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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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Maligne Lake

This size of the peaks in Jasper is hard to fathom, even when you're looking right at them. At times it just seems that things go straight up and down. And of course an image does not do justice to the scale. Nonetheless the beauty is overwhelming and sometimes all you can do is take a picture and then later go back in memory and try again to comprehend a little more. I don't think it's possible for us humans to comprehend such things, just stare and remain in awe and wonder.

This size of the peaks in Jasper is hard to fathom, even when you’re looking right at them. At times it just seems that things go straight up and down. And of course an image does not do justice to the scale. Nonetheless the beauty is overwhelming and sometimes all you can do is take a picture and then later go back in memory and try again to comprehend a little more. I don’t think it’s possible for us humans to comprehend such things, just stare and remain in awe and wonder.

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Lookout

This is the lookout at Robinson Preserve and a favorite place to go and recharge the batteries. At this time of day the mullet are jumping in the bayou below and the only sound is the constant splashing as they try in vain to reduce the mosquito population. Thank goodness for the sanctuaries of silence and nature that can be found in this part of Florida.

This is the lookout at Robinson Preserve and a favorite place to go and recharge the batteries. At this time of day the mullet are jumping in the bayou below and the only sound is the constant splashing as they try in vain to reduce the mosquito population. Thank goodness for the sanctuaries of silence and nature that can be found in this part of Florida.

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Morning Bench

This bench is at Leffis Key which is one of the places I like to walk around with my camera. It's mostly mangroves and you can walk on elevated wooden walkways all over. Every now and then you end in a vista of the water with a little bench like this. If you get here first thing in the morning you'll see the Pelicans flying by as they go about their morning fishing routine. I like since the water is so calm and all of the wildlife is up and about. You could just sit here and take it all in, which I've been known to do on occasion.

This bench is at Leffis Key which is one of the places I like to walk around with my camera. It’s mostly mangroves and you can walk on elevated wooden walkways all over. Every now and then you end in a vista of the water with a little bench like this. If you get here first thing in the morning you’ll see the Pelicans flying by as they go about their morning fishing routine. I prefer the morning since the water is calm and all of the wildlife is up and about. You could just sit here and take it all in, which I’ve been known to do on occasion.

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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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Bennett Park

This is a relatively new park that I've passed many times on the interstate but never bothered to check it out. That's because I had this preconceived notion that because it was by a highway it couldn't be all that good. I was pleasantly surprised in that only a portion of it is along the highway and that there is plenty of space for ponds and areas of restoration and habitation of the local wildlife. This pond had a warning sign about the alligators, so I was on the lookout as I captured this. In the end the only thing that bit me was a few fire-ants amongst the tall grasses as I composed the shot. Now that I know better I'll come back, keeping a close eye on where I step.

This is a relatively new park that I’ve passed many times on the interstate but never bothered to check it out. That’s because I had this preconceived notion that because it was by a highway it couldn’t be all that good. I was pleasantly surprised in that only a portion of it is along the highway and that there is plenty of space for ponds and areas of restoration and habitation of the local wildlife. This pond had a warning sign about the alligators, so I was on the lookout as I captured this. In the end the only thing that bit me was a few fire-ants amongst the tall grasses as I composed the shot. Now that I know better I’ll come back, keeping a close eye on where I step.

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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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