My favourite photographs from March

My camera has been quietly resting for the last few weeks but I have been out and about on a few days in March this year.

Here are my favourite photographs from March. I really like the contrasts between the brown bleached hills and the lush greens seen in the trees and leaves of other photos.  Nature showing so much of its best around or near my home.

The big dry on the Belmont Hills

Early morning at home

Silhouette of a Fantail. A fleeting moment of stillness.

Kereru feasting on Karamu berries ( I think)

The stunning work of a small spider.

This ball of feathers is a fantail preening – so little stillness with these delightful birds

Advertisement

The End of the Day

Strange billowing thick grey clouds out towards the west, tipped with the last rays of sunshine. Finally we have had a sunny, warmer day. It has been very welcome.

Winter contrasts

Cabin fever was building yesterday so we rugged up and headed out for a brief walk. It was brutally cold in the wind but bracing and refreshing as our faces tingled and our ears chilled.

The stark, coldness of the day was mirrored in the bare branches of this very tall tree in the car parking area.

But along the roadway and around a corner, in a more sheltered spot here was this tree glowing orange with such warmth.

Then an early appointment this morning saw me visit Plimmerton where I spotted the sun shining brightly on Mana Island.

However a slight turn southwards showed the real weather on the mainland.

The winter season can present a range of guises to wonder at and enjoy.

My place to stand

Maori (New Zealand’s indigenous peoples) have a concept Turangawaewae.

Tūrangawaewae is one of the most well-known and powerful Māori concepts. Literally tūranga (standing place), waewae (feet), it is often translated as ‘a place to stand’. Tūrangawaewae are places where we feel especially empowered and connected. They are our foundation, our place in the world, our home.
Source: http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/papatuanuku-the-land/page-5

Since the death of both my parents and now more recently the death of my brother, the place of my first months of life has increasingly become my Turangawaewae.

On a recent visit to Greytown, Wairarapa I went down River Road that leads from the house I lived in to the banks of the Waiohine River.

The river was grey-blue and running reasonably fast due to rain falling in the nearby mountains.
The trees on the banks were in autumn colours but the white light and heavy cloud dimmed those on this visit.

My mountain was somewhere amidst these mists.

The rain was falling steadily but it was a time to pause and reflect, to absorb the feelings of connection, and foundation.

A place to draw strength from this land beneath my feet and then continue along my life’s road.

Good night Friday

Kind-eyed clouds wishing us all goodnight at sunset tonight.

Feathery Friday

While I was out strolling at the Aotea Lagoon recently there were feathered friends on show

and the sky offered feathery clouds.

Have a restful weekend.

Cloud contemplation

I am still contemplating these cloud photos and what they remind me of and why they speak to me quite strongly.

What do you see in these clouds and how do they speak to you?

Sky Lines

We are experiencing a lovely spell of weather currently. It is a total surprise to us as July is normally a truly winter month. This one has had so many warmer days that spring is arriving early at the moment. With the clear, calm weather we have been having lovely sky both morning and night.
Last evening someone had the ruler out and had drawn lines in the western sky.

Sky signature signing off on a Friday afternoon

As the sun set tonight the clouds at the top of this display looked like a long slick signature to me. The type of signature you can never decipher.

I’m not sure that my photo quite captured it but Friday definitely got signed off here today.

A surprising sunset

As dusk began to come down and the predicted clouds began to roll in the sun and sky responded in some unusual displays.

The last of sun was disappearing behind a hill as I went out into the gloomy garden.

It was very surprising to notice some minutes later that the sky had lightened again and these lovely crepuscular rays were brightening the garden. Out I went again with my camera.

This light display was very short-lived giving way to the darkness almost within seconds.