Tag: photography

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Godley Head (Gun Battery), Banks Peninsular

John Maillard
Godley Head is a recreation reserve administered by the Department of Conservation under the Reserves Act 1977. This reserve is a concept of land management that provides the public with the opportunity to observe an active rural situation combined with experiencing recreational activities.
Built in 1939, the Godley Head coastal defence battery is ranked as one of the top ten New Zealand coastal defence heritage sites.

This headland is a breathtaking coastal location, only 50 minutes drive from Cathedral Square, Christchurch. Built in 1939, the fort is ranked in the top ten New Zealand coastal defence heritage sites.

Even before the fort was built, the visual range of the headland was used to guide ships around the peninsula, with the help of the Godley Head light. The lighthouse, built in 1865, had to be moved during WWII to make way for the fort. Please note; public access is not available to the lighthouse in its current location.

In the threatening early years of World War II, Cantabrians were comforted that the long-range guns of the fort ensured their city was not defenceless against a surprise attack. In its heyday, the fort was staffed by over 400 men and women and was a self-contained community.

It closed in 1963 and remaining today are three large gun emplacements, seven military buildings, and other features. A complete WW2 anti-aircraft gun on long-term loan from Ferrymead Trust has been returned to the site.

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Porpoise Bay, the Catlins

Porpoise Bay,

Porpoise Bay, is home to the endemic Hector’s dolphin. Southern right whales are occasionally observed offshore, as on numerous parts of the country’s coast. Located near the southernmost point of the South Island, Porpoise Bay and Curio Bay is one of the major attractions in the Catlins, attracting around 100,000 visitors per year.

It was hailing on this day, I took home the Flu as well as the picture.

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Takaka Golden Bay, New Zealand

John Maillard New Zealand

Takaka Golden Bay, New Zealand. Print signed by John Maillard on 17x22inch etching paper, with a handling edge.
Golden Bay / Mohua is a shallow, paraboloid shaped bay at the northwest end of New Zealand’s South Island. An arm of the Tasman Sea, the bay lies northwest of Tasman Bay and Cook Strait. It is protected in the north by Farewell Spit, a 26 km long arm of fine golden sand which is the country’s longest sandspit. The Aorere and Takaka Rivers flow into the bay from the south.

Every year we take our family and camp by the sea for two weeks and dream of simple times.

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Drift Wood at Birdling’s Beach

Wooden Bones on the beach, Birdlings flat.

Birdling’s Flat. Print signed by John Maillard on 17x22inch etching paper, with a handling edge.

Birdling’s Flat is a pebble beach that is part of Kaitorete Spit. The beach is well known as a place to find small agates and a variety of other attractive rounded pebbles. Due to strong ocean currents, swimming and surfing is not advised.

Ten seconds of water, sky, land and peace

Birdling’s Flat is named for the Birdling family, who were the first European Settlers to farm the area. William Birdling was the first member of the Birdling family to arrive in New Zealand. He was employed by George Rhodes in 1843 to come to Banks Peninsula and work as his overseer. William built a house, Waikoko, in the area which was later to bear his name.

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The rural landscape is incomplete without its community

Jack Russell

As part of my ongoing research, concerning the other in the landscape, in particular the rural community and landscape that I live. I have realised that I have missed an important element of the landscape, these are the inhabitants both human and other wise.

Here are some test images, I am not sure if the portraits should be environmental or studio based, time will tell.