Beached As

I was just having a chat conversation with a friend about titling photos.
I found online, advice which said titles are supposed to evoke a suitable response to a photo, such as...

• surprise
• contrast, contradiction, cognitive dissonance
• pique curiosity
• amazement
• amusement
• empathy
• horror

And that in creating title/captions we need to answer the following questions:

• How do we want the viewer to see the photo?
• Does it need context for understanding?
• Will additional information be helpful?
• What reaction are we trying to create in the viewer?

Finally the title is meant to give a small insight into the mind of the photographer.
Well from the minute I saw this skeleton on the beach this morning, I could only think of...  "Beached As".
Does that give any insight into my mind?

(If you are not familiar with this phrase, please watch Beached As, Bro. Gotta love that Kiwi accent! Oh and humour )

We will Remember Them

Sonnet for ANZAC Day

By: Alf Wood

Sound the Last Post again, lest we forget

the freedom that we cherish has been bought -

not found like mushrooms in the field; the debt

is ours to pay, mindful of those who fought

and fell - yet still they held the torch aloft!

May we remain as zealous to withstand

the traitors who would make our fibres soft,

as well as enemies beyond the land.

The trumpet has the power to move us still,

and though the debris of a flood of years

lies over hand and mind, an aching thrill

comes rising perilously close to tears.

Sound the Last Post to hold the memory bright,

then sound the Rouse and keep the torch alight

Photo taken at yesterday's Anzac Assembly @ Reremoana School

Crisis, What Crisis?

Well fellow New Zealanders, who are the only ones who will really understand and appreciate the topicality of this post, today my crisis point arrived.

I reached the bottom of my Marmite jar.

To mitigate any withdrawal from the thick, savoury mud-like  yeast extract spread we Kiwis love to smear on our hot toast, I had proactively purchased a jar of Vegemite earlier in the week. I had been raised on Vegemite, how different could it really be?
Answer: Quite a lot. Aside from the obvious taste, I did not find the brown as appealing as the black goodiness of the true yeast extract, the Vegemite smell was less tempting and it seemed to clog on my Vogels as opposed to silkily spread itself across the grains, as does Marmite.
However despite being a Marmite lover, I must say I am a bit amazed at how this thing has played out in the media etc. A win-win for both companies as far as I can see. Maybe they co-conspired to taunt the New Zealand psyche into having us believe we cannot live without our black gold... be that of the M or the V variety. That said, I would sooner live without the V myself... Marmite all the way!

South Auckland; it's all good in the 'hood

I had not attended a powhiri for some time, and was part of one today for a work occasion. Every time I am involved with one I get kind of emotional - it's the singing that does it. (Not my singing, and especially not today - of the 3 chosen waiata for the manuhiri, I knew one - and they did not use that one... )
It's the singing of any Maori group that does it. There's something about the resonance, tonality and conviction that makes me have to bite really hard on my own jaw and try not to cry!
Double that feeling when today the tangata whenua was a group of high school students, welcoming us to their marae. Powerful stuff. I felt wholly welcomed. And I could have listened to them sing all day.
It was interesting was the array of cultures that had come together for a professional learning experience on the marae. Our small group had representatives  from Samoa, Nuie, Hungary, India, England, South Africa, - all mainly immigrants who have chosen to come and live here - and of course Aotearoa New Zealand. Diversity seemed to be the untitled theme of the day. Gotta love South Auckland. In a good way.