The Banks Peninsula, a photo from Canterbury, South Island

Photographer's Note

Just 74km east from earthquake ravaged Christchurch is the Banks Peninsula. This is taken from the summit road and overlooks Bays
and Towns such as Duvachelle, Akaroa, Robinsons Bay, French Farm
and Takatuma.

The Peninsula now caters to the the cruise ships after Lyttleton was battered by the earthquakes which you can see in the distance. We felt three rattles while here on the Peninsula.

The whale looking island poking out from the left is the a Maori Pa (Onawe Pa). Maori pa refers to any Maori village or settlement, although it traditionally refers to fortified villages with palisades and defensive terraces. The verb pa means ‘to obstruct’ but as a noun it refers directly to ‘something used to block’. Many tribes would have two forms of villages with a fortified village right next to a residential one. To welcome extra population growth the Maori would often build residential villages, next to their fortified ones.

These residential villages would also often have a line of defence.
If any war was about to start or any enemy was approaching, the Maori would go from the kainga to the pa taking food supplies with them.

The Maori pa played a major part in the land wars in New Zealand.
The fortified villages were much more common in some areas than others, as war wouldn’t happen as often everywhere.

You need permission from the local iwi to go onto any Pa.

Royaldevon, bayno, NickVu, SnapRJW, Bartleby, maria-v1981, brianmcc, adores, danos, delpeoples, macjake has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Angshu (51174) 2012-02-07 1:17

Hello Jim!
Glad to see your post!!
Nice landscape shot with the boulders in the FG adding a huge amount of depth. The turquioise water is appealing & contrasts well with the hills. The sun was high on your left judging by the shadows & the luminescenece on the grass has, as a result, come out well.
Best,
Angshu

bayno (16209) 2012-02-07 1:42

Hi Jim,
beautiful landscape with well satured colors, perfect esecution with great depth and incredible sharp, very nice sky and green tones of the sea, great job,
regards, Valter

Royaldevon (17791) 2012-02-07 1:43

Good Morning Jim,

Such interesting historical notes to accommpany this delightful shot across the picturesque South Island.

Your shot is beautifully composed with the texturally sharp rocks providing immediate attention before naturally leading deeper intot he shot. There is great depth from the bright f/g, across the water to the cloud dappled b/g. Those clouds add such interest to the sky.

Have a good day,
Bev :-)

npecanhuk (53909) 2012-02-07 1:49

Hi Jim!
Wonderful place!
Beautiful picture!
Special regards to the chosen pov, composition, exposure and colors!
TFS - oongrats,
Cheers,
Neyvan

ceepea (55) 2012-02-07 2:17

Beautiful scene well composed with lots of contrast but then your country has plenty of great scenery - I know, I lived there for a few years - in Wanganui. I always tell friends New Zealand "is filled with chocolate box scenery". I also know about earth tremors !!

LOOOK13 (19022) 2012-02-07 2:36

Salut Jim.
Very nice capture, splendid landscape, and what a spectacular cloudy sky...
A very good composition.
Best regards.

jemaflor (68943) 2012-02-07 4:06

Hi Jim,
Great lanscape very well taken, Good fg to give depth at the view and what a beautiful light and color, well made, tfs.

luckybamboo (410) 2012-02-07 4:54

Hey Jim, this is a fantastic landscape, with a lot of greenery... I love the rocks in the foreground, and the association between the green grass and the turquoise water like in the Caribbean, is amazing. Congratulations!!
Julien

SnapRJW (18752) 2012-02-07 4:55

Hello Jim - An interesting note about a people group I know nothing about and a beautiful NZ landscape. The depth and detail is excellent. I love the colour shift in the sea as it becomes more vibrant towards the horizon, this is what gives the shot its depth I think. A place every bit (if not more) beautiful as Scotland! Warm regards Rosemary

dta (51454) 2012-02-07 5:06

Hello Jim ,
This is a wonderful coastal landscape . Like especially the splendid sky , the big roks in the FG , and the superb colors (emerald sea , golden-green grass ...) .
regards

Bartleby (12741) 2012-02-07 7:49

HI Jim,
wow! It must be something to actually stand before such a scenery. A classic and very efficient composition.

Philippe

maria-v1981 (10403) 2012-02-07 9:43

Hello Jim,
This breataking viwe is absolutely wonderful. Beautiful light colours,sharpness,clarity exposure,contrast and excellent pov. Such a well composed shot.
All the best,
Maria

Bluejeans (64239) 2012-02-07 10:42

Ola Jim ,
Linda esta paisagem toda recortada , gostei muito deste primeiro plano com estas rochas . bonito céu , parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

brianmcc (5536) 2012-02-07 12:12

hi jim,
wow... what a stunning picture. the landscape is amazing and your picture displays its qualityies superbly. the colours are well saturated and are very appealing. the water looks incredible. fantastic foreground leading down hill towards the water. stunning light, the mix of clouds and blue sky creates cracking areas of shadow on the hills. excellent depth of field. sensational picture.
regards,
brian

Sergiom (39259) 2012-02-08 5:42

Bonjour Jim,

Si il y a un petit moyen un jour, je veux visiter la Nouvelle Zélande qui de ce que je peu constater est de toute beauté au niveau du paysage.

Amicalement

Serge

adores (28218) 2012-02-09 15:07

Hi Jim!
The sharp rocks are a perfect foreground to this beautiful landscape! Beautiful sky-the clouds give some interesting shadows and the colours are very good - I really like the green colour of the water.

danos (74020) 2012-02-09 23:56

Hello Jim,
great the panoramic view of the Bank Peninsula,with the brilliant light to brings out the variety of the colours,making the image unique. I like the beauty of the place with the clarity and the sharpness to are excellent.

Regards,Danos

i9l2y1m8a8t3 (4435) 2012-02-11 19:08

Hi Jim! This is one breathtaking view. The scenery is very rich in photographic elements. Love those warm tones and vibrant colors. The aquamarine waters and the blue sky pitted against those yellow tones are really nice. Those stones scattered all over the view is really interesting! Very nice catch on this one! Splendid view!

best regards,
Matt

danyy (0) 2012-02-16 6:10

Bonjour Jim,
magnifique Nouvelle Zélande, des paysages un peu écossais ou irlandais, rappelant bref, les Highlands. Beaucoup de nuances dans les couleurs, de contrastes dans les lumières, un ciel magique.
Regards.
Daniel.

delpeoples (44960) 2012-02-18 18:00

Gidday Jim

I vaguely remember this countryside, having stayed in Akaroa for a while. It's so picturesque. The colours are beautiful and contrast superbly with each other. The golden tones and those emerald colurs in the sea are just stunning. As usual, extraordinary depth and textures.

Thanks for sharing, have a great day
Lisa

dkmurphys (36819) 2012-03-05 0:03

Hi Jim,
Splendid panorama over the lake. This country has amazing landscapes and you've managed to capture one of them. Great work, enjoy a fine week.

Daniel

macjake (39235) 2012-06-03 23:39

Hi Jim
You know i'm a big fan of your work, this one is certainly no different.
Looking at this scene, it truly leaves me speechless.
It truly makes me want to hop onto a plane and come to New Zealand right away.
But as you say, you need to respect the land and the culture.
The clouds make this one reach the stratasphere.
its breathtaking to say the least.
Very well done.
enjoy your day
craig