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ST. JOSEPH CATHEDRAL

My little cousin's baptism was held at the St. Joseph Cathedral at the beginning of April. I'm lucky it was held then because they're closing at the end of the month for some much needed renovations and I had never been inside it. The cathedral is just magnificent! Inside and out. I was asked if I could snap a few photos of the ceremony for souvenir and I'm glad they did otherwise I may not have brought my camera inside with me. One thing I love to do is show the environment where the event is taking place. They chose the St. Joseph Cathedral for a reason. Thus why not show the grandiosity of it's architecture. These are just a handful of photos taken before and after the ceremony (with a couple of exceptions). I wish I had more time and my tripod. I would have taken more detail shots and angles, and I think the photos would've been of better quality too.

St. Joseph Cathedral is located in Noumea (New caledonia) on the east side of the city and just above it's skyline. If you'd like to know more on the cathedral, here is a link to it's Wikipedia article.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nouméa_Cathedral

New CaledoniaCHRIStophe Robert HERVOUËTApril 16, 2018bapteme, baptism, canon, cathedral, ceremonie, ceremony, christophe robert hervouet, ef-s 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6 is II, new caledonia, noumea, nouvelle caledonie, photoshop cc, province sud, saint joseph, south province, st. joseph

SCOUTING THE DAM

I went down to the Barrage de Yaté (Yate Dam, New Caledonia) to scout the area for a possible photograph for a photo contest I'd like to participate in next month. The Easter weekend seemed to be the perfect time because there was going to be a Blue Moon. I decided to camp overnight in hope of getting a photo of the dam at sunset, at midnight lit by the moon and sunrise. Multiplying my chances of capturing at least one photograph for the contest. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't quite up for it.

Sunset was ok but very cloudy and not a lot of colour in the sky. The sun barely broke through the clouds and, I think, those were the best shots I came home with. After a couple of hours of sleep, I got up for the moonlight shots. I was hoping the full moon would illuminate the lake and maybe capture a few stars at the same time but that wasn't to be. Too many clouds over the lake. Though the full moon was in site where I was, she wasn't illuminating the lake. I waited a while in hope that would change but it started to cover up and rain. So I headed back to my campsite. Four hours later I got up for the sunrise shots but ended up staying in my sleeping bag. No, I wasn't lazy. Strong wind and heavy rain was pounding my tent. It stopped almost three hours later, which I took advantage to quickly pack everything up. Though I missed sunrise by an hour, it looked like there was going to be a few breaks in the clouds so I headed down to the dam and setup my camera just in case. The sun briefly popped it's head out and I was able to capture a small rainbow but the clouds came rolling back in. I was about to head home when I remembered I had couple of welder's glasses. But that's a story for another time. Suffice to say, shortly after it started to pour down and that was that.

This photo was taken just after sunset and just before blue hour. I was using a remote I had just bought and though I'd take a selfie with it. I think you might see me in more photos.

New CaledoniaCHRIStophe Robert HERVOUËTApril 4, 2018artificial lake, barrage de yate, canon, dam, ef-s 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6 is II, lac artificeil, new caledonia, nouvelle caledonie, photoshop cc, province sud, selfie, south province, sunset, yate, yate dam

HOT DAY AHEAD

I was in a hurry to get to work on time until I drove by this beautiful view. It's so rare to see the sun like this at sunrise, here in New Caledonia. A white sphere in the sky that you can actually look at without hurting your eyes. And the sky, a beautiful orange colour and the silhouette of those trees... how can you not stop to appreciate it. OK so I arrive 5 minutes late for work but what a rare site to capture. I admit, it's not the best of photographs but it's a nice memory nonetheless.

New CaledoniaCHRIStophe Robert HERVOUËTMarch 26, 2018aerodrome, branches, canon, ef-s 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6 is II, hot, magenta, new caledonia, noumea, nouvelle caledonie, photoshop cc, province sud, silhouette, south province, sticks, sun, sunrise, warm

TEARDROPS ON A TEARBUD

Back in February I posted a couple of photos. One titled The Vella Bouquet which showed the, nearly, fully bloomed flower and the other, Purple Hearts, showing the first moments of blooming of this bud. They're called Agapanthus and I thank Ben Caledonia over on Flickr for the name of this flower. And also to Chris Thomas on G+ for an interesting fact. These flowers are often planted around homes in areas with high fire risks. When the flower is dormant, their base leaves are very waxy and great as fire retardant. They won't stop your house from burning down but may give you those few precious minutes to save the house or get to safety. And funny enough, this photo was taken in the backyard of my friend's parents place up in the Blue Mountains (Australia).

I decided to go black & white on this photo because of the high contrast between the bud and the background. In colour everthing was in the green tones and wasn't separating the bud from the background enough. Here, the bud has all the attention.

AustraliaCHRIStophe Robert HERVOUËTMarch 17, 2018agapanthus, australia, b&w, black & white, blue mountains, bud, canon, christophe robert hervouet, ef-s 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6 is II, eos 1300d, flowers, monochrome, new south wales, nsw, photoshop cc

RANDONNÉE SENTIER DE NETCHA

Hiking Netcha Trail

A couple of friends and I hiked the Sentier De Netcha (Netcha Trail) down in Yate. It's about an hour and a half drive south of Noumea, New Caledonia. The roads are good enough for a small car to make the journey. The scenery changes dramatically and is quite beautiful on the second half of the drive. There's plenty of free parking at the base site where the trail begins and ends. You can hike to the Chute De La Madeleine (Madeleine Falls) from here too.

The Netcha Trail is a loop that follows the peaks of the mountains situated on the opposite side of the road from the base site. It's a 9 km hike with a gradual elevation of about 550 m. On the South Province website and app it's considered as a "difficult" hike but my friend spoke to them and apparently they'll be changing the status to "average" difficulty. It took us 4 hours to do the loop and we stopped a number of times to takes photos, rest and eat.

Now, there's no shade nor water up there so be prepared. Take plenty of water and something to eat or snack on along the way. And never forget your hat and sunscreen. Even if it's cloudy. Trust me, I'm talking from experience. It's the number one mistake people make. They think just because it's cloudy and there's a nice breeze they won't get sunburned. Well think again. You may not feel it on the hike but once back home, you'll regret it.

So the hike takes you along the ridge line of the mountains and, as you can see, the views are just stunning. The wide expands of the plains, scattered lakes and the river, photo opportunities are endless. I would love to see what it's like here during sunrise or sunset. Oh and you can actually camp at the base site if you want to take a couple of days or more to visit the area. Anyway, I highly recommend hiking the Sentier De Netcha (Netcha Trail). I'll definitely return.

New CaledoniaCHRIStophe Robert HERVOUËTMarch 10, 2018canon, ef-s 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6 is II, eos 1300d, hike, netcha trail, new caledonia, nouvelle caledonie, photoshop cc, province sud, randonnee, sentier de netcha, south province, trek, yate

MODERN HUT

I took this shot for a photo contest in 2017 but didn't end up using it. A modern building based upon the Melanesian huts found all around New Caledonia. I'm not 100% sure but I think it's a one of a kind. It's situated on the grounds of the Sénat Coutumier in Nouville (New Caledonia). The grounds are on the waterfront and the hut is placed near the water on the opposite side of the main entrance. I wasn't sure if I was allowed to walk in and start napping shots so I didn't wonder in. I noticed it was low tide though and soon realised I could walk along the, usually underwater, rocks to get up close to the hut. I took a few photos through the fence and done.

TORI

My sister's dog, Tori. I have no idea which breed it is. I'm sure someone can tell me in the comments below. I saw Tori standing there like a statue in an alert stance with her eyes fixed on father and son playing football on the other side of the fence. I had all the time in the world to take the shot.

CHRIStophe Robert HERVOUËTFebruary 25, 2018alert, australia, b&w, black & white, canine, canon, central coast, christmas, dog, ef-s 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6 is II, eos 1300d, guard, monochrome, new south wales, nsw, pet, photoshop cc, portrait, profile, stare, staring, tori, watching, xmas

PLAINE DU CHAMP DE BATAILLE

Battle Field Plain

On the way back from a small hike in Prony with a friend and her two kids, we stopped at the Plaine Du Champ De Bataille lookout (Mont Dore, New Caledonia). On the opposite side of the road from there, are wind turbines, which the youngest of the kids is crazy about them. So we went up close to them so she could touch and see how huge they are. She was in awe. It was on the way back down to the car that I saw this magnificent view with sunrays lighting up the valley below. I wish I had my tripod with me. I'm sure I would've gotten a cleaner image. I still love the photo though.

PURPLE HEARTS

I visited my best mate's parents (my second family) up in the Blue Mountains (New South Wales, Austalia) over the holidays. I was hoping to get some sunset and sunrise shots but the weather was horrible. Constant drizzle and fog. I couldn't see farther than hundred metres in front of me. But, there was beauty to be found in their backyard. With a long stem and a small bud, this early bloomer stood out amongst the others. I framed it with the pink flowers in the background, not only, to bring more colours into the photo but to contrast with the colours of the bud. To make it stand out a little more. I think it worked, what do you think? And does anyone know the name of this little beauty?

AustraliaCHRIStophe Robert HERVOUËTFebruary 15, 2018australia, backyard, blue mountains, bud, buds, canon, drops, ef-s 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6 is II, eos 1300d, flora, floral, flowers, frontyard, garden, new south wales, nsw, photoshop cc, purple, rain, stems, yard, yellow tip

CENTURY 21

This scene with the old sandstone building, the modern yet old school scooter and the real estate with the modern name of Century 21 was too good to just pass by without taking a shot. I've wanted to photograph this building for a long time now but was never satisfied with what I saw. That scooter changed everything. It's not a great photo, I admit, but I needed the photo to tell a story. And not just be a photo of an old building. I might try a sunset shot the next time I'm in Randwick Junction (Sydney, Australia).

THE VELLA BOUQUET

It was the end of the day and sunlight was coming through the forest trees to illuminate parts of my friends' shaded garden. I just couldn't resist trying to capture some of these beautiful backlit flowers. This is the best of the different compositions I had taken. I was so concentrated on getting the flowers in the backgroung in the shot that I didn't realise the bright light, in the top right corner, would be so distracting. And the lens flare as well. But I still like this photo quite a lot. Which is why I'm sharing it with you.

MR. & MRS RION

Just a few photos I took at my friends' wedding. Simple, beautiful, no nonsense and a crazy lot of fun. The ceremony was held at Mairie De Nouméa (Noumea Council) and the reception at Le Bout Du Monde (The End Of The World) establishment. Though it was a traditional wedding, it wasn't only a marriage between two people but two families and two cultures as well. The French and the Walisian.

New CaledoniaCHRIStophe Robert HERVOUËTJanuary 27, 2018mariage, wedding, rion, hema, canon, eos 1300d, ef-s 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 is II, photoshop cc, christophe robert hervouet, noumea, province sud, south province, new caledonia, nouvelle caledonie

PELICANS

I spent Christmas in Ettalong, Central Coast, Australia. The family was chilling out the backyard when I saw pelicans flying by. They may look funny and joker-like on the ground but in the air they're quite graceful flyers. It took me a few shots to get these three decent ones though. Panning the shot was very important to get a sharp image. I only have a kit lens (18-55mm) on my camera and I was at it's long end to get these shots. The solo pelican is my favourite.

CHRIStophe Robert HERVOUËTJanuary 13, 2018

DOG CONTEST

I went to a dog contest... well, not really a contest but a ranking. It was to see if the dogs were good enough to move up in their security training ranks. It was a very interesting morning. I initially went to try out the auto-focus on the Canon EOS 1300D and photograph my mate and his dog. First time I've been to one of these things and I was very impressed.
I don't know if it was the camera or the lens, either way it was a little slow to focus especially on continuous auto-focus. I find the images slightly on the soft side too. I did enjoy using the camera though.
(Mont Mou, Païta, South province, New Caledonia)

New CaledoniaCHRIStophe Robert HERVOUËTDecember 10, 2017dog, contest, ranking, rank, canine, mont mou, paita, south province, province sud, new caledonia, nouvelle caledonie, canon, ef-s 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 is II, photoshop cc, christophe robert hervouet

HIKE ON THE CHEMIN DES BAGNARDS

Hike On The Convicts' Path

Another little recon on this beautiful little path situated in the municipality of Yate (South Province, New Caledonia). The path starts at the Kanua Terra Lodge in Port Boisé Bay. About an hour an a half's drive from Noumea. The road down is descent enough for a small car to make the journey. You will hit a couple of bumpy dirt roads but not to the point of needing a 4X4. Beautiful view are to be seen and also the huge Goro nickel mine (which brings up mix feelings).

Once at the lodge, it's an easy going 5 km walk inland following the Trou Bleu River. The path is mostly shaded, which is great, as the sun can be quite harsh but humidity very high, nonetheless. The whole area is preserved with fishing, camping and fire prohibited. At the end of the path, if you wish, you can go farther (much farther) but you'll have to cross the river. Not a difficult task but a very slippery one. If you're not careful you'll get wet or, worst, hurt yourself. Otherwise you take the same path back to the lodge.

I'll definitely come back for sunrise and sunset shots but this is an area with no light pollution so it's perfect for astrophotography.

Oh and I thought I'd add my friend's dog Lycan. Trained for security but loves to play.

New CaledoniaCHRIStophe Robert HERVOUËTDecember 5, 2017trou bleu, river, port boise, bay, baie, riviere, yate, province sud, south province, new caledonia, nouvelle caledonie, walk, path, pathway, trail, chemin, piste, mangrove, kana terra lodge, day, hot, humid

HIKE ON THE SENTIER DE L'ANCIEN BARRAGE DE DUMBÉA... ALMOST

HIKE ON THE TRAIL OF DUMBEA'S OLD DAM... ALMOST

I wanted to do a recon of this trail for some photos later on. Like myself, a friend and her two kids had never been here either and so came along. We parked the car at the start of the dirt road. we didn't realise we were allowed to drive further up the trail but it was a good think as it gave me the chance to see what scenery offered. The trail follows Dumbea River upstreams to where you eventually reach the old dam.Unfortunately, we didn't quite get there. With the two young kids it took a lot longer than expected to get to the trail heading to the dam. We did stop for lunch and a bit of a swim for the kids as it was a hot day and there's no shade. Nonetheless, it was a great little hike and I got some nice pictures. I'll be heading back out there for another recon to the dam.

Dumb, South Province, New Caledonia.

BURTY'S NEST - A TIME TO REFLECT

So at the end of my last time-lapse video, you would've seen this photo. I arrived early for this shot (and the time-lapse, of course) unlike the last one.

One of the reason I love landscape photography is because I find myself in front of beautiful scenes to relax and think. And sometimes reflect.

Rest in peace my friend and thank you so very much for that kind gesture 35 years ago. It has marked my life.

BURTY'S NEST

You may have seen this photo in my last post as the cover photo of the time-lapse video. As I mentioned then, I've wanted to photograph this cemetery for a long time and the death of my very good friend, pushed me to get it done.

We call it Cimetière Du 5ème Km (5th Km Cemetery). Situated in Noumea, New Caledonia. Most cemeteries are well maintained and some are just beautiful with colourful flowers decorating the tombs.

I arrived late for the sunset but got a chance to capture this fleeting moment of gorgeous colour in the sky. At the time I didn't think I had captured anything great and so decided to head back here the next day. In the end I prefer this photo to the one I took the following day.

New CaledoniaCHRIStophe Robert HERVOUËTNovember 17, 2017canon, ef-s 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 is II, eos 1300d, photoshop cc, christophe robert hervouet, 5 km, cemetery, noumea, province sud, south province, new caledonia, nouvelle caledonie, cimetiere, sunset, flowers

TL - BURTY'S NEST

A sunset time-lapse over the 5 km cemetery in Noumea, New Caledonia. I've wanted to photograph this cemetery for a while but got round to doing it. They're well maintained and with all those gorgeous, colourful flowers on the tombs, I find it beautiful. The cover photo was taken the day before the video. I went back the next day for a different composition and the time-lapse.

The passing away of my friend this week seemed the perfect reason to photograph the cemetery. It also gave me the opportunity to reflect and remember him.

May you rest in peace my friend.

WEEK-END GEEK

The SCI - FI CLUB had organised the Week-end Geek on 29th Oct in the Maison Des Artisants at Nouville (Noumea, New Caledonia. I went on the last day of the event, which concentrated more on cosplay, table games (much bigger than board games), console gaming, manga figurines, comics and a couple of gaming computers. Not really my kind of geek show but I did enjoy photographing the event. The figurines impressed me the most.