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Snow Capped Remarkables

The second day after I arrived in New Zealand it rained in Queenstown. It lasted for about a day and the clouds were thick so visibility was poor. Once the rain stopped and the clouds moved out we were left with a spectacular view of the Remarkables which bordered us on one side. They get their name from the fact that they extend directly north and south which is rather unusual. To get this shot, I stood on a bridge above some rapids on the river and every now and then a speed boat would zoom by over the rapids to the delight of the paying passengers. Looked like a lot of fun.

The second day after I arrived in New Zealand it rained in Queenstown. It lasted for about a day and the clouds were thick so visibility was poor. Once the rain stopped and the clouds moved out we were left with a spectacular view of the Remarkables which bordered us on one side. They get their name from the fact that they extend directly north and south which is rather unusual. To get this shot, I stood on a bridge above some rapids on the river and every now and then a speed boat would zoom by over the rapids to the delight of the paying passengers. Looked like a lot of fun.

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Contours in the Field

I took this one afternoon near Queenstown in New Zealand just as the sun accentuated the rows in the field. Even after the sun recedes behind the mountains there is still another hour of light so I walked around looking for other interesting things to photograph. I took quite a few though not all interesting. Every week or so I find some other photo I forgot I had. Maybe with time I'm just able to look at it with fresh perspective. In any case, if this were in Florida (not that we have any mountains) then I'd be careful not to step on a snake, but as I understanding it there are no snakes in New Zealand, so you could just lay down in this field and take a nap. However you might wake up to a sheep grazing next you, but I suppose that's not so bad.

I took this one afternoon near Queenstown in New Zealand just as the sun accentuated the rows in the field. Even after the sun recedes behind the mountains there is still another hour of light so I walked around looking for other interesting things to photograph. I took quite a few though not all interesting. Every week or so I find some other photo I forgot I had. Maybe with time I’m just able to look at it with fresh perspective. In any case, if this were in Florida (not that we have any mountains) then I’d be careful not to step on a snake, but as I understanding it there are no snakes in New Zealand, so you could just lay down in this field and take a nap. However you might wake up to a sheep grazing next you, but I suppose that’s not so bad.

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Idyllic Valley

This is in in a beautiful valley near Queenstown in New Zealand. I took this in New Zealand's fall so all the trees were various shades of the rainbow. The word

This is in in a beautiful valley near Queenstown in New Zealand. I took this in New Zealand’s fall so all the trees were various shades of the rainbow. The word “idyllic” comes to mind when I think back on this spot among the rolling hills surrounded by snow capped peaks and ponds where the black swans live. I know that sounds made up but its real and now that I’m back in my own country I kinda wonder if this was just a dream. Good thing I have a picture.

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Queenstown Lookout

This is taken from a little road above Queenstown in New Zealand. I was amazed at how it seems you can drive just about anywhere in New Zealand. Where I live in Florida most roads are closed to the public, and most property is private. The impression I had is that in New Zealand you're pretty much free to roam and explore, as though it's encouraged. Of course I could be wrong, that was just my impression. But anyway, here we were up on a lookout on a road that was open to the public. And make good use of it we did.

This is taken from a little road above Queenstown in New Zealand. I was amazed at how it seems you can drive just about anywhere in New Zealand. Where I live in Florida most roads are closed to the public, and most property is private. The impression I had is that in New Zealand you’re pretty much free to roam and explore, as though it’s encouraged. Of course I could be wrong, that was just my impression. But anyway, here we were up on a lookout on a road that was open to the public. And make good use of it we did.

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Glenorchy Stillness

This is Glenorchy in the early morning when the water is still and the light is perfect. I never realized that black swans existed before I came to New Zealand, I thought they were just in fairy tales or perhaps a rare genetic oddity. But in New Zealand the black swans are in the lakes and ponds of the southern island in abundance. Perhaps if I grew up here I'd be used to it but as a visitor I was amazed each time I saw one. This morning I saw dozens, too many to count. I suspect Glenorchy is a kind of sanctuary, and give the magical landscape it might as well be a fairy tale.

This is Glenorchy in the early morning when the water is still and the light is perfect. I never realized that black swans existed before I came to New Zealand, I thought they were just in fairy tales or perhaps a rare genetic oddity. But in New Zealand the black swans are in the lakes and ponds of the southern island in abundance. Perhaps if I grew up here I’d be used to it but as a visitor I was amazed each time I saw one. This morning I saw dozens, too many to count. I suspect Glenorchy is a kind of sanctuary, and given the magical landscape it might as well be a fairy tale.

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Lake Unknown

I had to look this up because Google kept telling me this is Lake Unknown. That sounds to me like a software glitch, like what happens when the name is missing. Turns out this is indeed Lake Unknown on the border of Otago in New Zealand. You would have to climb some good size mountains to get here and that's probably how it got it's name. Just after we lifted off we flew through a micro rain shower as I held my camera outside for a clear shot of us flying through the opening at the far end. The high ridge then quickly descended to the Dart River as we headed onto more destinations equally as spectacular, if not unknown.

I had to look this up because Google kept telling me this is Lake Unknown. That sounds to me like a software glitch, like what happens when the name is missing. Turns out this is indeed Lake Unknown on the border of Otago in New Zealand. You would have to climb some good size mountains to get here and that’s probably how it got it’s name. Just after we lifted off we flew through a micro rain shower as I held my camera outside for a clear shot of us flying through the opening at the far end. The high ridge then quickly descended to the Dart River as we headed onto more destinations equally as spectacular, if not unknown.

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Drama in the Alps

This is another shot from the chopper while flying through New Zealand's southern alps. Not having flown like this before I was a little overwhelmed... okay, I was very overwhelmed. In any case, my normal daily routine typically doesn't include speeding towards jagged mountain ridges in an open helicopter, ascending just over the top only to have the ridge fall away into an impossible chasm. I see it in movies, but in real life it takes getting used to. In other words I was completely freaked out yet exhilarated at the same time. I dealt with my fear by concentrating on capturing as many images as I could which took all of my concentration so that in the end I began to relax a little. I took about a thousand images in four hours and this is one that captures, at least for me, the drama of that trip.

This is another shot from the chopper while flying through New Zealand’s southern alps. Not having flown like this before I was a little overwhelmed… okay, I was very overwhelmed. In any case, my normal daily routine typically doesn’t include speeding towards jagged mountain ridges in an open helicopter, ascending just over the top only to have the ridge fall away into an impossible chasm. I see it in movies, but in real life it takes getting used to. In other words I was completely freaked out yet exhilarated at the same time. I dealt with my fear by concentrating on capturing as many images as I could which took all of my concentration so that in the end I began to relax a little. I took about a thousand images in four hours and this is one that captures, at least for me, the drama of that trip.

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Punctuation

I call this shot

I call this shot “Punctuation” because that’s what it reminded me of. I took this one morning in the hills above Arrowtown New Zealand where we captured the sun rising over the mountains. But it’s always good to look in the other direction because you never know what you might be missing. Funny how we always look at what’s obvious and sometimes miss something else just as sublime in the other direction. In this case, the clouds seemed to punctuate that idea. At least that’s how I saw it.

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Queenstown Gardens Sunrise

This is a little section of town known as Queenstown Gardens. It really is a special place, especially if you can get there in the morning when its quiet and the sun cast long shadows. Of course autumn has a way of painting the landscape vibrant so everything is enhanced for a few short weeks. I felt lucky to be here with so much to see and absorb, probably overload for my brain, but at least with the photos to remind me I can drink it in little sips whenever I want. Ah, New Zealand.
This is a little section of town known as Queenstown Gardens. It really is a special place, especially if you can get there in the morning when its quiet and the sun cast long shadows. Of course autumn has a way of painting the landscape vibrant so everything is enhanced for a few short weeks. I felt lucky to be here with so much to see and absorb, probably overload for my brain, but at least with the photos to remind me I can drink it in little sips whenever I want. Ah, New Zealand.

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