<< Previous Next >>

Wild West


Wild West
Photo Information
Copyright: Janice Dunn (Janice) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3317 W: 148 N: 6136] (18716)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-06-28
Categories: Seascape
Camera: Canon EOS 300D, Tamron 28-300 XR
Exposure: f/10.0, 1/250 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Beaches [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-06-28 6:09
Viewed: 1265
Points: 32
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Pikao (or Pingao) the Golden Sand Sedge
Desmoschenus spiralis

Kia tipu tonu koutou, ake ake ake!
May you grow on forever and ever.

We have an English cousin staying in NZ for this week, and today we drove him to the west coast of Auckland and then northeast back to the east coast where we live. It was around 150kms for the complete circle. We stopped at two of Auckland’s popular wild west coast beaches, Karekare, known for the place where the film “The Piano” was filmed about 10 years ago; and Piha, well known for its black sand, its wild weather and large surf.

As you enter Piha the coastal view from the road is dramatic and is often referred to as a west coast icon, in particular the solitary Lion rock (Whakaari). See Workshop

The black sand of Piha is VERY hot to walk on in summer. Today it was very windy, as you can see by the angle of the grasses growing on the sand dune here. The grass is Pikao (or Pingao) the Golden Sand Sedge. Here is a Maori version of the story of pikao.

The Seaweed Children
Pikao is one of the seaweed children on the fringes of the sea. From her home she looked up to the land and saw the young and handsome kakaho dancing on the sand dunes. Each time the kakaho made his appearance Pikao became more and more enamoured. Finally she asked permission from Takaroa to leave the sea to meet her lover. Takaroa granted her permission with words of warning that she would never make it.

However driven by blind love, she left the seaweed and crawled across the hot sand. As she struggled up she began to call to the kakaho - but he was interested only in himself. He was in love with his own shape and did not answer pikao's calls. In desperation she called back to Takaroa, who could do nothing but shower her with spray. And there on the sand dunes, the pingao remains to this day.

The children of papa-tu-a-nuku however intervened in the story, and they harvested the pikao and the kakaho and united them in the tukutuku panels on the walls of the wharenui. Each whatu or stich on the tukutuku is known as a living eye and represents a link from the tribal ancestors to the unborn of tomorrow.
www.doc.govt.nz

There you are friends, some Maori words for you to learn. Just take them slowly and pronounce then as you see them spelt!! (Sort of!) I’ll test you on them next week. Okay?
sAner, Comandante, dew77, PDP, liquidsunshine, Runnerduck, scottevers7, Luc, red45, coasties, LCannon has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To cafecrem: Thanks JoannaJanice 2 06-28 07:06
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Interesting Capture Janice, Even though the focus is on the foreground, there is something about the background that catches my attention. Good work!

Hello Janice!
Great windy atmosphere of this place! Like in "Wuthering Heights" Emily Bronte!

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1488 W: 72 N: 1428] (4748)
  • [2005-06-28 7:05]

Hello Janice,

This is just great! I love the way the grass is blown backwards. Colors (the shades of green) are great and the photo is crisp and clear. Very well done^& TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

Composition: **
Sharpness: ***
Color: ***
DOF: ****
POV: ****
Note: ****
Well done.
TFS.

A stunning image Janice, my eye's are drawn to the background, what a beach! I remember the film, it had some stunning views.
As always a great note.
Thanks for posting.

Hi Janice,

A very nice capture. I like the composition with the strong wind blowing the plants. The notes and story enhance the picture even more. Nice Shot!

Scott

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1872 W: 304 N: 4301] (14733)
  • [2005-06-29 3:13]

Hello Janice!
Personal assessment of the photo: great.
Good visual impact.
Aptness of the photo for the site: excellent.
Personal assessment of the note: complete and very interesting.
Thank you very much for sharing.

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2732 W: 74 N: 8956] (30561)
  • [2005-06-29 3:16]

I like this kind of photos Janice. Very informative note and very interesting subject. Not classical postcard landscape but it is very good for me - it shows piece of real world in NZ ;-) I love Maori language! I think for Polish speaking person it is quite easy :-) Papa-tu-a-nuku!

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4635 W: 248 N: 4025] (13237)
  • [2005-06-29 3:26]

Hello Janice!
Very nice photo.DOF,lighting,framing and composition are wonderful.Excellent work!
TFS...:-)

Very beautiful shot Janice, very good capture here, very good details and great composing.
Thanks.

hello my friend:) what a beauty place:) green and so peaceful:) almost heaven:) great capture:) exellent POV:) I love it much:D

Malgosia

PT;)

Hello janice!
Wonderful capture.DOF you managed,colors,details,framing and composition are excellent.thanks for sharing.

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2005-06-29 6:36]

It certainly looks wild, and windswept. Good composition. I like this alot, something different. Very well done Janice.

Nice work. Light and colours are excellent and the composition very good. Thanks for sharing.. well done!

Lovely shot Janice,
Nicely composed, great sharp details and fantastic light.
Well framed, looking forward to the Maori test!
Thanks for posting

Nice shot Janice. The wild west of New Zealand. Good low POV showing the direction of the wind. Very New Zealand! Thanks.

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF