Jul 242010
Feb 012010
A group of late night bar patrons approaches the back of The St James Theatre. Once one of the most sumptuously decorated cinemas in Auckland, along with nearby Civic Theatre, The St James is now nearly derelict. A monument to a bygone era, its seating and projection booths are gathering dust.
Auckland Electric Power Board
Architecture, Colour
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Jan 292010
Auckland City and the surrounding suburbs have several buildings belonging to The Auckland Electric Power Board that are Art Deco in Design. They can be found in various places throughout central Auckland. This particular one sits on the Eastern side of the beginning of Tamaki Drive, and was built, as the sign states, just after the Second World War.
Jan 212010
A young man sits on the side of the road at the far end of Mills Lane, during the early hours of the morning. This narrow street is lies parallel between Albert Street and Queen Street, connected to the latter just before this spot by a narrow winding staircase.
Jan 142010
An office building on Tooley Street, near Allied Work Force at Ports of Auckland, stands empty, windows closed. The Ports of Auckland areas have seen huge changes in the last twenty years, being directly opposite the rapidly redeveloping Britomart area. This building is a stubborn example of the kind of purely utilitarian design one might expect to see at the edge of a car wrecking yard or suburban industrial area.
Jan 122010
A young couple walks into the Men’s Public Restrooms at the top of Durham Street, underneath Albert Street. This is one of the many public restrooms that are open late at night around the city. I’m not sure why she had to accompany him, or why a third party went into the restrooms with them. Maybe he needed help with something, or was not feeling the best, or perhaps he needed her to be a “lookout” as he and his friend used the restroom. Or he needed his friend to be a lookout while he and she used the restroom. Maybe she needed to use the restroom and needed help from both men while she did so.
My Top Six Drinks!
Architecture, Black and White, Portrait
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Jan 092010
A man walks past “My Top Six Drinks”, one of the many stores of its kind to proliferate during the past few years. This one is in the old Theatre Centre block, opposite the Civic Theatre, that used to house the St. James Theatre and a row of video game arcades. Most of it is now dedicated to restaurants, kebab shops and tea houses like this one.
This might seem like an odd thing for me to post, because from what I’ve seen, it’s one of the most photographed “icons” in Auckland City.
It’s a bit of an outrage that we’ve been subjected to the new Santa Claus head. To those that aren’t aware, the tradition of having the giant Father Christmas standing on the corner began decades ago at the old Farmer Department Store on Hobson Street, which is now the Farmers Heritage Hotel (called so to differentiate it from the Heritage Towers.) After the department store closed down and the building was converted into apartments, we were without the usual Santa Claus that used to stand on the corner.
This was fine with a lot of people, since his slow wink and beckon weren’t the most attractive additions to the landscape, but you know, it was what it was. It was something that I, and many others like me, grew up with. A trip to the big city at Christmas time would always include a visit to Farmers, its children’s play area with Santa’s cave, dizzying neverending tricycle rodeo on the top floor, and the giant, squinty eyed Santa.
It was all very nice of Whitcoulls to resurrect the statue so we could have it again, and fair enough that he no longer winks or beckons, as the noise of either or both of these things would have been deafening to the residents of the renovated building, but come on, leave the poor guy’s face alone.
Addendum (Karl): This shot was taken a few nights before the face was unveiled. Santas face was covered, I guess, to promote discussion and curiosty. For years people complained it was kind of creepy looking, with that mechanical beckoning finger and one half blinking eye. I’m glad he’s had a make over…
Dec 292009
The West side of the Britomart Train Station, formerly the Main Post Office. This was recently shown at The High Seas as part of the Auckland Festival of Photography for 2010.
Dec 292009
Albert Park, Night.