New Zealand Groundswell (Howl of a Protest) Protest, Gisborne, July 16th 2021.

I attended the Gisborne farmer protests opposing the government’s decision to introduce a tax on coupe utility vehicle purchases. This protest marks a widening schism between progressive state policies and agricultural interests to survive a hostile and thankless free-market.

Compared to some rallies happening nationally that day, despite some climate denialist undertones and “Jacinda, the totalitarian commie” rhetoric, the messaging at the Gisborne rally was relatively tame (I did not see messaging directed against Māori or messages leaning into conspiracies about Māori running the government and installing an apartheid state that were witnessed in different cities that day). The procession through the main street of Gisborne was very quickly done without fuss.

I am unclear if members of parliament attended the debrief after the procession. By what I could see driving by, there were only organizers and attendees debriefing.

Gisborne, Aotearoa New Zealand. Summer – Autumn 2020. Canon Demi, Ilford HP5 400.

It’s been a while since uploading. I can assure you that I will be focusing on exploring every square meter of Gisborne next year. I’d say that my composition has become more loose and ad-lib now that I’ve taken a little break from shooting. Could be a good thing.

Review of 2019

Last year I challenged myself to only shoot with one camera and one film stock. I achieved this but my output was hampered by a number of factors. Motivation, little change of environment and scenery, feeling the winter blues and a number of other factors.

I definitely saved a lot of film and money using a halfframe. I still have over half of my 100ft roll of my film to get through. I think I’ll keep using the Canon Demi for most of my shots but I need to fix the light seals. The selenium light meter needle is not as accurate as it used to be so I need to figure out my stops and where they line up on that meter. I think that exercise will be fun if I use the universal light code.

Gisborne 2019, autumn to spring. Canon Demi, Ilford HP5.

Wellington, February 2018, Canon FT, Kentmere 400.