Spark Arena

I suppose that I shouldn't really complain. The term 'white-out' which I've applied to conditions like I'm seeing today could be very different after all. 

I've been in real white-out conditions in Michigan a couple of times. The last time was while I was driving home from Escanaba about ten winters ago. I was coming home at night from a meeting and was on that straight stretch of US2&41 between Hyde and Bark River. I crawled along, straining to see through the snow that was falling sideways at a 45 degree angle to me and trying to sense where I was on the pavement. Was I on the crest of the highway  or was I slowly being pulled into the deeper snow that lay on its sides? Almost impossible to say.  I was so thankful when I finally made it to the lights at the intersection of US2&41 and Hwy 69. Now that was a white-out. 

It's just that I was hoping today to get some really nice pictures of the Spark Arena area but the sky isn't cooperating. Winter is the time here that means overcast skies. But, while the calender says that it's summer, the sky does what it wants to. There is almost no threat of rain. The sky though is a uniform bright white that causes everything below it photograph as if the colors had been drained from it. Hence my term white-out. 

With a blue sky above and direct sunlight, all these shots would be so much nicer. I have tried to put a little color back into them with the photo editing tricks the computer provides, but that only helps a little. 

But, here we go. Spark Arena seats 12,000 and hosts all sorts of sporting and musical events. I walked past it recently on one of my jaunts and liked the looks of the landscaping around it. I thought it looks like a modernistic Japanese water garden. (I know about as much about landscape design as I do about architecture; almost nothing. Just enough to show my ignorence) 

Allie has attended concerts here. 

The old Railway Station Building is right next door. It's no longer in use as a transportation hub but has been remodeled and serves as a residence dorm for the University of Auckland. 

Back at Spark Arena. 

See what I mean? When you're photographing water, you really need to have some sun to make it look its best. 

Cool benches

Another angle across the water

Try to imagine the blue sky reflected here.. 

I like the design. Actually, it's the white concreate that mirrors the sky today. 

More curves. Nobody has to sit on plain old straight benches here at the Spark.  -djf