the nephew of my closest friend Tom Middleton.
Tom was sadly killed in a tragic accident in Wanaka. He would have been so proud of Charlie but as I commentated I could feel Tom standing beside me with one of his favourite quotes - this is fantastic matey.
What a magical moment to see Charlie carrying on the proud tradition of his family and aeroplanes and the proud tradition of New Zealanders flying with the RAF.
What a wonderful time it has been. More updates when I get back to NZ.
The Best Beer in the World
12/06/08 04:53 Filed in: Travel
There are a lot of things I really like about England. One of my real favourites though is the beer. None of this Fosters or other imports for me - give me real English ale. Yesterday we visited Hook Norton; a beautiful village in the Cotswolds that has the added advantage of having a real ale brewery. Hook Norton produce a number of different brews and it was a real treat to see where they are made. A fine old building steeped in history and a great little pub around the corner. What more could you ask for.
The Biggin Hill Air Fair
10/06/08 03:44 Filed in: Travel
Well, what a show. Two days of non stop action with aeroplanes from a 1909 Bleriot to a 2008 Eurofighter Typhoon. I've had an absolute ball commentating, looking, soaking up history, meeting wonderful people. A sell out crowd of over 85,000 attended the show just on Sunday and looking at the quality of the event I am sure there will be no complaints.
Working a bit meant I couldn't take many photos of the show itself so below is a selection of those I took before and after the flying commenced. Highlights for me? Well, the biggest was meeting Flight Lieutenant Charlie Matthews - the Eurofighter Typhoon display pilot for 2008. Where does he come from? Wanaka, New Zealand. Made me very proud to be a Kiwi.
A few days off now in Oxfordshire staying at our favourite inn, The Coach & Horses at Chislehampton and then off to Kemble for the airshow next Sunday.
A close look at the awesome Apache Helicopter.
Working a bit meant I couldn't take many photos of the show itself so below is a selection of those I took before and after the flying commenced. Highlights for me? Well, the biggest was meeting Flight Lieutenant Charlie Matthews - the Eurofighter Typhoon display pilot for 2008. Where does he come from? Wanaka, New Zealand. Made me very proud to be a Kiwi.
A few days off now in Oxfordshire staying at our favourite inn, The Coach & Horses at Chislehampton and then off to Kemble for the airshow next Sunday.
A close look at the awesome Apache Helicopter.
First UK airshow appearance of the British Army Apache Helicopter.
Avro Lancaster from the BBMF.
Avro Lancaster from the BBMF
The sound and commentary team
Sunset over the historic skies of Biggin Hill.
No 10 Downing St
06/06/08 09:10 Filed in: Travel
Today, the opportunity of a lifetime. To visit No. 10 Downing St and the Prime Minister. The feeling of walking through the doors was amazing, all the most powerful people in the world had walked through them. History inside breathes from the walls; Churchill, Thatcher, Blair. It was great to meet Prime Minister Brown but unfortunately no cameras allowed inside so will have to wait for the official photo from the Prime Minister's Office.
London in Summer
05/06/08 20:48 Filed in: Travel
London in summer is a fantastic escape from the winter chills of Wanaka. To recap, travelled across from Hong Kong to London with
The 12hr 45min flight seemed to pass by in a blink. There is just so much room in these huge seats with multiple recline positions that it really does feel you are on a magic carpet. After take off the meal starts to be served and with such attentive service and expertly prepared and cooked food there is no way this feels like you are on an aeroplane.
Then it's time to watch one of the many hundred films available on your own personal screen before an English afternoon tea of sandwiches, scones and clotted cream.
The lie flat bed provides an easy afternoon nap before dinner is served and then in the twinkle of an eye our descent begins.
I should add that whilst all this is happening in the air, outside the window is a continuing geography lesson. China, Russia, Denmark, Sweden, The Netherlands and then the North Sea glide by with easy pinpointing of landmarks provided by the on-screen navigation system.
The above does not even start to adequately explain what Business Premier is like. After this all other forms of travel will be a disappointment. Thanks, Air New Zealand for the flight of a lifetime.
Our arrival in London was typical of their summer I guess. Drizzle, low cloud base and mirk everywhere.
We had another day of this on Tuesday but spent the day quite easily exploring the shops of Oxford Street. I must admit, being a bit of a country boy the number of people were totally overwhelming. Yesterday was more my style. We awoke to clearing skies so decided to take a stroll in Hyde Park. Sun, flowers and coffee by the lake are much more my idea of a holiday. A visit to the New Zealand Memorial at Hyde Park Corner was a highlight. Placed gently beside one of the memorial stones was a tribute to a New Zealand fighter pilot. Warrant Officer Burke from Matamata, killed in France flying a Typhoon and remembered in London. Truly from "The Uttermost Ends of the Earth".
We had a commentator meeting last night for the Biggin Hill Air Show this weekend and what an eclectic mix - an American, an Englishman and a Kiwi. I can see we are going to have a lot of fun.
Today the sun shines again, time for a coffee al fresco I think.
Land of Hope & Glory
02/06/08 00:04 Filed in: Travel
Off to the UK again! I can't wait. This time we have decided to travel via Hong Kong. Never been here before and it has been an interesting diversion. Really a cross between Singapore and Bangkok. The Air New Zealand flight on Friday was excellent. Wonderful staff on board and the joy of traveIling Premium Economy. For not a lot more that normal economy you get a cabin of your own with much more room, the seats recline a LOT more and you get great food. Highly recommended!
We arrived yesterday morning in Hong Kong and spent the normal first day walking zombie-like around as the jet lag clicked in. Today much better and the opportunity to actually photograph something.
Tomorrow morning on to Heathrow. This trip is a bit of a busmans holiday as I will be commentating at two airshows. Biggin Hill this coming weekend and Kemble the following. A great opportunity to see some different aeroplanes and see how things run on the other side of the world.
Early start tomorrow as we leave at 0845hrs . In the meantime some images from today.
We arrived yesterday morning in Hong Kong and spent the normal first day walking zombie-like around as the jet lag clicked in. Today much better and the opportunity to actually photograph something.
Tomorrow morning on to Heathrow. This trip is a bit of a busmans holiday as I will be commentating at two airshows. Biggin Hill this coming weekend and Kemble the following. A great opportunity to see some different aeroplanes and see how things run on the other side of the world.
Early start tomorrow as we leave at 0845hrs . In the meantime some images from today.
Intersection near Nathan Road
Red
Travelling the Typhoon Shelter at Aberdeen.