Southern Alps Photo

Photographer’s Note

This scene was taken from near the top of the Cardrona Ski fields, between Queenstown and Wanaka in Southern New Zealand. The skifield ranges from 1670m to 1894m and the distribution of slopes is 25% beginner, 55% intermediate and 20% advanced. The view looks westward across the province of Otago towards the main ‘spine’ of the Southern Alps which run most of the length of the western side of NZ’s South Island .

This was my final day of skiing before re-visiting Queenstown for luge-riding and jetboating before flying back to Christchurch and then Australia. I

The temperature was about -5 degrees C which is probably the coldest conditions I have even been in (at this point all the northern hemisphere viewers laugh :)). It felt pretty cold to me though! It was a contrast to the 20C temps at Mt. Hutt further north with rapidly melting snow. While skiing in the area my school group stayed at Lake Hawea Lodge, which I can certainly recommend for it’s hospitality and excellent alpine views.

This was shot with my most advanced camera at the time, my Pentax Optio S40. I was pretty happy with the result considering the pocket size. I look forward to another visit to NZ, there is so much there to enjoy.

The workshop is just a photo of me in my ski gear a few minutes before taking this photo, directly to my left.

Wanda1, InasiaJones, robertosalguero, ChrisJ, MLINES, hgupta, Floydian, johnfreeman, Merline, PixelTerror, vikous, lilimih33, edytungkal has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Wanda1 (10905) 2008-01-26 20:51

Hi Matthew,
The detail and crispness are incredible here, and you certainly had a spectacular view over these mountains. I love the layer upon layer of snowy peaks broken by the chocolate brown.
Regards
Wanda

InasiaJones (19860) 2008-01-26 20:54

Hi Matthew,

Impressive landscape of mythic New Zealand! Partial snow coverage allows to see all the textures in those peaks. Light is filtered by the clouds, so it's pretty soft and without strong contrasts, for an almost even distribution.

Don't know how you were able to ski in the absence of snow, but you surely have all the gear to do so!...

Cheers!

André

kiwi_explorer (12195) 2008-01-26 22:09

Hi Matthew,
Awesome capture! Views like this makes skiing much more enjoyable and a memorable experience. Very good contrast and depth ... I like the sharpness of the image. Well composed ... excellent work! Tfs and have a nice weekend.
Cheers,
Renier

robertosalguero (2759) 2008-01-26 22:20

-5C? wow that is very mild for us here :-) We are anticipating -28 for tomorrow night in Calgary. THis is an awesome view from above. I realy enjoy taking pictures from summits because of the sea of peaks seen everywhere. The worksop picture is very nice as well and because of the angle it was taken your skis look very short. Thanks Matt, this is a nice image.

Roberto

MLINES (10842) 2008-01-27 0:03

Hi Matt. This is a fine alpine composition showing a little less snow than seen here at the end of a normal winter. Maybe an indication of warming temperatures in NZ, now they grow wine grapes near here. Good DOF and the remarkable Southern Alps. TFS. Murray.

ChrisJ (69618) 2008-01-27 0:28

Hi Matthew

A superb view of the Southern Alps of the South Island, with impeccable sharpness, & nice aerial perspective & repetition. Good graphism, enhanced by the snow. Tfs!

Last year, when I was living in Gyeonggi-Do, the temperature got down to -20c, with wind chill factor. The trick is to dress in layers, of 3 to 6. Just checked tomorrow's forecast:

-11c to 2c. Here in the south of ROK, it's a balmy -4c to 7c.

http://web.kma.go.kr/eng/index.jsp

hgupta (1320) 2008-01-27 0:38

i Mathew,

Amazing view. I loved the view of various layers of mountains one after another, nice texture and depth. Nice crisp shot.
Regards,

Hemant

Floydian (30970) 2008-01-27 5:07

Hi Matthew,
New-Zealand here i come ;-)
Seeing these pictures i am getting more convinced that i have to go. Looking over 2008 than 2009 would be nice, so thanks for this reminder. When all goes well i will go to see these amazing landscapes myself and trying to record them.
Southern Island seems the best for making those landscapes and indeed they look wonderful thanks to your fresh and bright image with clear and natural colours.
Regards, Henk

indraajeet (1773) 2008-01-27 9:44

wonderful capture and pov. nice colours and sharpness
indrajit

johnfreeman (2220) 2008-01-27 16:15

Hi Matthew,
What a wonderful landscape, looks remarkably like the European Alps, hence the name I suppose. I like the composition based on a series of bands (brown, white and blue). If NZ weren't already on my long list of places to visit I'd just have to add it!
Your white frame works well here, just slightly bottom-heavy and allowing for a full 800 px width.
John

Cormac (26449) 2008-01-27 21:03

Beautiful shot of a spectacular place! I really need to get down there and see this for myself. I guess that is the highest tribute that you can pay a photo, that it inspires you to go and see the place for yourself. Excellent work, with great contrast and detail.

Merline (6574) 2008-01-27 23:12

Very beautiful Matthew and nice result considering the small camera. I like it that it starts with layers of brown earth that do a lovey contrast with the white tops. Fresh and crisp with beautiful colors. I've heard a lot about NZ, my next door neighbourgs are moving there next month:-) It seems to be a kind of paradise...

TFS
Regards
Michèle

gracious (20017) 2008-01-27 23:44

Hello Matt,
My special compliment towards this excellent shot from the south island!
great pov with a awesome view in perfect exposure and focus!
very sharp with perfect details
also thanks for the informative notes
well done and take care
Tony

aadilj (17950) 2008-01-28 0:17

Lovely wide view which captutres the chilla dnd expanse so nciely. The view is great and the colours and tetures are lovely

PixelTerror (86036) 2008-01-28 4:00

Hi Matthew,
Seels that there is little snow for skiing, but enough to highlight the top of the mountains, which is always good for photography. Your pentax camera is not really an issue for displaying a picture at TE size.
Have a nice day JY

vikous (2216) 2008-01-28 5:16

Hi Matt!
What a view! When i was on new zeland only the highest peaks were covered with a snow but here even the lower parts are dusted. I like it a lot but only for next time i would try to place some strong subject (lonely tree, rock boulder...) to the foreground.
Best of luck buddy*
viktor

lilimih33 (9870) 2008-01-28 5:52

Hello Matthew!
What a lovely foggy atmosphere in the mountains!
Great colours and perfect clarity!
Excellent done!
Best regards!
Lili

carper (64194) 2008-01-28 7:50

yes I like it here Matthew,
very good photo, the colours are fine and the brown is doing wel in the good composition and fine atmosphere, very good photojob here. well done. have a nice evening.
gr. jaap

batalay (20712) 2008-01-31 21:18

Hello Matthew,

The Southern Alps are certainly deserving of that appellation. The colors and composition are vivid, and your engaging note, entirely characteristic of you. The South Island must be extraordinarily beautiful and relatively untouched. I look forward to seeing more of you photographs from your trip.

Warm regards,

Bulent

edytungkal (4517) 2008-02-14 1:14

Hello Matt,
For us who are leaving in the tropic country are always suprissing to see such kind of mountain view. Your picture has a perfect point of view that we can see whole landscape from the left to the right. You have combined both amazing mountain view with excellent composition, just suggest for inclusion of people or whatever that we can imagined the scale. Nevertheless you really shown this fantastic perspective, nothing can't complain it. Thanks

daniel