Smokehouse Bay, Great Barrier Island; a pano shot for the currently out of press Big Little Beach Book. This installation went in last week, it's on Autex sound dampening tiles- hence the matt look finish below.
There's a champion of my work. I'll be eternally grateful to them. This person has put my images forward for four large projects with Auckland District Health Board, Auckland Hospital. All of the images have gone through vigorous vetting protocols, including opening up the selection to the staff, a whole raft of political correctness and hoop jumping. There are now four huge photo CPL murals in Auckland Hospital.
The goal of the installations is the break up the clinical starkness of the labs. The labs that are often associated with stressful times and quite frankly bad news. A distraction for the patient, a different thing to focus on. It is all, genuinely, noble stuff. It's also an overt attempt to brighten up the workplace for the staff. Invariably these MRI and CT scan labs have to be windowless rooms in the bowels of Auckland Hospital.
Mission Bay, also orginally shot for The Big Little Beach Book
None the photo murals bare a signature or a CPL logo, there's no brash call to view the website. Maybe there should be, but I figure, these are in there to help make a stressful diagnosis, a difficult work zone, just little bit more pleasant. I've been paid my fee, I don't need an advert on them. Sometimes I think we live in a time where everything is claimed, logo'd up, sub-marketed, over branded, over commercialised.
Piha Layers at 2.4 metres high x 11 metres wide
KareKare Point, another large pano that featured in The Big Little Beach Book
Maybe I read too much into it, but to have four large installs like these in Auckland Hospital is a career and personal highlight. Nice to be paid, for sure, but knowing that they might alleviate some stress or soften a stark place gives me the warm fuzzies
AND Deeeennnnn...
Wowsers! Thanks to all you you good bastards that have bought Warren Hawke's new book NZ Surf Windows It was a solid push over November and December, shipping was delayed for 6 weeks. Normally that would severely hamper sales, but somehow we've sold through 75% of the entire print. Pre-sales were the best we've ever had for a book, probably in part due to everyone being more comfortable with online purchases. But also because Warren's 3 prior books were so solid. This one, in my opinion, is Warren's best. Dunno what I'm talking about? You can preview the book HERE
Getting ready for the next Cyclone, you stay safe out there homies... I'll see ya on the other side next week.
Shot at dawn on 30 December 2023 and later claimed as one of the best swell and bank combinations in a decade. So chuffed to have been there to have made this image of Whanga Bar you like it? You could totally have it on your wall! The link to it is HERE for media and sizing options... go on you know you need it.