Family

In May, Carl and I visited cousin Allan Erceg. We looked through some of George's memorabilia. And a very odd carving Frank Woolf gave to Allan - a wooden leg by Frank Erceg. I could imagine Frank sitting in a hut, perhaps it was pissing down outside and bored out of his wits; as he whittled away he found the shape lent toward such an undertaking. 

We talked about family and shared stories. And of course the visit included venison steaks for lunch! Here's a selection of images from our afternoon:

Me with one of Frank's rifles, brother Carl and cousy Allan.

Looking through some of George Erceg's albums

Leg carved by Frank. Note charred section on front, looks like Frank Woolf may have saved it from being firewood. The writing in felt pen was done in recent years by Frank Woolf. 

Allan's daughter, Xanthe, holds up one of her grandfather's ribbons. This one dated 1970. George's axes still kept in their original  case.

I recall as a child, we took family trips to Hanmer Springs and watched uncle George in the Axemen's Competitions. The highlight for me was the thrill of seeing him scale the vertical log and inserting the jiggerboards to reach the top. If you ever get a chance and haven't seen these men in action, its a must see experiencing these shows.
For more on the Axemen association and their history in nNew Zealand go to:
www.nzaxemen.org.nz

Allan's son Tom, continues the Erceg tradition of hunting. His first helicopter trip with his dad on venison recovery. Awatere Valley, Marlborough. 2017.

 Fledgling hunter... watch out, here comes another Erceg! Tom's Grandad would be proud. Awatere Valley, Marlborough. April 2017.

Allan and I talked about his work, and that he's back doing venison recovery,  and the only Erceg in our immediate family of our generation who's worked in the industry employed as a professional hunter.  Allan divides his time between venison recovery and his work in the timber industry. A combination of his father's passions for hunting and chopping wood! He's definitely his father's son through and through.

Tom Erceg, the next generation of Erceg hunters. Clarence. Marlborough.

Monach of the Glen painted when I was eighteen. 

One of the reasons for the visit was to retrieve a painting I had gifted to George many years ago. As a teenager I took up oil painting, and I'm not sure what possessed me to paint Landseer's Monach of the Glen. But I did. After completing it, it seemed fitting to offer it to my uncle, and was displayed proudly in his lounge for many years. It now hangs in my writing studio alongside Frank's stag and Gordon's photo - and how prophetic it seems all these years later, that here I am writing a book on Frank and his brothers and deer hunting, and that this majestic animal is now such a huge part of my life.

Gordon Roberts RIP

Gordon Roberts passed away on January 28, age 83. Will miss our phone calls and all the great conversations had over these past few years. He was always so passionate and supportive of the Frank story and it's sad he wont get to see the book done. And doubly so as this year I'm into it, with other work done I now have the space to write the book.



This post is from 2012 ...Rest in Peace Gordon.


The last few weeks I've been looking through Gordon Roberts books, the New Zealand wildlife photographer. His quote on Frank being the inspiration for taking up photography is in my first post. In both books Game Animals of New Zealand and High Country Four Seasons Gordon mentions Frank in the introduction. 
I've interviewd Gordon, he's a wealth of knowledge, very passionate about the project and one of my key people for answering any questions I may have  on the finer aspects of being a hunter turned wildlife photographer.

In the introduction for Game Animals Gordon writes  how he spent a winter's night in the Hunter Valley with Frank and Wattie Cameron. At that time he was early on in his hunting career and hunting professionally for the New Zealand Forestry Service. That night in the hut a discussion started on stalking and photographing wild animals. Gordon maintained all one needed to be a good photographer was to be a good hunter, Frank and Wattie weren't in agreement on this. Camera skills and other attributes came into it.
Gordon soon realised all this with his early years photographing wild animals, but he persevered and also got a lucky break when he was employed as a guide for John Johns the NZFS senior photographer.
He told me his hunting skills and knowledge of tahr country helped him to get the job and working with John set him on the path that led to a successful career as a wildlife photographer. He also said he never forgot that night in the hut with Frank and Wattie and the lively discussion they shared.

I especially love the photos of the tahr in Game Animals, I love all the photos! But my favourite is a shot on page 111 of a bull tahr. He's a very handsome specimen, and is looking directly into the camera, his thick coat swirls about his chest and a ridge of bristly hair sits up on his back, maybe these are indicators that he's clocked Gordon?
The captured movement of the coat adds a dramatic contrast to his fixed gaze and the craggy rock face setting. Its a sublime photo and I find myself turning to that page often to study it and immerse myself in the various textures and atmosphere.

So right now I'm fascinated with these animals, especially after some You Tube searches watching them run up and down unbelievably steep  mountain sides with ease. They are true masters and mistresses - love the nannies too - of their lofty domain.

Gordon says photographing tahr is the most demanding due to their challenging alpine habitat and he decided some years ago to focus on these animals. (P8 introduction Game Animals).
The last section of the book shows this commitment to securing stunning shots of tahr in some unbelievably difficult situations and locations. Viewing these fine photographs with many shots showing heads turned to the click of the camera or the animals displaying a posture that indicates they are sensing something just beyond the bush line. I feel as if I'm right there trying hard not to be heard or scented. Stunning.

I borrowed both books from the library, so if you want to see these great photos and haven't they shouldn't be hard to find.

I mentioned the Tahr image to Gordon,  he sent me a signed photo. Soon to be framed and on the wall!