Looking Through a More Darker Window

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A black and white photograph of a pile of rubble in front of a window. In the background behind the window a gap in the building can be seen. The photographer comments, "The result of the Christchurch earthquakes".

QuakeStory Photo 424

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph submitted by Anonymous to the QuakeStories website. The description reads, "A dark day to begin the demolition of our house".

BeckerFraserPhotos May 2011 photograph 0697

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "The heart of the city is dark in the evenings, although the lights twinkle from the other side".

Christchurch Press Image: Dean Kozanic 2010:09:04 (08)

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Prime Minister John Key visited Christchurch after its 7.1 magnitude earthquake at 04:35 Saturday morning. MPs John Carter, left, and David Carter, PM Key back to camera, dark jacket, and Mayor Bob Parker".

Unvisited Art

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A digitally manipulated photograph of the foyer of the Christchurch Art Gallery. The photographer comments, "The Christchurch art gallery has been closed to the public since the February 2011 earthquake and its reopening seems to be in the distant future. I want to convey the feeling that if art is not looked at darkness starts to overcome it and the paint starts to peel off".

WEMO ERT Team Set 1 - April 2011 - Photograph 7

Images, UC QuakeStudies

A photograph of a map used by emergency management personnel to inspect buildings after the 22 February 2011 earthquake. The map is of the block bordered by Barbadoes Street, Worcester Street, Gloucester Street, and Fitzgerald Avenue. Many of the buildings have been highlighted in blue, with some smaller buildings highlighted in orange. Two blocks of buildings have been outlined in dark-blue felt-tip pen. Numbers and messages have been written on the map with biro.

The Housing Slump

Images, UC QuakeStudies

Two images of a house, taken before and after the earthquakes. In the after photograph the chimneys are gone, a column supporting the car port has partly collapsed, windows are broken, and the previously neat lawn and driveway are overgrown. The photographer comments, "This was a house that I was selling up to the September 2010 earthquake in Christchurch. It was on Avonside Drive, which was an area that has been badly hit in every earthquake that has hit the area. In the September quake parts of the house moved in different directions and one of the upstairs doors had to be smashed open to release one of the sons from his bedroom. This occurred in the dark with numerous aftershocks shaking the house. Liquefaction poured up through the floor and flowed down the drive. Everyone got out OK, but soon after the house was red stickered meaning it was dangerous to enter. The house was looted many times even though there was constant police patrols. When the most violent earthquake occurred on 22 February 2012 both the tall heavy chimneys came crashing through into the living areas. Subsequent earthquakes and aftershocks have caused one of the brick fence pillars to fall and the front garage pillar to break up and twist. The family's troubles did not end there. They moved into the home of one of their parents and this mansion of a home was so badly affected by the February earthquake that no one could enter to collect any of their or their parents' belongings. They now own a new home, which they are fond of except when the ground shakes yet again. There has been to date 10,712 earthquakes and aftershocks since 4 September 2010".