The Art of Scaffolding

I am an art lover. Never before have I looked at a building worksite and thought it captivating, or for that matter worthy of being labelled as art. Well, that was until I clapped eyes on the worksite at Forsyth Barr House in the Octagon. Maybe it was the harmony of golden hues and blue sky joining together. Perhaps it was the strong architectural lines of scaffold reaching into the sky. Whatever the case, the work done by Geeves scaffolding is just sensational. In actual fact there are a bunch of companies involved including; WAE Engineering and Crane Hire, Mitre 10 Trade, Wattyl, Linwood Holdings and Nulook Morlite. As far as I’m concerned you can all take a bow. The colour, lines and contrast of the worksite is nothing short of marvellous, and for me, a work of industrial art.

I have my fingers crossed the facelift Forsyth Barr House is receiving underneath, hits the mark as well.

View fullsize

Forsyth Barr House, Dunedin, NZ.

View fullsize

Forsyth Barr House, Dunedin, NZ.

View fullsize

UPDATE 13/10/21

The Forsyth Barr Building renovations are nearly complete with only one side of the building still covered in part by scaffolding. The building looks fantastic after its facelift, and the Penthouse must surely come with some awesome CBD views.

View fullsize

Forsyth Barr Building, The Octagon, Dunedin.

Photoshoot: Dunedin City Grunge

A few images from a fun photoshoot with Rachel in Dunedin city. I had scouted out 2 locations for us to shoot and both worked really well.

View fullsize

Here I used the Distinction hotel carpark wall to create a really interesting background for the shot. I placed a Godox ad200pro at about 40 degrees to Rachel camera right.

View fullsize

This stairwell is located down an alley on Rattray street. The colours of the wall art worked really well with Rachel’s blue top.

Same scene as above but different perspective. Rachel definitely looks more ‘street’ in this image.

View fullsize

I loved the whole scene here with the hire bin and unwanted mattress on the wall.

View fullsize

Just opposite where we were just shooting is a large wall of street art. Rachel got down low for this shot.

Photoshoot: Vogel Street Dunedin

Vogel street is a great place to take urban fashion images. The buildings have plenty of character and within 100 metres there is ample opportunity to find multiple locations. I used both natural light and strobe depending how i approached the scene. For strobe lighting I used a single Godox AD200pro with bare bulb fresnel head. Soft boxes are great but they are big, cumbersome and catch the wind easily. So set up and moving on with a bare head becomes really easy and mobile. The resulting light is ‘hard’ but I think within the fashion genre, this works really well. My fantastic model for the shoot was Rachel. Most of the images I ended up liking were with sunglasses on, however, I promise there are a couple with Rachel revealing her eyes!

View fullsize

Natual light. Vogel Street, Dunedin.

View fullsize

Natural light, Vogel Street, Dunedn.

View fullsize

I had Rachel stand just inside a doorway, at the entrance of Wine Freedom, Vogel Street, Dunedin. Natural light.

View fullsize

Strobe light. On the shadowed side of the street so the strobe can create some directional light to give the scene more dimension with shadow and highlight.

View fullsize

Behind the Vogel Street Kitchen cafe. Here I used strobe to create some punchy light over Rachel. Vogel Street, Dunedin.

View fullsize

Just around the corner from the previous image, again using strobe to create a strong rim light over Rachel and illuminate the metal bars on the garage gate. Vogel Street, Dunedin.

Here I just used the wall opposite the gate of the last image. I really like the ambient light coming from the end of the alleyway. The wind was swirling in this spot so Rachel had lots of fun controlling her hair. Vogel Street, Dunedin.

View fullsize

Finally an image with Rachel revealing her eyes. Again using strobe. Vogel Street, Dunedin.

View fullsize

Under the over-bridge on Vogel Street. Strobe lighting very much needed in this location. Vogel Street, Dunedin.

View fullsize

We went up the walking ramp toward the over-bridge and found this spot overlooking Cumberland Street on SH1. Rachel has her back to the sun and I am using a strobe to light her front. After this image we drove over to Wharf street for a final few images.

View fullsize

This image is all about those lanterns. I have used a strobe to light Rachels face. Wharf Street, Dunedin

View fullsize

Boats in the background and strobe lighting to create some dynamic light on Rachels face.

View fullsize

A final image of Rachel on the Wharf jetty. I balanced the light from the sky on Rachel’s face with my Godox Ad200pro strobe.

All in all a fun shoot with Rachel. The Godox Ad200pro proved to be a handy tool when approaching each location.

Fog on the Otago Peninsula

When sea fog envelopes the Otago Peninsula you could be excused for staying at home with the camera as there is literally not much to see. However, on this particular morning I just made up my mind to embrace the conditions. I am a big lover of black and white photography and with the fog creating an isolating blanket over the landscape I thought it might work well in these conditions. So I switched my camera view to black and white and immediately it just felt right.

View fullsize

Allans Beach Road by Hoopers Inlet. It was low tide so I could get a a more pleasing angle on the outcrop of trees.

View fullsize

Hoopers Inlet.

View fullsize

I was able to walk across the inlet to this boathouse ‘Waiwhare’ on Hoopers Inlet.

View fullsize

Hoopers Inlet.

View fullsize

An old tree on Hoppers Inlet road. I took portrait and landscape versions of this scene. Without the fog I would never have stopped here, definitely my favourite location of the morning.

View fullsize

Pathway though the trees on Sandymount road.

Looking at these bleak, murky and moody images I feel and see the fog. The black and white images are somehow more filmic and less digital in appearance. All in all, a relaxing morning out.