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Keith Roberts and Zara


Keith Roberts and Zara
Photo Information
Copyright: Peter Parata (eosnut) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 588 W: 164 N: 1399] (10095)
Genre: People
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-11-26
Categories: Daily Life, Decisive Moment
Camera: Canon 5D, Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/750 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-12-05 23:42
Viewed: 542
Points: 20
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
We were on the road from Tekapo to Temuka, when we passed this chap and his horse heading towards Tekapo.
We turned around, got ahead of them and waited for them to pass. We had slowed first and asked if he would mind us taking a pic or two. No trouble he said.
He stopped and we chatted for a good fifteen minutes, he explained who he was and what he was doing.
The bush telegraph must have been working, a lady in a 4WD pulled up, introduced herself and offered Keith lodgings for the night, and a paddock for Zara.

Some details about Keith and Zara from the Timaru Herald:
More than seven years ago Keith Roberts started a horseback tour of New Zealand -- a long-time dream.


The trip was completed by Christmas 2003 and he and his horse had covered 13,100km together around New Zealand in 1350 days.

On returning to Auckland, where many of his family are, he missed the road. And has been a traveller, farm worker and fencer ever since.

"I'll do any type of job as long as it is on a farm."

However his last stop was a long one eight months on a sheep station east of Wellington. Zara's days as a stock horse are over.

"I do the work and she gets a rest."

Zara is a major drawcard and that job came from a chat with a woolbuyer near Wellington harbour.

When he wants to stop, an ad in the paper ususally gets work but, more often than not, word of mouth or a story in a local paper gets him work. He now carrys a cell phone to be contacted.

"I could tell you were from the paper, I've met plenty of you lot."

Mr Roberts freighted Zara as far as Christchurch for this trip and, depending on work, he expects to travel down the Waitaki Valley to Oamaru and then inland to Central Otago.

At 58 he sees himself as a horseman adventurer but one day soon he will have to settle because at 27 Zara cannot cover the country she could.

Most days they cover around 25km.

We asked him how often he had to shoe Zara.
In the North Island, once a week, the South Island every five weeks.
He explained the difference, South island shingle is natural, from rivers and has softer more rounded edges, while North Island shingle is quarried, leaving sharp edges to the shingle.
juyona, germma, Janice, GreenBaron, Refugee has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Janice: Thanks Janiceeosnut 1 12-06 01:50
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2641 W: 1 N: 1264] (15443)
  • [2007-12-06 0:29]

Hola Peter,
magnífico trabajo,
excelente pov,
interesantes detalles...
bonita escena,
saludos, PL

  • Great 
  • Norte Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 64 W: 7 N: 69] (368)
  • [2007-12-06 0:57]

Hi!
Good colors and composition -
and a very good story!
TFS
Regards
Jon

Good morning my friend,
very nice image, good idea and realization,
nice details and natural colours,
excellent done!

Regards

Igor

Very interesting reading Pete. And you have me feeling very sorry for Keith as his days with Zara will be over soon.
And I bet you and Marilyn have more clothing in your suitcases than he has on the horse's back!!
Well taken photo too,
TFS
Janice

Hi Peter,
Great capture all well composed a wonderful white horse well portraited and his "jockey" well he walked on... :-)
Excellent posting Peter, going along with an very interesting note, if you ever meet Keith and Zara again say them a "Hello" from the Green Baron :-)
Hans

A great piece of photojournalism Pete.
(You're not really from the paper though,are you)
A good clear shot with good exposure and DOF.
Very nice composition and a great story.
Cheers
Steve

Hi Pete
That's realy a great shot, he looks a happy soul no cares in the world.
I hope you had a lump of sugar for the horse.
Best
Gil

  • Great 
  • jackal Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 303 W: 3 N: 212] (2865)
  • [2007-12-06 15:37]

Great capture - interesting story
cheers
Jack

Great shots lately and all the time IMO....

Lovely shot here and the note makes the picture even more interesting. Glad to see there are still people who do things differently in the time and age. TFS!

Excellent Pete and interesting notes. Well composed, good colours and fine detail. Makes you wonder what all our youth are up to when they say there is no work for them. TFS,
Dave

Many thanks for your comment on ‘North Esk Views’

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