What A Ride Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

Do we always have to show the view or is it appropriate sometimes to show the experience?

The most amazing ride of my life to date. A 3 hour helicopter trip over the mountains that surround Queenstown into Milford Sound then up to the top of snow capped mountains and around the glaciers close enough to almost touch. Unfortunately due to some cloud cover we were unable to land on the snow.

Then a thrilling ride back to Queenstown where our pilot set down on a small ridge on Walter Peak high above Queenstown for the most beautiful view...(that's another post). This photo to me represents my experience and the awesome machinery that was able to give it to me.

Along for the ride was a woman from Canada, two women from England (one afraid of heights) and a local kiwi. Although we all spoke English the difference in our accents was funny.

phwall, Ultrablue, roges, Floydian, IgorDeleze, MLINES, smythdylan has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

scrubs (193) 2009-04-01 2:56

Hello,
Very beautiful photo with a perfect blue sky.
Good job

Nicolas

temmel (3036) 2009-04-01 3:01

Hello Jude,
great capture, with that blue sky and the helicopter ..
the clouds seems to be in move together with the propeller :)
My compliments!
Best wishes, Linda

phwall (5705) 2009-04-01 3:13

Hi Jude,
Wow, no expense spared, there is something so fantastic about flying in a chopper, I think it's the freedom.
Another great shot, the colours are so brilliant and the image as sharp as. Even in centre frame the helicopter looks impressive in the way it dominates the shot.
Great capture from a memorable experience.
Cheers
Peter

Ultrablue (555) 2009-04-01 3:37

Hey Jude (said The Beatles! :-P),
you are very able! I don't know how but you are capable to take a beautiful photo even of a difficult subject like this. The image is so clean and the colors so bright that I can say "What a beautiful helicopter!"

Have a nice day

Elena

roges (1204) 2009-04-01 3:55

Hi Jude !

Interesting picture.
Well played, I do. With some very beautiful colors.
Congratulations.
Have a good day,
Adrian

Floydian (30970) 2009-04-01 4:03

Hello Jude,

You know what i like best here...those clouds, like they been swept away by the rotor blades from the helicopter...what a great play you made here. Must be indeed a great flight, really worth doing it i think and your pictures show the beautiful weather you had...worth every Kiwi dollar i think...!!

Regards,

Henk

p.s.
You know that movie in Te Anau? I found the guy who made that movie, build the cinema en runs the helicopter company. I spoke with him for a commercial flight and he was willing to put the door out, putting me inside a harness and go out for an hour on the best locations during sunrise or sunset for the best possible light and shooting options. I waited two days, and although it was dry, low and too much clouds made this a no-go project...what a shame. Only for this i would like to back to NZ.

batalay (21193) 2009-04-01 17:01

Hello Jude,

An flawless composition, spectacular light management, and sharp as obsidian resolution — oh yes, an unusual subject. This is a first rate image, most likely befitting the unforgettable memories you generated while aloft.

Warm regards, Jude.

Bulent

ktanska (16695) 2009-04-02 0:51

Hi Jude,
Beautiful details. Tough grass and thin windswept clouds. That helicopter looks shiny and modern. And your tight framing shows it well. Exposure time is short enough to show motion of the rotor blades.
Kari

aadilj (17950) 2009-04-02 5:10

Hi, jude, this is so richly hued and so superbly saturated. i love the vibrant and striking hues. great shot indeed.

baba_flies (8099) 2009-04-02 5:41

Hello Jude! I know I am a little childish but baba_flies sometimes :))) so this made my heart jump. I think any way is absolutely appropriate, you can show moods, experiences, atmospheres, feelings ... and views of course. Everything is allowed when it comes to photography, totally no barriers in my eyes ... okay most of the time. This is a wonderful photo, it has adventure in it but it also shows this beautiful sky with these amazing clouds and you got the blades running exactly how it should be with a slight move (many people freeze it which is not right). Very nice picture, wonderful. Best regards, Barbara.

darek1978 (11499) 2009-04-02 14:29

Hello Jude,
You've obrained a very dreamy colours - looks like a scene from a PlayStation game :) The sky is so unusual and instense. Also I must say I think you were very lucky to go to this helicopter trip, I wish I could go too. Well done!
Best regards,
Darek

IgorDeleze (9247) 2009-04-07 2:21

Hello again,
The same great sky as the one on your panorama !
The shutter speed is jsute perfect to give more dynamic on the helicopter.
Nice shot.
Greetings.
Igor

MLINES (10966) 2009-04-07 3:35

Hi Jude, This is excellent, the blue tones really jump out from this image. The clouds look like they hve been affected by the wash of the hekicopters rotor blades. Unique. TFS. Murray.

smythdylan (74) 2009-04-18 7:26

Great shot, must have been an amazing experience!
Very nice colours and POV in this shot. Well done

brandstaetter (14410) 2009-04-21 10:51

Hi Jude,
I would give a lot to participate here.. :)
the perfect dream of mobility..
Cheers Chris