Blend of Tudor and Edwardian, a photo from Bay of Plenty, North Island

Photographer's Note

ROTORUA MUSEUM

This is an architectural portrait of the Rotorua Museum in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. Although the design was inspired by half-timbered Tudor architecture from the golden age of England, the Elizabethan Era (1558–1603), the building dates to the Edwardian Period (1901-1910). It houses the old Bath House, relics of indigenous Maori people, a collection of modern art, and a genuinely poignant collection of ANZAC memorabilia — letters, diaries and photographs of New Zealanders fighting in faraway Gallipoli... 100 years ago.

Immense numbers of young Australian and New Zealand soldiers traipsed off to fight in Gallipoli against the Turks. The battle lasted about eight months, between April-December 1915, and came to define the three main warring nations of Gallipoli, Turkey, Australia and New Zealand. (There were also, however, much smaller numbers of English, French, German, Indian troops.) The battle ground down to a draw, a stalemate, with the ANZAC troops withdrawing. Churchill who had masterminded the attack lost his job as the First Lord of the Admiralty, while the legend of Kemal Ataturk was launched.

The building was originally constructed in 1906-1908 by the newly created Department of Tourist and Health Resorts on land in the Government Gardens, a gift of Ngāti Whakaue to the town of Rotorua.

I realize that as I post this photo from Down Under New Zealand, I could be causing a whiplash effect, oscillating rapidly between sites from the North Atlantic and sites from the South Pacific. I dedicate this photo to our hosts during two glorious days in Rotorua — Wink and Bev Sutton, good friends from Oxford University Days in the 70s. We made sure to leave before Benjamin Franklin’s 250 year old dictum expired, “Guests and fish begin to small after three days.”

We visited the Rotorua Museum on a rainy day, but the light was good. The absence of stark contrasts in sun-lit and shadowy areas yields far more detail.

ikeharel, cornejo, No_One, mirosu, snunney, aliabazari, jhm, photoray, mcmtanyel, papagolf21, pierrefonds has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

jemaflor (148094) 2015-01-27 8:55

Hi Bulent,
Nice architecture with these houses, well taken from an interesting angle, perfect sharpness, tfs.

ikeharel (114435) 2015-01-27 9:28

Good evening Bulent,
After the rain, the magnificent architecture of this building got a nice "wash" and a "shine" from.
Exquisite photo with attractive elements, mostly those small turrets atop.
Fine light management that made this so superior view.
Regards,
Ike

cornejo (61504) 2015-01-27 10:13

Hello Bulent, very good picture of this beautiful and interesting building, very well captured in this beautiful image with good sharpness, depth, light, color and quality. Great job well done, congratulations my friend. Thanks for sharing this interesting work.

Good afternoon and happy week.
Warm greetings from southern Spain.
Angel.

No_One (4) 2015-01-27 10:59

Hi Bulent,
This is a very regal building, and exactly like you say the soft light has brought beautiful detail out. All of its colors are quite in contrast to each other and work beautifully together. There is a nice sense of the length of the building and we have a great sense of its scale and size. I do like the color of the sky,
Thanks as always
Noel

carlo62 (81265) 2015-01-27 15:13

Ciao Bulent
l'architettura и molto bella ed elegante, il cielo non ti и stato molto di aiuto, ma il risultato и molto bello e interessante.
Una bella condivisione, non ci sono molte foto della Nuova Zelanda su TE.
Saluti
Carlo

SnapRJW (31631) 2015-01-27 20:52

Take away the palm tree and this could be a lovely hotel in England Bulent. Your note sets the location and focuses my thoughts on the young men who traveled so far to fight in a senseless war. Tragic.

Warm regards

Rosemary

mirosu (16313) 2015-01-27 23:49

Hello Bulent,
Excellent photo of beautiful building. Your slightly low angle viewpoint is superb, all the details perfect.
I like the arrangement with the benches, palm tree and the street lighting in foreground. Also the cars fit well to the scene.
Nicely done.
Greetings,
MIRO
.
p.s. I went through my photo files and found few photos with Nepal's suspension bridges. Not as good as your, but I'll will upload one later.

snunney (130967) 2015-01-28 3:34

Hello Bulent,
The scene reminds me very much of the model village of Port Sunlight on Merseyside built by the first Lord Leverhulme to house his factory workers and probably built about the same time. Point of view and technical quality are both excellent.

williewhistler (16606) 2015-01-28 7:58

Hello Bulent,
as you mentioned in your comprehensive note,the overcast conditions have worked very much in your favour in allowing all of the interesting features of the attractive building to be seen and enjoyed,the wet sheen on the road also adds to the pleasing overall appearance.
Best regards,
Les.

John_F_Kennedy (43797) 2015-01-28 8:26

Hello Bulent,
Very beautiful photo of thsi museum in a nice architecture. Good perspective. Sharp, good colours and composition are excellent.
best wishes,
Achim

Gigidusud (21679) 2015-01-28 8:41

Hello dear Bulent,
A well-chosen street corner to show us this beautiful architecture. A beautiful foreground with benches, damage to cars but we can do nothing.
PS: I hope you will come to Marseille, I wrote a word about the forum.
Sincerely,
Gigi

aliabazari (23115) 2015-01-28 22:15

Hello dear friend Bulent
Beautiful shot of this lovely girlfriend architecture. Exposure clearly and well done. Thanks for sharing.

jhm (211738) 2015-01-30 3:38

Dear Bulent,

I see immediate the design of the English architecture, a part of German architecture also with the half-timbered faзades.
Your picture is perfect taken out of a lovely angle.
What a beautiful panoramic view about the city and area.
Also the old buildings are architectural wonderful.
An excellent composition, lovely presentation.
Sharpness and clarity, make your picture attractive.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice weekend,
John.

photoray (13981) 2015-01-30 16:29

Howdy Bulent,

Interesting view of the Rotorua Museum building, massive blend of half-timbered architecture with ornate embellishments. I missed visiting on my brief visit to Rotorua, so now must "Do overs"...
And a bonus with your history background.

Thanks for sharing,
Cheers,
Ray

mcmtanyel (69063) 2015-01-30 22:23

Selamlar Bьlent Bey,
Intricate decorations on a lovely facade, color coordinated with the surroundings make for a most pleasant photo. Thanks for this ornate postcard from New Zealand.
Regards,
MT

papagolf21 (152607) 2015-02-04 11:36

Bonsoir, cher ami Bulent,
Il йmane une certaine йlйgance dans cette rйsidence а l'architecture trиs maniйrйe !
Il respire dans cette rйalisation un luxe de bon goыt, mise en valeur par l'environnement vйgйtal.
Une image de qualitй.
Amitiйs.
Philippe

jmigueln (233) 2015-02-04 13:35

Hi Bulent!

Very beautiful picture with great colours contrast and composition, very well captured. congratulations.

Miguel

ChrisJ (172372) 2015-02-11 13:32

Hi Bulent,

I remember this place. I spent a couple of days in Rotorua and viewed the geothermal area as well as an aerial flight of Tarawera Volcano and a swim in the hot pools. They advised everyone not to submerge your head in the water as you could pick up an amoeba infection in your eyes or ears. Also went to the Maori Church on the lakeshore and saw some kiwis at Fairy Springs. All is forgiven re Gallipoli! The Turks have just as many poignant stories as the Anzacs and they also lost a lot more equally good men. Such a stupid war in hindsight that started from a domino effect resulting from an intricate system of European alliances. I went and visited Gallipoli in 2013. The 100th anniversary is in April this year.

pierrefonds (115408) 2015-02-26 16:54

Hi Bulient,

The curve of ghe road is sending my eye toward the museum which is giving depth to the composition. The point of view is showing the details of the architecture of the museum. I like the effect of the rain on the colors. Have a nice day.

Pierre

serp2000 (47063) 2017-04-09 10:15

Wow! Just impressive architecture, Bulent. I am not an expert of the British architecture but if you write, it is true.
Anyway it looks like a typical English colonial style. The palm tree tells us about some southern place.
I am packing up my bags now, tomorrow evening I will be in JFK.
Best! Greetings to Carol Jean!
Serghei