That's a good looking hole... by graemestevens

That's a good looking hole...

I had a call from a client this morning who required some "expertise" at an on site job as soon as humanly possible, so this morning it was very much a case of "drop everything and cater to someone else's every need". The instructions that I received for getting to the site was to go to Uriti, turn right at the school and when you get to the tunnel pull on your hand brake", which I duly did.
Drama averted with said client, I was free to photograph the Uriti Tunnel, and I apologise to @kimkyra for doing this without her...we will go back, but I'm a sucker for a good looking hole.
On the other side of this tunnel the "Taranaki Hill Country" officially starts, as do the Hill Country sports of inbreeding, sodomy, bestiality and shotgun toting...I did not venture through to the other side as I greatly value the ability to walk in a straight line. To the left of the tunnel is a sign that states "foot traffic not recommended". I assume that this is because you stand some chance of escape when driving.

Oh, and critique is more than welcome. Of the photo, not of my reluctance to enter into a relationship with a farm animal or it's rightful owner.
Best viewed against...well, you all know what my photos are best viewed against by now...
Sam
Love this! FAV
September 12th, 2014  
damn, that is a good looking hole, specifically on black. Does it have a roof all the way through, or didn't you venture far enough to find out?
September 12th, 2014  
Sounds like Olympic events. It's an amazing look that you have captured...by the way, I grew up near the area where the movie Deliverance was made. If you have never seen it, it's very worth the viewing effort.
September 12th, 2014  
This looks to be a positively fascinating spot for a photo shoot... But just how risky is it? Sounds positively intriguing if more than moderately freakish creepy... I do like this shot... But I'm dying to see more of this tunnel!
September 12th, 2014  
Yeah, I'd like to see some light painting going on in there.
September 12th, 2014  
The glory hole-:)
September 12th, 2014  
@bigugly I love your reference to Deliverance alongside Graeme's wonderful narrative - I smiled
September 12th, 2014  
Captivating. Pulls u in. U need to know more after looking at this pic
September 12th, 2014  
so Mr S my observation that it seems quite a short tunnel given I can see much light at the end of it and thus you seem wussy is not the critique you are after then - hahaha - just kidding - I have seen Deliverance and I am always wary when in mountain folk territory LOL
so I will say very eerie image and I love the tree top left
September 12th, 2014  
I'm with @annied that the tree on the upper left is amazingly intriguing. I also feel pressed to point out that I've not often seen entrances to such inviting tunnels dressed up so pretty that also have warning signs.

You do have some interesting adventures, Graeme!
September 12th, 2014  
@annied Love Graeme's images. Could be a lil piggie at the end of that tunnel, I don't blame him for not going through. I'm glad to have made you smile.
September 12th, 2014  
@bigugly :) I often say "oh that's a bit Deliverancy ( I know - it is a real word in my mind ) we best be careful" hahahahaha
September 12th, 2014  
Fantastic and love your story
September 12th, 2014  
@gigiflower Thank you very much kind lady :)
@bill_fe Thanks - once you get past that frame it's just rock all the way through, and light painting in there would be very cool
@bigugly Thanks very much, seen it and in my opinion no one in it had a right purty mouth...
@northy Thanks very much - it's serious hill country on the other side and I don't know if there's any way out. We may have to go back soon.
@joemuli You'd be prove man to stick anything in there...
@creativeaddict Thanks very much...you're welcome to venture to the other side...
@annied It's not long but neither is it short, just a medium tunnel - it was the tree that caught my attention too, and thanks awfully terribly.
@voiceprintz Thanks, it is a very cool tunnel
September 12th, 2014  
@thistle Thanks very much, appreciated :)
September 12th, 2014  
@graemestevens you're shockingly monstrously welcome :)
September 12th, 2014  
@annied I know, but my mum done raised me proper so I are always polite.
September 12th, 2014  
@graemestevens with impeccable grammar :) I will award you a gold star
September 12th, 2014  
@annied Yay me! I'm clapping my hands manically as we speak!
September 12th, 2014  
@graemestevens good boy :)
September 12th, 2014  
Great edit! Reminds me of an old school children's book illustration! That don't make them that scary anymore.
September 12th, 2014  
@eyeamlisa Thanks very much - one day we'll go through to the other side and see how back in time we step...
September 12th, 2014  
Ooh Graeme, I do like your hole.
September 12th, 2014  
September 12th, 2014  
Love the shot, love the story and haven't stopped laughing yet.
September 12th, 2014  
@golftragic Thank you, thank you and excellent. In that order.
September 12th, 2014  
So intrigued by this tunnel, have googled it and watched the u tube footage. Cool shot :)
September 12th, 2014  
Very, very interesting, and cool shot. My eye was drawn to that tree also. Can't believe you did not venture in at least part way!
September 12th, 2014  
@hermann Thanks very much - I've looked and u tube as well...who knew!
@tabarlett Thanks very much - I was pressed for time, so another day
September 12th, 2014  
Wonderful! Such an intriguing scene.
September 12th, 2014  
@kwind Thanks very much indeed :)
September 12th, 2014  
So intriguing!
September 12th, 2014  
@khawbecker Thanks very much
September 12th, 2014  
Lou
Your depiction of this gave me flashbacks of Eddie Valiant entering Toon Town. And living among hill folk myself, I give you props for the bravery it took to even get this close to that that tunnel. Although, if you think of all the missed photo opportunities. . .
September 12th, 2014  
Wow fantastic tunnel.... think I may have to hunt this out... fav
September 12th, 2014  
Against better judgment ? .;-) awesome capture! Foreboding & ominous ... me thinks good looking holes could be an acquired taste :p
September 12th, 2014  
@louuncouth Thanks very much - next time we're up there we'll go through to the other side...
@julzmaioro Thanks very much - apparently there's even footage on you tube!!!
@lisatown Thanks very much - in hindsight maybe I should have just called it "Hole"
September 12th, 2014  
Hindsight is for lightweights and highly overrated ;-)
September 12th, 2014  
@lisatown LOL, and I dread to think what the comments would have been like from some!
September 12th, 2014  
This is fantastic!!! I would love to find a place like this!!!
September 12th, 2014  
@aprilmilani Thank you so much, very much appreciated. According to Google, who is a very close and personal friend of mine, there are some 14 tunnels in Taranaki, where we live so we may have to go on an expedition one day soon
September 12th, 2014  
Kim
there better be an expensive bottle of wine waiting for me when I get home!!!!!!!
September 12th, 2014  
Looks like something out of a not too happy fairy tale...wouldn't expect a good ending if I went through that hole.
September 12th, 2014  
Great shot and as usual your commentary is ridiculously funny.
September 12th, 2014  
Love this, fabulous, intriguing shot. Great processing too
September 12th, 2014  
@kimkyra Well...there's two cheap bottles...
@taffy We shall see...we'll venture through one day soon...
@ukandie1 Thank you very much, on both counts.
September 12th, 2014  
@rachelwithey Thanks very much - my first serious play with Lightroom
September 12th, 2014  
Nice shot looks like a horror movie clip
September 12th, 2014  
I´m so in love with this edit!!! Cool find and edit!
September 12th, 2014  
really cool edit and find
September 12th, 2014  
Brilliant. Love your narrative too! Fav
September 12th, 2014  
I like the diagonal striations of the rock face set against the lines of the tunnel entrance. Visually captivating.
September 12th, 2014  
A great shot - a bit of a fancy entrance. Now you all have us wondering what it all looks like on the other side!
September 12th, 2014  
Love the commentary, the diagonal rock striations, the tree, viewed it on black, appreciated the darkness on the other side, but am I the only one wondering what the hell those three things are hanging from the beam at the entrance?! Is it carcasses of animals left as a warning to not enter? Do you have to be "this tall" to enter? I need to know! Love the photo, btw....
September 12th, 2014  
@panthora Thanks very much - they're ropes hanging up there. I think they may have been used to hang other "city folk" from the tunnel entrance in the past...
@888rachel Thanks very much - I'm hoping the other side isn't an anti-climax...
@aecasey Thank you very much indeed :)
@shepherdmanswife Thank you so much, very much appreciated :)
@shannejw Thanks very much indeed
@susale Thanks very much, appreciated :)
@wearing0 Maybe I should take a shot with me running out waving my knife around, in full make up and wrapped in plastic...and thanks very much :)
September 12th, 2014  
great shot Graeme, you have made it look very mysterious, I want to investigate
September 12th, 2014  
This looks like the perfect scene for a scary film and unfriendly creatures popping out of the shadows... Very cool spot and shot
September 12th, 2014  
Awesome shot! Good looking holes are hard to resist! (Snicker) :)
September 12th, 2014  
@pinkpaintpot Thanks very much :)
@roseolivia Thanks very much - I think the unfriendly creatures are on the other side...
September 12th, 2014  
@creativefool LOL, thanks, and they certainly are...
September 12th, 2014  
Love the photo, and will quiz the Kiwi's at work about what they know about Taranaki Hill Country on Monday. The conversation shall start with the usual raising of head and eyebrows!
September 12th, 2014  
I love the spookish feel
September 12th, 2014  
wow - what an adventure. FAV
September 12th, 2014  
I'm surprised you didn't! ;-)
September 12th, 2014  
Very intriguing, I would definitely want to investigate what's on the other side even or maybe because they say not too :-)
September 12th, 2014  
This is amazing, looks unreal! Great capture
September 12th, 2014  
so you don't like street photography and you don't want to venture through the tunnel. If I wasn't such a nice person I would be shouting CHICKEN to you from the UK. As I am a nice person I will just say nice shot.
September 12th, 2014  
Eerily perfect capture!
September 12th, 2014  
instantly fell in love!!!! awesome shot....and always love the commentary
you have such a gift
September 12th, 2014  
@livvy Thank you very much, much appreciated :)
@lynnilou Thank you kindly :)
@ounooi Thanks very much :)
@overalvandaan Thanks very much - we will go through it, just on another day when there's more time!
@wearing0 It was work time, maybe next time I go to work I could remember to pack all my kit ;)
@jocasta Thank you very much :)
@lorrainelouise Thanks very much, appreciated
@tomtom Thanks very much - at the mention of Taranaki I'm sure a couple of the, will even feel their prostates quiver in fear...
@newbank Thankfully you are such nice person - the real reason that I didn't go through is that I just didn't have the time. Plus this is on a road that Kim and I have been wanting to explore together for some time
September 12th, 2014  
@graemestevens See I KNEW there were other reasons.....
September 12th, 2014  
@newbank Apparently there's lots of rusted out vehicles and extreme views and "stuff" on this road...might see what the weathers doing today and go for a drive...most of its a gravel road as well, deep joy
September 12th, 2014  
I remember being driven to Taranaki through some very wild & lost sort of road with no mobile phone service......it made me quite nervous at the time....can't remember seeing this tunnel though. I have never seen a tunnel in rocks with a roof like this & the slanting rock face lines almost make it like an entrance on a wood floor! Strange effect!
September 12th, 2014  
Just remembered something about a forgotten road?
September 12th, 2014  
More, more, I want more of this, too. You need a silhouette in there, too. Fav for your nice hole!
September 12th, 2014  
Wonderful on black, love it fav
September 12th, 2014  
fantastic find Graeme...and entertaining comments too...a nice all rounder...
September 12th, 2014  
Fabulous...Fav
September 12th, 2014  
@tonygig Thanks very much, appreciated :)
@tellefella Thank you very much on all counts :)
@ceilidh Thank you very much kind lady
@amandal I'm pleased my hold meets with your approval ;) There was no one else about and I didn't have my tripod, so no silhouette sadly :(
@happypat Sounds to me like you came in on the Forgotten World highway from Taumaranui...and awesome back country road, we've done most of it once when it was largely unsealed and terrifying...great drive though, and thanks very much :)
September 12th, 2014  
I like this image for its own sake and for the processing you have applied here - nice one Graeme.
September 12th, 2014  
@vignouse Thank you very much most kind and noble sir, always appreciated :)
September 13th, 2014  
This is awesome! Love the composition and post processing! Fav+
September 13th, 2014  
Love this!! Fav!
September 13th, 2014  
@mzzhope Thank you very much :)
@cailts thank you, appreciated :)
September 13th, 2014  
What a great composition and processing! Fav!
September 13th, 2014  
@jess1204 Thank you very much indeed :)
September 13th, 2014  
commentary as ever made me laugh. image is cool - love the processing
September 13th, 2014  
@jaynspain Thanks very much :)
September 13th, 2014  
great ! Another Fav !
September 13th, 2014  
@cocobella Thanks again:)
September 13th, 2014  
Fabulous capture love the processing fav
September 14th, 2014  
@tracelee Thank you so much :)
September 14th, 2014  
Sem
this is breathtaking, love the processing, just effing well done.
September 14th, 2014  
@semjaja Thanks very effing much :)
September 14th, 2014  
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