My Pictorial World

No More Living In Darkness

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 03 Aug 2014 04:39:00 +0000

"No More Living In Darkness”, are words that I came across whilst walking through Auckland Uni. They got me thinking about what the person who wrote them was getting at. Is it a Biblical message or something else? What does it mean to NOT live in darkness?

Photo taken with an iPhone 4S

Bishop Brian Tamaki, the Vatican rang. You made the shortlist - Tui Billboard

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 10:50:00 +0000

Pope Benedict resigned last month and the Catholic Church has been tasked with electing a new Pope. Tui got in on the action and set up a billboard that reads:

"Bishop Brian Tamaki, the Vatican rang. You made the shortlist."

For those of you who don't know him, Brian Tamaki is the controversial leader of Destiny Church. I found the billboard hilarious but there are bound to be some people who will find it offensive.

Photo taken with an iPhone 4S

Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho Temple, Bangkok

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 18:30:00 +0000

At the end of last year, I spent a few days in Bangkok and whilst there I visited a few temples. One them was Wat Pho Temple which is the home of the Reclining Buddha which because of its sear size was quite a site.

Facts about the Reclining Buddha:

Covered in gold leaf
15 meters high
43 meters long

Photo taken with an iPhone 4S

China Southern Airlines Airbus A380-800 Landing In Auckland

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 19:30:00 +0000

A couple of days ago, a China Southern Airlines Airbus A380-841 flew from Guangzhou, China to Auckland carrying Chinese travel agents, various company executives and the airlines own executive team. The A380 flight was the first of only two scheduled flights using the aircraft with the purpose of the visit being to showcase New Zealand as a tourist destination.

The details of the aircraft in the video are as follows:

ModeS: 7808B0
Reg: B-6139
Typecode: A388
Type: Airbus A380-841
Serial number: 88

Footage taken using an iPhone 4S

Inosculated Tree Trunks In The Waitakere Ranges

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 19:30:00 +0000

A few weeks ago, a small group of us went into the Waitakere Ranges for an almost 12 kilometre half day bush walk along the Marguerite Track, Home Track, Winstone Track and Kauri Grove Track.

As you can expect, besides lots of mud, we can across a lot of native trees, plants and the odd bird. But, the most interesting site on that day was these inosculated (two trees growing together) tree trunks.

I tried to capture them from the bush floor all the way up to the tree tops using the panorama setting on an iPhone 4S.

Kissing A King Cobra At The Phuket Cobra Show

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 03:23:00 +0000

I recently had a short vacation in Thailand and whilst there, I visited the Phuket Cobra Show where I came across this very BRAVE or maybe CRAZY young man (Johnny) who got up close and personal with a King Cobra.

For a video of him dicing with death, visit Johnny Kissing A King Cobra To Make Money

Camera used: Nikon D5100

Flame Lily Edited Using Photoshop History Brush

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 08:40:00 +0000

A while back, I posted a photo of this A Flame Lily that it took on an outing to the Domboshawa Caves in Zimbabwe just over two years ago. Over the weekend I was working on a web project where this photo can in useful. The effect I was looking for was to have the flame lily in colour and the rest of the photo in black and white or in a much darker tone. I thought this was going to be a difficult task but thanks to Photoshop's history brush it was simple!

What are your thoughts of my first attempt at using Photoshop's History Brush?

Seagull Attacking A Pigeon

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 09:12:00 +0000

I came across this site a little while ago whilst I was walking through Central Auckland. It's not everyday you get to see a seagull attacking a pigeon!

Wishing Bell at Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple Auckland

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 21:11:00 +0000

The Wishing Bell comes with the following instructions when making a wish:
1. Make 3 prostrations
2. Kneel down and join palms
3. Recite “Na Mo Sakyamuni Buddha” 3 times
4. Make a wish
5. Knock the bell once
6. Arise and bow once

Ringing The Bell at Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple Auckland

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 22:07:00 +0000

A Buddhist nun ringing an extremely large bell at the Fo Guang Shan Temple.

Beating The Drum at Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple Auckland

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 20:01:00 +0000

Someone (I am not sure if she is nun?) beating and extremely large drum at the Fo Guang Shan Temple.

Stone Light at Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple Auckland

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 20:58:00 +0000

There are twelve of these lights within the temple and they represent the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination: Ignorance, Mental formations, Consciousness, Name and form, The six sense organs, Contact, Feeling, Craving, Clinging, Becoming, Birth, Ageing and death.

Pagoda at Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple Auckland

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 21:55:00 +0000

There is something about water that brings a feeling of peace and tranquillity.

2011 Rugby World Cup Finals Tickets Below Cost? #RWC2011

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 09:32:00 +0000

When I walked out of Britomart Train Station this afternoon I came across a couple of girls walking around with these signs, “Rugby World Cup Final’s Tickets – Below Cost – for info go to . I thought the IRB was going to/trying to clamp down on ticket scalpers? Well, it looks like there are tickets available on eBay for the finals match between France and the All Blacks.

Free Palestine Demonstration | Auckland

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 07:27:00 +0000

The issue of Palestine has for a very long time been a contentious issue for Israel and Western powers who have a vested interest in that part of the World. Over the weekend, I came across this small group of people who felt the need to express their views about Palestine to the people of Auckland.

Tui Yeah Right Calendar Girls Billboard

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 23:14:00 +0000

You've gotta love the stuff the people come up with for Tui's "Yeah Right" billboards. "I thought it was shop where girls sell calendars?" made me laugh because I could just imagine a guy explaining this to his wife or partner or girlfriend ever so innocently. For those of you who don't know what "Calendar Girls" is, Google it and then it will make more sense.

Homeless Man Sleeping On Queen Street, Auckland

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 00:20:00 +0000

I was walking down Queen Street one evening and even though there was still a lot of noisy pedestrian and vehicular traffic, this man was able to find himself a spot to get some sleep. I may complain now and then that life is tough but when I see sights like this, it reminds me about how blessed I am.

Proud Maori Flying The Maori Flag

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 23:55:00 +0000

I came across this individual at the 2011 Ragamuffin music festival. As you can see, he wanted people to know just how proud he was to be Maori. Maori get given a bad wrap but there is absolutely nothing wrong with them.

Raggamuffin 2012 Is Just Around The Corner

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 12:22:00 +0000

Earlier on in the year I took a bit of time out to head down to Rotorua for Ragamuffin. This year the line-up included: MARY J BLIGE, JIMMY CLIFF, MAXI PRIEST, THE ORIGINAL WAILERS, KY-MANI MARLEY, CHE FU & THE KRATEZ, NESIAN MYSTIK, 1814 and SONS OF ZION. SEAN PAUL was supposed to perform but was unable to make it. That being said, it was still a fantastic event and I am already looking forward Raggamuffin 2012. Hopefully they will make an announcement on next years line-up soon and I will be sure to get tickets as soon as they go on sale.

The photo is of the huge banners they had on either side of the stage. I am just in love with the colour combination.

Douglas C-47D Skytrain | ZK-DAK | NZ3546

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 05:30:00 +0000

This Royal New Zealand Airforce Douglas C-47D or Dakota as it is known to some people was one of the attractions at the Air New Zealand Tech Ops Open day on Sunday the 3rd of April. It also happened to be the only aircraft there that was taking attendees for short flights around the city.

(click on image for large view)

Air New Zealand ‘All Black’ Airbus A320-232 ZK-OAB | Crazy About Rugby

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 05:32:00 +0000

Today I took up the opportunity of attending the Air New Zealand Tech Ops Open Day. A friend who works for Air New Zealand took us around the facility and WOW!, there is a lot that takes place to keep their planes in the sky. We also had the chance of walking through and taking a look at their B777-300, B747-400 and A320-232. I was very impressed by the 777 but the livery on the A320 was the highlight for me.

Air New Zealand CRAZY ABOUT RUGBY Aircraft Towing Vehicle

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 05:26:00 +0000

Air New Zealand extended the All Black theme for their A320 to the towing vehicle which is also painted in black with “Crazy About Rugby” plastered on the side and to top it off, its registration is similar to that of the All Black plane, ZKOAB.

(click on image for large view)

Gulfstream GV-SP G550 N92LA at Auckland International Airport

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 04:38:00 +0000

Whilst at the Air New Zealand Tech Ops Open day I came across this Gulfstream Aerospace G550 being towed to a hanger where the other private jets are located.

(click on image for large view)

University of Otago Clocktower Building

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 20:04:00 +0000

The University of Otago Clocktower building which is located along the banks of the Leith River is probably the building that gives the university campus its character.

Fish in the Bathtub at Capers Cafe Dunedin

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 17:55:00 +0000

Capers Cafe Dunedin is one of many cafe’s around the city that I used to frequent years ago. I paid it a visit a couple of weeks ago and got a bit of a surprise when I went to the bathroom. It isn’t everyday that you see fish in a bathtub of what was a very colourful and interesting bathroom.