Turquoise River Photo

Photographer’s Note

This is a section of the beautiful Shotover River as seen from above at the Deer Park Heights near Queenstown on the South Island. The Deer Park is one of the scenic film locations used for the Lord of the Rings movies.

If you look closely, you will find a jet boat racing up the river. Queenstown is infamous for it's adrenaline-inducing thrill experiences, such as jet boats that travel dangerously close to the rocks and canyon walls at high speeds, perfoming several 360 turns, in place, during their wild ride...

It is autumn now in New Zealand, and the trees were just starting to turn colors. I love the gold colors lining the turquoise river here! My aim in this shot and crop was to draw the viewer's eye through the photo, using the river as the path for the eye to take.

jbweasle, mitternacht, AmiBe, Albrecht, mortijo, Janice, PixelTerror, Vagabond, timleahy, Alan_Kolnik has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

agnieszqa (954) 2005-04-17 13:03

fantastic colors and shot :)
regards

jbweasle (9294) 2005-04-17 13:05

A fabulous landscape shot. Great colours and detail and I love the way the river snakes its way through the frame. Well composed.

AmiBe (6042) 2005-04-17 13:06

Hi Jennifer,
beautiful landscape !
The colors are very nice.
I like the boat on the river and the yellow trees. Well done !

mitternacht (1836) 2005-04-17 13:09

Hi Jennifer,
I think you succeeded with your aim. I like the strong natural colors here, did you use a polarizer? It looks to me like this day was partially cloudy since the shadows are less sharp in some places, that has created and interesting effect and adds one more variaton to the picture. Really beautiful landscape. Thanks for sharing.

Simon

maphoto (8076) 2005-04-17 13:21

Very nice landscape Jennifer, the point of view is awesome with very nice details. The colors, contrast and cropping works perfectly, great result, thanks for sharing. What was the exposition time ?

Paker (2636) 2005-04-17 13:22

yes, the colors - very natural, very rare, very very nice...
regards,
Krzysztof

Eugene (969) 2005-04-17 13:22

Great picture Jennifer. I like the way the river is leading the eye through the picture. Great work. Greetings, Eugene

sarju (5308) 2005-04-17 13:32

Nice pic Jen
I like the way there is so much contrast betwen the green of fields and the barren hillocks ... very nice sunlight and yes the trees and boat is fab
cheers
sarju

donluicu (23923) 2005-04-17 13:35

wow!
what a shot!
Jennifer you show us an amazing landscape. thx.
the compo is great, the POV too, colours are excellent..not really much to say except...congratulations

donluicu

Leonie (8647) 2005-04-17 13:39

Great picture, Jennifer! What a magnificent view! New Zealand is a real land of dreams it seems... Well done!

Léonie

Curioso (9117) 2005-04-17 13:40

Breathtaking landscape. It looks surnatural and so huge. Nature offers so incredible colors here. Your angle is very nice IMO.

I wanted to play with your picture so please find a WS.

[workshop] [compare]

danyy (68546) 2005-04-17 13:50

Bonjour Jennifer,
Quel spectacle!!
Tellement réel que celui qui a le vertige risque de tombre par terre en la ragardant. Un sacré réalisme, superbement coloré.
Bravo.
Daniel.

miss_bibi12 (68) 2005-04-17 14:03

This is really a great picture!!! The landscape and the colours are fabulous!!! Plus, I really love New Zealand and I think that this picture brings out the beauty of this island!

Albrecht (10992) 2005-04-17 14:09

Hi Jennifer
What a grewat view and wonderful picture. Good colors and nice fading to the end.
Well done, Albrecht

naxius (16679) 2005-04-17 14:39

Very good composition Jennifer! Stunning colors and light.
Bravo!
Alexandre

Janice (4386) 2005-04-17 15:55

Hi Jenn, I love this shot of the river. I've never seen a photo from this angle. Good choice. Your colours and details, especially the turquoise water, are amazing. Excellent sharpness too. Well done.

puciu (498) 2005-04-17 16:35

fantastyczny widok, dobra kompozycja, ¶wietne zdjêcie.

johnnymag (490) 2005-04-17 16:51

Hi Jennifer,
Really love this photo. It is so bright and colourful. I love the contrasts, not just the colours, but the textures too. The hills on the right, contrast beautifully with the lush fields on the left. Super photo. Can't wait to visit NZ in June!!
John.

PixelTerror (86038) 2005-04-18 7:07

Hi Jennifer,
Beautiful landscape you caught from this excellent overlooking PoV, the curves of the river guide well the eye into the photo, giving depth to it, The colors are very pleasant and I like the capture of the water movement in the first curve that gives some dynamism.
Have a nice day,
Jean-Yves

faubry (32281) 2005-04-18 7:23

superbe landscape, colorful,details, texture, and the "river run in the middle" the moovie of R Redford
fantastic, i like it, thanks
francine

Nottinghill (1215) 2005-04-18 15:40

fabulous view and colors. excellent job with your new camera. minor remark: I would try a slightly thigher crop in the bottom part and eventually a different feeling of perspective which depends on a personal taste. see my WS. well seen

[workshop] [compare]

toni_al (15430) 2005-04-18 19:30

Hi Jennifer
MAGNIFIQUE image les couleurs et le cadrage sont superbes.
Well done
Regards Toni

mjdundee (3498) 2005-04-19 10:52

Hello Jennifer,

a perfect picture. Well seen and very well made. What a shame that there are only trres at the river banks. An 'Indian Summer' on the hills would have made it a masterpeace.

Thomas

Vagabond (5797) 2005-04-21 3:41

A piece of ART. The composition, the colours and the sharpness are at their best. Our sight drives along the blue river and its banks. Congratulations ..

errorist (650) 2005-05-20 15:31

wonderful photo. Great use of the polarizer

ardian (0) 2005-06-03 6:32

Oh! it's just like a scenery in a story book or in a calendar! well i dont know how to say but it's just really great scenery! congrat, Jennifer!

chiquito (56) 2005-06-28 10:16

Hi Jennifer,

I was thinking of checking out more of your pix to be sure that this pic wasn't just accidentally happened to be amazing. No surprise, you know how to make good composition! Nice photos !! Especially liked "Radiance".
Thanks for sharing :)

cheers
ToM

timleahy (2189) 2005-09-26 18:11

Wow! Amazing photo! Your composition is excellent, as you planned, leading the eye up river. Picture is sharp all the way, and the colours are just beautiful. Well done!

...tim

yesterday (9787) 2006-01-09 16:15 [Comment]

Show Comment

Dr_Nibbles (283) 2006-02-14 15:32

Great shot.... I would not have thought that you still can see the waves from one single rock or a boat in the water like 100 metres downstream... would have thought that in a river it's faster to not be seen anymore...

three (64) 2006-03-24 23:30

jennifer. i've spent about an hour going through your images. i'm really taken by your eye. you have a knack for making color pop.

i don't know what can be said in prase of this one that hasn't already been said. the river really does make a path for the eye. which is another thing i've noticed in all your work that i really enjoy.

your newest fan.
3

USErin (445) 2006-07-14 16:23

Awesome shot! Even the distance is clear.

deblink (2548) 2006-08-17 23:15

Hi Jennifer,
This is truely a magnificent photo. Your aim was successful from my perspective. The vision certainly drew my eye through the photo on the path. Fantastic, thank you for sharing.
Cheers,
Debbie

FrankDSLR (982) 2007-05-31 12:49

This looks like a fairy tale. Great colors and the river leads the eye through the image. Well done!
Frank

Photo Information

Copyright: Jen Smith (JennHen) (484)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-04-00
Categories: Nature
Camera: Canon EOS350D/Digital Rebel XT, Canon EF 75-300 IS USM, Cokin Circular Polarizer
Exposure: f/9.0, 1/125 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Middle Earth, New Zealand [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-04-17 13:01
Favorites: 6 [view]