Puffer Fish Lamp
As the William Hodges Fellow I an under the aegis of the Southland Museum. Last Thursday I was invited to have a look at some of the treasures that they have in their stockroom.
Here is one of them. A lamp made from a Puffer Fish aka Fugu a Japanese delicacy. A deadly poison if cooked incorrectly.
There is a frisson here. A fish with a light inside. The Surrealists would have approved.
First Church, Invercargill
This beautiful church, done in what seems to be a mixture of Italian and Moorish styles was built in 1915. Surprisingly it is Presbyterian.
I have not yet been inside, partly because I fear that I will be disappointed. I know that at some stage it was modernised and not tastefully.
Snake
Was at a friend’s house yesterday and saw this intriguing arrangement designed to keep his tv remote away from his two Jack Russells. (They like to chew it.)
It caught my eye immediately, reminding me of a snake charming scene.
The photo is rough, if I was to shoot it again I would put the rope in front of a much cleaner background. I would keep it the same colour though.
I would also use a tripod and make it sharper.
Thursday, Invercargill
Yesterday I visited a number of most interesting sites which I will blog about over the next few days.
This afternoon I am driving the two and a half hours to Dunedin, to among other things, go to an opening at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery. Back tomorrow.
Last night, in Queens Park, right next to where I live, the cherry blossom has come out and some Japanese had organised hanami, the traditional celebration held under the trees when they are in flower. I was interested in going because I have been to them in Tokyo and had a great time. Ideally one should drink sake and if a petal falls in your glass then it’s good luck. No cheating allowed.
Still having to spend a lot of time studying how to make the change from PC to Mac.
Suck on this.
I’ve photographed these feeders before. They are often found on dairy farms where they are used for feeding calves. This one caught my attention because of its colours, the ones that I have seen before are black.
I don’t think that I am ever going to manage to make a photograph that I would want to exhibit but there is a humour about these devices that attracts me.
Tiwai
A friend took me to see Tiwai Point, near Bluff and site of an aluminium smelter. The ore is shipped in from Australia I think, and the electricity, and lots of it, comes from Lake Manapouri.
Apparently it is possible to go on tours of the inside of the smelter although digital cameras are not recommended. Seems that the electrical field in there may interfere with their functioning.
