Weekend Visit

Grant and Frances flew into Wellington for a weekend visit.

After we' d pulled ourselves back together after Friday night we spend the weekend hanging out with the kids. Saturday afternoon wound down with a trip out to Homebush park that is famous for its views overlooking the Wellington harbour.

This is probably an unusual shot to pick as my favorite of the day. What I like about it is not only is Lucy framed well, but her facial expression is also framed within the steel triangle of the swing seat. A frame within a frame, but with different geometry.

Was playing around with the camera at dusk.

For some reason this shot appeals.

There's something about the grainy sunset colours doing their thing with the house and garden.

A full set of photo's of the weekend can be found here.

Sunday at the Beach

Sunday afternoon saw us out at Plimmerton.

We'd planned some jobs around the garden, but in between buying plants and planting them we decided to take the kids to sit on the beach with some fish and chips for lunch.

It was a welcome distraction to take our ease in the sun. Amelia made discoveries in the tide while Lucy did her upmost to eat. Sand, sticks and salty seaweed; naturally.

More pictures here

Amelia Running

Amelia has taken a liking to learning how to run.

I've been teaching her how to start in a sprinting position which she still thinks is a fun game.

Attempts to teach her to keep her head down to pick up accelerate quickly when starting has meet limited success. Well, shes four. However when the camera is in rapid fire multi-shot mode it makes for some nice shots, particularly when the sinking sun illuminates her from behind.

Free Standing

Lucy has now taken to pulling herself up on low furniture and is getting used to using her feet underneath her. She's still pretty wobbly in the knees but there's no doubt she got plans for her future and they involve a lost of movement.



Whenever she is caught in the act of getting up onto here legs she forms this surprise and somewhat contrite expression on her face. Its almost apologetic for the trouble she is brewing to unleash.

Arms and Legs

I like this shot. Caught Lucy in the act of learning how to use her legs to pull herself up on the furniture. She almost looks contrite at being caught learning the beginnings of walking.

Had the camera on a manual setting (aperture priority) and managed to get the exposure bias, metering (to work around the bright background) and depth of field just right.

Its a quite rewarding when a shot finally comes out to satisfaction.

Here is another shot of Lucy in the evening out in the garden ripping into the hydrangeas . That thing she is supporting herself on is an 'arm'.

Fences and Pools

This weekend was warm on the Saturday. The girls chilled out in the pool in the back lawn. Amelia taught Lucy the rules of the game when playing in the water.

There we more progress made on the growing fence line. On Saturday the fence post was dug and cemented in. On Sunday managed to get railings over the last two concrete posts. On the home straight and its starting to take form.

Went out with the Cakebreads for a night out away from the kids. Ended up in a bar called 'Alice' that served cocktails out of teapots. Themed on Alice in Wonderland. Good fun.

Lucy Crawling; The Incumbent and the Intruder.

Lucy is now almost 9 months and has taken to crawling with now some speed. She can navigate her way anywhere throughout the house, and picks up a particular burst of speed down the hallway.

She in her travels she has now encountered the cat. They are engaged in some sort of cold war where each is acutely aware of one another but are careful of entering each other's space. This picture pretty much tells the tale of the incumbent and the intruder.

Today she has taken to pulling herself up on her knees. Teeth are developing. Someone is going to get knocked off their perch, its just a matter of time.