New Zealand: Last late afternoon in the country
February 26th was our last full day in New Zealand, and late afternoon found us back at Eve’s niece’s place on the Whangaparaoa* Peninsula north of Auckland. More specifically, the house was just a few blocks from Little Manly Beach, where I spent time racing the declining sunlight to photograph intriguing patterns and shapes and colors along the shoreline. Here’s one structure whose pastel shades particularly appealed to me.
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* It’s been a long time since I reminded you that wh in Māori words represents an f sound.
© 2015 Steven Schwartzman
Portraits of Wildflowers 
Well, you won the race. The colours are beautiful.
Gallivanta
July 13, 2015 at 5:45 AM
I worked as long as I could on that late afternoon, and I was happy enough with some of the “winning” images I got that I craved more and decided to go back the next morning. A few images from that second session will appear here later this week.
Steve Schwartzman
July 13, 2015 at 7:29 AM
Reminds me of the Southwest…
lensandpensbysally
July 13, 2015 at 6:32 AM
I hadn’t consciously thought about it, but now that you’ve said so the colors do strike me as very Southwestern.
Steve Schwartzman
July 13, 2015 at 7:31 AM
It could be the most beautiful topo map ever, or a wonderful view from above, with that sinuous, darker blue “river” snaking through turquoise and sandstone canyons. New Mexico may be known for the same palette and call itself the Land of Enchantment, but these colors from Little Manly Beach are equally enchanting.
shoreacres
July 13, 2015 at 6:54 AM
You’ve at least partly read my mind here. As soon as I looked at this picture, I imagined it as an abstract map of New York State, with the “sinuous, darker blue ‘river'” being the Hudson. That overrode any association with the colors of the Southwest, a connection that is also justified and is probably the one that many more people will make than my idiosyncratic one to the state I grew up in.
Steve Schwartzman
July 13, 2015 at 7:51 AM
Super colours here Steve, I’d be happy to spend time on that beach. Little Manly Beach in Sydney is rather lovely too, but lacks those coloured rocks.
Heyjude
July 13, 2015 at 9:12 AM
I walked along Manly Beach (but not Little Manly Beach) in Sydney in 2005. I don’t remember seeing colorful rocks there either, but I do remember thinking how much it looked like parts of the California coast.
I’ll have some different colors and textures from Little Manly Beach in New Zealand coming up over the next few days.
Steve Schwartzman
July 13, 2015 at 1:33 PM
I shall look forward to seeing them, and yes, the Sydney beaches are reminiscent of south California (not that I am an expert on either place)
Heyjude
July 13, 2015 at 3:12 PM
Maybe that will be an incentive to spend more time in both places.
Steve Schwartzman
July 14, 2015 at 7:13 AM
I like this. What an interesting combination of colors, textures and shapes.
Birder's Journey
July 13, 2015 at 10:18 AM
I’m glad I finally made it to this beach at the end of my trip. This photograph has become one of my favorites from the trip.
Steve Schwartzman
July 13, 2015 at 1:49 PM
Me too, this is beautiful. It looks like an abstract painting.
melissabluefineart
July 13, 2015 at 10:30 AM
It sure does look like an abstract painting. Nature did herself proud here.
Steve Schwartzman
July 13, 2015 at 1:50 PM
Interesting! Is that from volcanic activity!
photoleaper
July 13, 2015 at 11:11 AM
I’m afraid we’d need a geologist to answer that. It’s plausible, given how much volcanic activity there is in the country/
Steve Schwartzman
July 13, 2015 at 1:51 PM
Great set of colors.
Jim in IA
July 13, 2015 at 11:36 AM
A great set of colors to set your eyes on.
Steve Schwartzman
July 13, 2015 at 2:26 PM
Nice colours and textures. Great find.
Raewyn's Photos
July 13, 2015 at 3:43 PM
Little Manly Beach offered a lot of variety in a small area, so naturally the place enchanted me.
Steve Schwartzman
July 13, 2015 at 4:06 PM
These structures, or similar as I’ve never been to NZ, are always great sources for abstracts. This is a nice one, Steve.
Steve Gingold
July 14, 2015 at 3:11 AM
I don’t recall seeing anything as appealing on the shores of Long Island when I was growing up. Maybe I wasn’t paying attention.
Steve Schwartzman
July 14, 2015 at 7:15 AM
Here’s an out-of-this world comparison for you. When I saw this photo, taken by the Mars Rover as it explored Marathon Valley, I couldn’t believe how similar the colors are to your photo. Even the mixing of textures is similar, although of course each location has its own distinctive patterns.
I laughed when I saw in the article that they described Opportunity as “going walkabout.” That’s certainly one heck of an outback for the Rover to explore.
shoreacres
August 4, 2015 at 5:39 PM
Well how about that: the same colors. Thanks for bringing that other-worldly comparison to our attention.
I suspect there’s at least one Australian space scientist behind the expression “going walkabout.” I’m also reminded now of the 1971 movie Walkabout:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067959/
Steve Schwartzman
August 4, 2015 at 7:51 PM