Another Time and Space

Most of the images and commentary I have posted recently have been about places I have visited with a bit of background woven in. In looking back over the posts a pattern of thought has emerged. The images I like most are the ones with people in them. This shouldn’t have been a revelation to me because I have always enjoyed photographing people, although you wouldn’t think so by looking at many of the images on this blog. I also like photographing scenery, and am pleased when I capture an image that shows some of the feeling of being in the place.

An example is yesterday’s post “Civic Square“. While am I am happy with all three photographs in the post, the one I like most is that of the couple in an embrace on the footbridge. To me it shows a moment of happiness in a public place where the couple are mostly unaware of what is going on around them.

Getting people into my pictures has been difficult. For a long time I tried to take photographs of places without people – they got in the way! I guess that’s a function of the type of work I have been involved with throughout my professional life – numbers. It’s strange because, as I said, I really enjoy photographing people. But that’s mostly at gatherings where others are taking pictures as well and I don’t feel so conspicuous. Lately though, I have been trying to break that habit.

Of the images shown today the one I like the most is that with the fellow walking past the girl in the coffee shop. It was taken in the old Bank of New Zealand Building on the corner of Manners and Cuba Streets in Wellington. It is no longer a bank – the bank moved out and the building renovated in the 1980’s. It is now a shopping centre but retains its historic character inside due to its Category 1 Historic Places listing.