Black and White 5 Day Challenge : #4

Well I am really getting my teeth into this challenge, so today I am going to play around with a series of photos taken in 2012 at the jazz and vintage car festival in Tauranga New Zealand. (click on the link to go to a post I did back then)

I’ve decided to try people in black and White.

The era of jive was alive and kicking at the festival. I caught this couple dancing in the streets to a jazz quartet.

The music created a happy vibe.

This group combined their music with a ride in a vintage car.

The vintage car owners all dressed the part and the sun shone on the parade.

I don’t know who is the oldest, the driver or the car…

Finally I have put these 3 photos in different styles. They must’ve been so hot in those fur capes on a sunny, hot New Zealand summer day, but they looked the part.

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Gwennie of “Gwennie’s Garden” has invited me to join in. I love to visit Gwennie, her blog is filled with gorgeous photos of flowers and succulents from her garden and interspersed with stories of her travels. Well worth a visit.

There are only two rules for this challenge:

1. On 5 consecutive days, create a post using either a past or recent photo in B&W.
2. Each day invite another blog friend to join in the fun.

Today I would like to nominate Dawn of “The day after” for this challenge, but only if you have the time Dawn. Dawn is a prolific blogger and loves both words and photography. The short stories and articles she does for the various challenges are worth popping over to read and her photos are always amazing. As well as those interests she runs 2  monthly challenges, “lingering look at Architecture” and “lingering look at windows” check them out, you may like to join in.

The last weekend has arrived

Getting the vibe at the Jazz Festival

The last weekend of our stay in New Zealand has arrived. The 8 weeks have flown by. This last weekend is going to be one of the highlights of our visit as we are going to have a family get together. This is very special as I live in Australia and Jackie and Laurence live in different parts of New Zealand so the opportunities for a get-together are few and far between.

It is Easter weekend and Tauranga has its Jazz Festival. It is also the 50th year, so a big occasion, and we are lucky to be staying with my daughter in Tauranga. The weather forecast was dismal, but, just the opposite the weather dawned brilliant and stayed that way all 3 days. My son and partner came over for the weekend.

The festival had two main venues. One was on the Esplanade with 3 stages set up along the beach front. The crowds were in a party mood and the music had them dancing or tapping their feet and swaying along to the beat. We found a table at one of the restaurants near the middle stage. It was indian and we chose a selection of curries and finger foods to nibble at. With a glass of wine and listening to a good jazz trio, it set a very mellow,relaxed mood.

Wandering back past the first stage it was a very ragey blues band “The mud cats” playing, and they were hot. The music got into our feet and we couldn’t just stand and listen. With the music, the wine and good company we just had to dance.

Mud Cats band at Tauranga Jazz Festival

The happy crowds

The second venue was at the historic, heritage village. We went there the next day, Saturday. This was more traditional jazz bands and many of the old, heritage buildings had craft and art displays with very good artifacts for sale. Paintings, bead work, pottery, photography displays, coffee shop, and all the time with the back ground sound of jazz filtering through and around the crowd. It was a happy, laid back atmosphere.

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After 2 full days we went to a small intimate restaurant for our last meal together. It was an ideal way to end what had been a memorable weekend.