Contemporary photography practice: From landscape to expanded modes of place representation

Contemporary photographic practice has evolved into a broad field of possibilities, a flux of representational modes that represent emotions, experiences and feelings. In parallel the depth and layering of places offers a stimulating challenge to researchers and artists whom are willing to creatively explore nuances of land and nature as well as the multi-sensorial and spatial “reality” of places. The Waikato River is my research locale, located in the central North Island of Aotearoa New Zealand. I draw on contemporary photography practice and theory to develop multimodal approaches to my research place, expanding objective modes of landscape and place representation. I trace a timeline from early landscape photography practice particularly during the British colonisation in New Zealand juxtaposing my photography practice as a counter approach to Eurocentric modes of place representation. This is informed by local Waikato Māori cosmologies and more contemporary readings on place. As a result I conceptualised a theoretical framework around the notion of place imaginaries as a creative platform for the development of expanded photographic modalities.

Conception, construction and the cultural significance of Te Parapara Garden in Hamilton, Aotearoa New Zealand

Te Parapara Garden is the only complete pre-European-style Māori horticultural garden in the world. Historically inspired and empirically researched, it lies within the Hamilton Gardens on a young river terrace immediately adjacent to the Waikato River in Hamilton (Kirikiriroa), Aotearoa New Zealand. In this article, Wiremu Puke (Ngāti Wairere, Ngāti Porou) – a tohunga whakairo (master carver, including using pre-steel tools) and a tohunga whakapapa (genealogical expert on his tribal affiliations) of Ngāti Wairere (the mana whenua, or first people of the traditional ancestral tribal lands of Kirikiriroa) – describes the design and development of Te Parapara Garden from its initial concept in 2003 and the construction of its many features, including the waharoa (gateway), pou (carved pillars), pātaka (storehouse), whatarangi (small storehouse), taeapa (fencing) and rua kūmara (underground storage pit), and the sourcing and use of kōkōwai (red ochre). The garden was completed in 2010. Its ongoing functioning, including the annual planting and harvesting of traditional pre-European kūmara (sweet potato) using modified, mounded soils (puke or ahu), is also covered. The unique Te Parapara Garden is of great cultural importance and a source of pride, knowledge and understanding for national and international visitors and empirical and academic researchers.

Precipitation in the Waikato River Catchment

<p>Observational data and numerical models were used to investigate precipitation in and around the Waikato River catchment. This economically important catchment relies on a dependable precipitation supply for agriculture and hydroelectric generation, with stations generally receiving 2,000 +/- 300 mm of precipitation annually. Long-term and inter-annual variability of total and extreme precipitation were examined using up to 100 years of observational data. Precipitation volumes within the catchment were represented by a five-day smoothed, area-averaged time series, and extreme events were defined as exceeding the 95th percentile. Atmospheric circulation oscillations correlated with the frequency of light precipitation but not with the probability of occurrence or with the magnitude of heavy precipitation events. Also no significant linear variations in precipitation (either annual totals or extreme precipitation characteristics) were found over this period, although temperature increased by 1.15+/-0.45'. A total of 63 heavy precipitation events were identified between 1996 and 2001. An analysis of the prevailing synoptic conditions reveal that heavy precipitation was associated with the passage of cold fronts of cyclones with minima at both 500 and 1000 mb heights. Extended periods of enhanced baroclinicity (succession of cyclones) or blocking anticyclones east of New Zealand have led to flooding in the Waikato catchment. Storm tracking showed that 10% of cyclones originating in the Tasman Sea result in heavy precipitation in the catchment. The accuracy and value of the GFS global precipitation forecasts <= 180 hours were investigated. Depending on forecast lag, the global models correctly predicted the presence of precipitation in 70-80% of forecasts, but the magnitude and distribution were often inaccurate. The probability of receiving precipitation is increased when more members of a lagged ensemble predict it. Forecasts with lags shorter than approximately 96 hours were appropriate to use as boundary constraints for mesoscale modelling. The ability and limitations of mesoscale models to simulate the spatial distribution of precipitation were examined through high-resolution WRF simulations of three heavy precipitation events, and ten different model settings were compared for the January 2006 event. The model consistently under-predicted precipitation. The timing and location of convective precipitation, which accounted for 50% of the precipitation during two events, was physically unconstrained but regional totals were comparable to observations. A continuous two-year numerical simulation was run to provide a precipitation climatology for data-sparse areas. The simulation gave good spatial representation of precipitation and other meteorological variables but tended to under estimate the magnitude of heavy precipitation and over-estimate light precipitation.</p>

Precipitation in the Waikato River Catchment

<p>Observational data and numerical models were used to investigate precipitation in and around the Waikato River catchment. This economically important catchment relies on a dependable precipitation supply for agriculture and hydroelectric generation, with stations generally receiving 2,000 +/- 300 mm of precipitation annually. Long-term and inter-annual variability of total and extreme precipitation were examined using up to 100 years of observational data. Precipitation volumes within the catchment were represented by a five-day smoothed, area-averaged time series, and extreme events were defined as exceeding the 95th percentile. Atmospheric circulation oscillations correlated with the frequency of light precipitation but not with the probability of occurrence or with the magnitude of heavy precipitation events. Also no significant linear variations in precipitation (either annual totals or extreme precipitation characteristics) were found over this period, although temperature increased by 1.15+/-0.45'. A total of 63 heavy precipitation events were identified between 1996 and 2001. An analysis of the prevailing synoptic conditions reveal that heavy precipitation was associated with the passage of cold fronts of cyclones with minima at both 500 and 1000 mb heights. Extended periods of enhanced baroclinicity (succession of cyclones) or blocking anticyclones east of New Zealand have led to flooding in the Waikato catchment. Storm tracking showed that 10% of cyclones originating in the Tasman Sea result in heavy precipitation in the catchment. The accuracy and value of the GFS global precipitation forecasts <= 180 hours were investigated. Depending on forecast lag, the global models correctly predicted the presence of precipitation in 70-80% of forecasts, but the magnitude and distribution were often inaccurate. The probability of receiving precipitation is increased when more members of a lagged ensemble predict it. Forecasts with lags shorter than approximately 96 hours were appropriate to use as boundary constraints for mesoscale modelling. The ability and limitations of mesoscale models to simulate the spatial distribution of precipitation were examined through high-resolution WRF simulations of three heavy precipitation events, and ten different model settings were compared for the January 2006 event. The model consistently under-predicted precipitation. The timing and location of convective precipitation, which accounted for 50% of the precipitation during two events, was physically unconstrained but regional totals were comparable to observations. A continuous two-year numerical simulation was run to provide a precipitation climatology for data-sparse areas. The simulation gave good spatial representation of precipitation and other meteorological variables but tended to under estimate the magnitude of heavy precipitation and over-estimate light precipitation.</p>

The Geology, Mineralogy and Geothermometry of the Broadlands Geothermal Field, Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand

<p>Following the commissioning of the Wairakei geothermal power station, several areas in the Rotorua-Taupo Volcanic Zone were investigated for their power-producing potential. One of these was the Broadlands district, where a resistivity survey had located a sizeable area of subsurface water. The first hole, east of the Waikato River (Fig. 2), was drilled in late 1965, but although the temperature at hole bottom is 278 degrees, rock permeability is low and the bore is a poor steam producer. However, further drillholes (Br 2, 3 and 4) in the Ohaki area tapped good supplies of high temperature water and prompted a fullscale scientific and exploratory drilling programme. This was completed in mid-1971 after 25 holes had been drilled and it was estimated that the field could produce about 150 megawatts of electricity.</p>

The Geology, Mineralogy and Geothermometry of the Broadlands Geothermal Field, Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand

<p>Following the commissioning of the Wairakei geothermal power station, several areas in the Rotorua-Taupo Volcanic Zone were investigated for their power-producing potential. One of these was the Broadlands district, where a resistivity survey had located a sizeable area of subsurface water. The first hole, east of the Waikato River (Fig. 2), was drilled in late 1965, but although the temperature at hole bottom is 278 degrees, rock permeability is low and the bore is a poor steam producer. However, further drillholes (Br 2, 3 and 4) in the Ohaki area tapped good supplies of high temperature water and prompted a fullscale scientific and exploratory drilling programme. This was completed in mid-1971 after 25 holes had been drilled and it was estimated that the field could produce about 150 megawatts of electricity.</p>

Alternative design for the replacement Cambridge Pipe Bridge

<p>The new Cambridge Pipe Bridge crosses the Waikato River just south of the historic Gaslight Theatre in Cambridge, NZ. The original pipe bridge was a three span truss bridge with a triangular cross section built from steel circular hollow sections and was constructed circa the early 1970s.</p><p>Waipa District Council is in the midst of a Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade including new, larger diameter pipework which was proposed to cross the original bridge. As part of the project, strengthening of the existing bridge was designed to accommodate the increased pipe diameter.</p><p>Eastbridge and Holmes Consulting developed an alternative tender submission for the main contractor for the works, Fulton Hogan. The alternative design is a new network arch bridge that provides cost savings relative to the original strengthening scheme, a reduction in safety and environmental risks during construction, reduced maintenance costs, and increased seismic resilience for this critical piece of infrastructure.</p>

Post-photography: Lens-based methodology and practice-led ways of critical thinking

Contemporary photographic practice has evolved into a broad field of possibilities, a ‘post- photography’ moment that comprises fluxes of representational modes to represent experiences, feelings and emotions. In parallel the depth and layering of places offers an exciting challenge to researchers and artists whom are willing to creatively explore the multi- sensorial and spatial ‘reality’ of places. These thoughts underpin my recently completed practice- led PhD research at Te Awa River Ride, a shared pathway that edges the banks of the Waikato River from Ngāruawāhia to Cambridge, in the central North Island of Aotearoa New Zealand. I explore notions of place and place- making by presenting an installation of photographs titled South of the Rising Sun. I offer this photography installation as a creative milestone which resulted from a methodology of iteration and artistic expression. The lens- based component of my PhD research covered the construction of a body of photographic work aiming to represent the ways photographic practices and technologies are embedded within the ways we perceive place and create place-making. My lens- based practice is primarily informed by post- photography methods underpinned by the idea that photographs do not function as pure depictions of reality or single objective representations. On the contrary, I understand photographic practices and images as sources for the construction of multiple meanings. Within this context, I explore the possibilities of a range of camera apparatuses and modes of photographic representation such as documentary, portraiture, landscape and fine art photography. Lens- based practice therefore is located at the core of my critical thinking processes; a space, which feeds both theoretical and practice- led research approaches. This is the crucial moment when I try to align theoretical frameworks with photographic image construction processes and subsequent curation, sequencing, compilation, design and presentation of images. Processes such as curation, sequencing, compilation and photo narrative construction are key to my lens-based practice. These processes are integral to an iterative methodology of place-making inquiry connected to four different creative milestones. The stepping through of the creative milestones is intended to allow an understanding of my theoretical framework and research methods and how these work together as part of a complex practice- led research system. Creative milestones are curatorial research products. They mark points within the overall research time frame. Each creative milestone involved the construction of a photo narrative. The first creative milestone covered the outputting of a photobook while the second involved explorations of digitally based platforms. The third and fourth creative milestones marked further explorations around sequencing, photo montage and photo narrative within photography installation platforms. My presentation at the 2020 Link Symposium will unpack my lens- based methodology, arguing the ways post- photography practice informs methodological research approaches en route to critical ways of thinking and outputting of artistically based research products. This research model can also be argued as an artistically informed practice- led methodology of place-making.