A challenging subject to capture

[Tronhard]

I belong to a local camera group that meets just after work on Wednesdays, heading out after the usual beverages and nibbles to take images on a weekly theme around the environs of Auckland City's downtown. Alas, the normal convenor was sick so I ended up taking up the reins.

Now, at this time of the year, going out at 5:30pm and sunset are pretty close together, so we needed to be close and hopefully find well-lit items to shoot. Obviously I suggested people take a tripod, but in fact I did not do so myself - partly because I got in ahead before it got dark and did a lot of shooting when there was light!

It turned out that only a handful of people turned up so, after distributing multiple copies of a booklet detailing the locations of public artworks, we all trooped along to the waterfront to shoot a particularly suitable piece of art: "The Lighthouse".

Now this is not, in fact, a lighthouse in the conventional sense. It is a custom-built artwork that externally resembles a classic state house, as built by successive governments in NZ to house low-income families from the 1930’s. I took these shots of the installation in the middle of the day when I went to do a recon of the site.


#1

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Inside it is just a shell that provides a unique environment for just two pieces of art:

1. A stainless-steel statue of Captain James Cook, the renowned English explorer and navigator, who went on three trans-global voyages in the 18th century, and who mapped and claimed for the British Crown NZ (and many other Pacific lands), precipitating the colonization of the country. As we are now at the 250th anniversary of his first visit, his role as an explorer and the implication of his engagement with NZ and in particular the indigenous Maori population has become a matter of some debate. Some Maori claim that he initiated a European invasion that resulted in loss of land and culture of the Maori population. This statue shows Cook, seated on a simple bench staring into a symbolic fire, apparently considering the implication of what has become of the country he found and claimed.


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2. Surrounding him in an otherwise empty space is an array of lights: fluorescent, incandescent, LED and neon. They interpret the Pleiades Constellation, the position of which determines the start of the Maori New Year period of Matariki.

When I went back at night with the group the results were dramatically different. I used the floor coverings as a reference to find some middle ground for the temperature settings.


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The result of these two elements is an almost psychedelic display of lights and reflections, especially from the figure of Cook, creating a disrupted image - perhaps as his image is now challenged and disrupted by contemporary commentators.


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To quote the booklet “The Lighthouse was... a gesture of permanent subterfuge in the heart of the property obsessed city. Located in one of the most valuable and contested pieces of real estate in Auckland. The Lighthouse is a hotly-debated piece of artwork.

The Lighthouse honours our egalitarian past and is a beacon signalling Maori struggles for land retention. Its questions the current and ongoing housing crisis, its impact on Maori, and the way the country provides for its most vulnerable people.”

Trying to get a decent shot of all this is challenging - there are so many lighting types that you are bound to get colour castes. Furthermore, one cannot enter the building, so shooting through windows often coated in sea salt is the only option - obviously I cleaned the glass but it was not a perfect solution.

These shots were taken on a venerable Canon EOS 60D, using the EF-S 17-55 f2.8, all shots available light, hand-held or pushed against a window.

[Shadowman]

Nice series, does look like a challenging subject and you did well.

[Rufus]

This is a great series marvellous shots, and most unusual. I would not have guessed they were all taken from outside!

Your commentary on the difficulties you faced and on the intallation itself both make for a fascinating read.

[Cogito]

Forgive me, but how can such a cacophony of light be interpreted as the Pleiades Constellation? Maybe since its Maori land they should be allowed an interpretation? Nonetheless decent shots but was it worth it?

[xpatUSA]

Forgive me, but how can such a cacophony of light ...

I didn't know that light is audible ...

[zen]

Impressive series, Trev. My favorite is #6 because its shows the broad venue, the building itself and the magnificent lighting inside. Thanks for sharing.

Zen

[Tronhard]

Forgive me, but how can such a cacophony of light be interpreted as the Pleiades Constellation? Maybe since its Maori land they should be allowed an interpretation? Nonetheless decent shots but was it worth it?

A good question. The lines of light are apparently taken from research as the the movement of the components of the Pleiades Constellation throughout the period of Matariki - which is not, like our New Year a single day.

I found another Auckland Council website that explains the concept, execution and imagery in much more detail if you are interested:
https://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil....el-parekowhai/

[Tronhard]

Forgive me, but how can such a cacophony of light be interpreted as the Pleiades Constellation? Maybe since its Maori land they should be allowed an interpretation? Nonetheless decent shots but was it worth it?

Hi Tony:

Like any piece of art, especially cross-cultural art, there is a degree of license. I am not sure that Maori have to be "allowed" an interpretation, it's theirs by right. Their stories of Matariki, like most of their legends, are well-woven and are a vibrant expression of their interpretation of their world.

As to whether it was worth it... I must admit I was surprised by the question... but certainly one worth addressing.
For ME, it was for several reasons:
1. The group expected to go on a themed photographic shoot, but the leader had not been able to be there, so as the most experienced photographer I had a responsibility to make sure they had the activity they were anticipating.
2. As to the choice of venue... At that time of day we were shooting there were few things I could guarantee would have light on them, (especially suspecting few attendees would have a tripod) so it was (for me) an easy and obvious choice.
3. I have never balked from a photographic challenge that I have accepted, in fact I welcome them as it makes me look, think, and find solutions in the hope of capturing the subject's essence. The artwork in itself was more interesting to me the more insight I gained and I had never visited it until the preparation for the shoot, so I expanded my horizons a bit too. I would like to go back there again and capture it with the full sunset red across the sky behind and the harbour bridge when it is lit for special events (like Matariki), as per the enclose image.


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As to whether it would be worth it to anyone else is a question they would have to answer for themselves.

[george013]

First I was looking for that damned lighthouse, it appears to be a lightning house.
Good pictures and story. That's how I like photography.

Every group of people have their own interpretation of history. One doesn't have to be a prof to know that the Maoris have another interpretation of the past. What happens is that the "we factor" is changing. First the "we factor" was Europian/English orientated, now it's changing to New Zealand orientated , including the native inhabitants. Happens in Holland too and I think all over the world. If not it will stay a relation of "we" and "they".

I like the way you captured the theme. Not much possibilities through some windows. And I must say the more I look at the theme the more I understand and like it. Thanks to the pictures and the explanation of them.

George

[pschlute]

Fascinating pictures and story

[Wavelength]

It altogether appears like electrocution using light . I liked visual extravaganza...

Later: Ouch, i must say photocution

[Cogito]

Hi Tony
.......
As to whether it would be worth it to anyone else is a question they would have to answer for themselves.

Tanks for the explanation

[pschlute]

Was Jeff Koons the creator of the work by any chance?

https://edition.cnn.com/style/articl...ord/index.html

[Tronhard]

Was Jeff Koons the creator of the work by any chance?

https://edition.cnn.com/style/articl...ord/index.html

Hi Peter:

Thank you for your interest and question!

Actually the whole thing was created by Michael Parekōwhai, he is a sculptor and a professor at the prestigeous University of Auckland's Elam School of Fine Arts and was awarded an Arts Foundation of New Zealand Laureate Award in 2001. He represented New Zealand at the 2011 Venice Biennale.

To learn more see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Parekowhai

[ST1]

Very interesting series Trevor, I was especially interested in the statue of James Cook.
Cook was born about a mile and a half from my home. Our son was christened in the same church as James Cook.
But the church don’t display the register page for our sons christening
Melbourne ( Australia) has a cottage that is described as Cooks Cottage! It was dismantled stone by stone (each being numbered) in Great Ayton transported to Melbourne and rebuilt there.
Don’t tell them but the cottage was actually his parents home and some researchers doubt that Cook ever stayed in it!


Sent from somewhere in Gods County using Tapatalk

[Tronhard]

Very interesting series Trevor, I was especially interested in the statue of James Cook.
Sent from somewhere in Gods County using Tapatalk

Thanks for your insight Peter!

I have a personal connection with Cook as well. My forebears served in the Royal Navy for over 12 generations, one was Captain Hardy in whose arm Nelson died at Waterloo, and my ancestors also served as junior officers on ships commanded by both Cook and Vancouver.

[pschlute]

Thanks for your insight Peter!

I have a personal connection with Cook as well. My forebears served in the Royal Navy for over 12 generations, one was Captain Hardy in whose arm Nelson died at Waterloo, and my ancestors also served as junior officers on ships commanded by both Cook and Vancouver.

I am sure just a slip of your pen, but it was Trafalgar, not Waterloo.

[Tronhard]

I am sure just a slip of your pen, but it was Trafalgar, not Waterloo.

You are right in both counts It WAS a slip of my concentration (my daughter says I suffer from Old Timer's Disease, if I could remember who she was I would chastise her severely ) and it WAS Trafalgar - my ancestors will be spinning in their graves... it's been a long day.

[pschlute]

my ancestors will be spinning in their graves

It will be a keel-hauling for you followed by 10 lashes of the cat.

[mugge]

Very interesting, Trev. Did the All Blacks recruit a few descendants from the aussie convicts. I mean Captain Cook also circumnavigated lil old Australia as well