A little black book whets the appetite for Dunedin, writes ODT books editor Helen Speirs.
DUNEDIN FONEBOOK
Judith Cullen & Michelle Chalklin-Sinclair
Self-published
By HELEN SPEIRS
This little black book by Dunedin gallery owner and photographer Michelle Chalklin-Sinclair and cook and food and travel guide Judith Cullen is a wee gem.
The small-format coffee table book in a mix of matt and gloss pages captures the essence of Dunedin and would make a great Christmas stocking filler for friends, family or expats, or the perfect souvenir for tourists or out-of-town students.
The book predominantly contains Chalklin-Sinclair's photographs of the city and surrounds, all taken on her mobile phone.
There are stunning landscape images of Otago Peninsula and Otago Harbour, of windswept beaches and tranquil inlets. Many of the city's iconic buildings feature, there are some striking streetscapes and a fabulous shot of our street art taken from a different perspective.
There are delightfully quirky pics - such as ducks perched in front of Larnach Castle, or a giant bubble floating over Dunedin Railway Station - which keep the tone light, while photos of brooding skies, swirling fog and moody night shots are a nod to our Gothic side. The occasional animal - including Chalklin-Sinclair's American bulldog/mastiff cross - makes an appearance, too.
I think Chalklin-Sinclair has done a great job of capturing the Dunedin "feel''; not just our built heritage, scenery or wildlife attractions, but the noise of a rugby match at the stadium, the bustle of graduation, the cold and the rain and our crisp clear days.
She has a good eye for composition, juxtaposition, texture and colour; some of the pics of sun-splashed hills, silver or gold-tinted water and bright bright blue beach and sky are beautiful, and I particularly like some of her more unusual views of St Clair.
Interspersed with the photographs are paintings by local artists, including Marilynn Webb, Inge Doesberg and Jeffrey Harris.
If all that doesn't whet the appetite for our fabulous city, a smattering of Cullen's mouthwatering recipes certainly should. I'm very keen to try her slow-cooked beef cheeks, chocolate tart with poached pears in red wine, and strawberry mousse and hazelnut meringue loaf in particular.
Helen Speirs is ODT books editor.
