With the car at the windscreen repairers getting a chip fixed we ambled over the road at Petone for a look at the view.  It was a sunny autumn morning perfect for a spot of photography practice.

We didn’t stay long and I didn’t walk far so I was a bit sceptical about what the result of the photo shoot would be.  When I got home and downloaded the snaps I was pleasantly surprised the variations possible from almost a fixed position and changing my lenses over half way through.

It’s no more than you should really expect with the moving tide, the textures of the sand and the comings and goings that you get on a waterfront area.

Let’s start close up with the sea and the sand.  This was just a point and shoot.  Had I spent more time fiddling with dials and pressing buttons I suspect that I’d be able to create some really artistic shots.

Now here’s a thing.  The difference a lens makes.  Check this out.

I struggled to fit it into the frame using my zoom lens.  But it was dead easy when I changed to use my standard lens.

It felt like I’d stepped into another world all of a sudden.  It just goes to show that big is not always beautiful.  I like this long perspective of the walkway. It makes for a more interesting shot.

Here’s Somes Island close up.

And here it is in it’s wider context.  Wellington City is in the background.  Just check out those clouds almost mimicking the waves.

But look what happens if you turn around and put a different angle on the same view.

I actually like the second view (above) better.  It has more depth, more interest and the clouds look like they are flying closer to the ground.

It’s almost this view you get when you drive into town.  It’s an amazing sight I never tire of and makes me remember that Wellington is surely one of the most beautiful places in the world.    You get the same view on the train too.

Here’s a closer look of the Wairarapa Train that MT catches weekdays as it doodles along the tracks.  High speed and trains are not synonymous here in New Zealand.

I wonder where that road up the hill goes?

Now here’s another beach perspective.  Look at the guy with his dog.  I rather like the sense of play going on.

When you add in someone else (who just happens to be handy pacing the beach) it changes the story entirely.

What look what happens if you get closer still. Somehow the magic has gone entirely.

Three shots from the same spot in just a few moments tells three different stories.  Isn’t photography wonderful!

Here’s MT admiring the view.  Brings a touch of poetry to the picture I think.  Wonder what he’s thinking?

Actually, I know what he’s thinking:

“When’s she going to finish? Surely it’s time for brunch?”

I’m sure if I cropped these shots in different ways you’d get a whole different perspective again.

I’m really seeing the world in a different way these days.  I would hasten to add that one lesson I learned from this morning was that if you’re going to get serious about photography it’s not all about just taking a few snaps.  You need to set aside some serious practice time and be able to spend a while thinking about what it is you want to portray.

It also helps if you don’t do it on an empty stomach with a husband who’s heading towards one of the low sugar moments!

I was quite pleased with the picture I snapped as I was dragged off to satisfy his food craving. Another layer to give depth to the photo.

By the way.  Breakfast was scrummy!