The Drive Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

Took this picture while driving towards Mt Cook from Christchurch, as seen in the background.

There is something which i can't explain what it is in the picture. On the top left corner, something like a blanket forms over the ridge. I wonder if it is some kind of low clouds. At first, i thought it was a waterfall because we couldn't see the mountain from far away. All we could see was just the blanket.

If you happen to know about this local natural phenomenon, please englighten me. Thank You.

Jeppo, JanD has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Jeppo (11812) 2008-04-02 4:15

Hi Andrew,

I can't help commenting this pic. I like the "on the road" mood, the sense of freedom you can breath there...the natural contrast and the colours.
I hope you had the suitable soundtrack there!

ciao
Silvio

migzal (485) 2008-04-02 5:16

nice view.. i like it. taking this shot from the other side of the road will look even more better, but that's just me.

JanD (14707) 2008-04-02 6:52

Howdy Andrew!
Wonderful landscape. Amazing mountain. Nice colors. Very nice lightness. Good POV and capture. Fantastic effect.
Regards!

vjmite (1531) 2008-04-03 4:43

Hi Andrew,

What you see here is a blanket of clouds rolling over the top of the mountains. You are looking at the divide between the wet west coast and the dry east side. The other side of the mountains faces the westerly winds which bring moist air from the sea. This air rises up the mountains and condenses into clouds as it cools. It is common for the west side of the divide to be cloudy and the east side to be sunny. Your photo shows this phenomenon very well.

The photo has a great subject and vibrant colours. The road disappearing into the distance helps give scale to the photo.

Vince

[2] +

GUYOFF (893) 2008-04-05 9:08

Hello,

Oh my god, what a beautiful picture here !!!!! The background is simply fantastic and incredible !!!! And the contraste with the yellow one is really good..

Really congratulation

GUY

brandstaetter (14054) 2008-04-17 14:27

Hi Andrew,
this is a phenomenon you can find everywhere in the world. Warm air is lighter as cold air (you know it from a hot air balloon). So warm air is going up at the sunny side of the mountain, at a certain temperature level, the moist air is condensing (producing fog) and this fog is flowing down on the cold (shadow) side of the mountain. You can see it here for example.
Excellent photo, too....
Compliments, Chris