If there was a prize for the worst Blog!!

Ok so I am rubbish at updating my blog.. I do have a reasonable excuse though!

After spending 6 fun months in Melbourne, Australia with Katie ( my first g/f from the UK ) we found out we were pregnant!!! After a couple of weeks of deliberating over what to do next we finally decided to move back to Auckland, New Zealand as I have my NZ residency and could sponsor Katie for hers. So we settled into life in Auckland after a brief visit in the UK to break our exciting news to our friends and family and on the 5th March 2010 Charlie Grant was born..

What an incredible feeling, as im sure most new fathers would agree, there really aren't words that can describe the first time you get to hold your little baby boy. In fact it still gets me all emotional now just thinking about it 4 mths later. I think I spent the majority of my adult life wondering if I wanted kids and if I would be a good dad or could I support my family? All I can say is the second you set eyes on your son everything changes, all your doubts disappear and nothing else in the world matters more than your little baby boy.

Work wise I have had to hold down a sensible job to pay the bills..
In my spare time I have been working on my new business Real Pics which specialises in real estate marketing solutions, focussing around - Still Photography, 2D and 3D floor plans, High Definition Video Tours and  Elevated or Aerial Photography. You can find more details www.realpics.co.nz

Having spent the last few months doing the ground work Real Pics will be launching in full force over the next few weeks!! It goes without saying - if you know anyone who works in real estate or anyone who is selling their home please get in touch :-)

Ok so that's a really quick update of my life over the last few months. My mid year new year resolution is to update my blog regularly..

Dutch Barge - Interior Pics

I have just taken some pictures of this stunning Dutch Barge! The images are to be used in adverts as this floating luxury home is for sale. This incredible floating palace is based on a traditional Dutch Barge design but has been lovingly hand crafted to incorporate a very contemporary modern feel. With no expense spared, its also fully equipped for trips to sea with the latest navigation technology and huge bow thruster for easy manoeuvrability.

Its very tricky taking half decent pictures in a relatively small environment like a boat but with the help of my wide angle 10-20mm Sigma lens I was able to achieve some satisfactory results. Most of the shots were taken on a tripod using a small aperture and long exposure.

If you like the idea of a luxury home that you can move around then contact ianandjenny@seeper.com for more details..

click here for a slide show of the pictures

Night Photography - Hong Kong The Peak

After spending quite few months in Hong Kong I thought it was about time to take a trip up the peak and shoot the city from above. You may wonder why I haven't done it before? Well its not as easy as it sounds! Due to Hong Kong being one of the most densely populated areas on the planet combined with heat, humidity and the hideous amount of pollution that drifts over the border from China, most days you can't even see the top of the tallest buildings. If you watch the weather very carefully every now there are gaps in the smog and Hong Kong presents itself in a way most visitors are only likely to see on postcards. Don't get me wrong Hong Kong is a pretty impressive sight. Even on a hazy day you can't help but be in awe of the mass of towering concrete, steel and glass, but on a clear day it is breath taking. One of the best view points on one of these special clear days is from the Peak. The Peak is literally that, its pretty much the highest point on Hong Kong Island and top of the list when most people visit the city. Historically the peak was used for signalling ships and then later was home exclusively to rich expats and is still one of the most exclusive and expensive areas of Hong Kong. The best way to get there is by the Peak Tram which is operated on a cable system which drags the tram cars up the hill at an incredibly steep angle. Incidentally the tram system has been operating for 120 years this year, luckily they have made a few updates to the original construction! After a trip up the steep incline you will really appreciate what it must have been like before the tram was built. The favoured way up by expats in the late 1800's was by sedan chair, this is basically a chair with two poles running in front and behind and is carried by two men!

Once at the top, in typical tourism style you are forced to walk through a gift shop full of overpriced goodies that you will never need and then into the Peak Tower. Its last renovation was completed in 2005 and its now a full blown shopping and tourist centre with restaurants and even a Madame Tussuad's. You can pay the extra and take the zig zagging escalators to the viewing platform at the top, but I would recommend the free option using your legs and taking the 2.6km walk which takes you all the way around the peak. On the day I was up there it was pretty quiet and the path takes you through some lovely nature and with a great sunset on one side and the spectacular view on the other I was spoilt for choice!

Hmm I wasn't meaning for this to turn into an excerpt from the Lonely Planet but I thought I may as well stick a bit of extra info in for anyone interested...

So to the picture side of things - I wanted to get some nice shots of a clear Hong Kong which as I mentioned before isn't easy. When I first arrived I snapped a couple in daylight and some nice ones as the light started to soften, but what I was really waiting for was dusk when everything comes alive like lights on a Christmas tree. Anyway I have posted a couple of shots and I hope you enjoy them.