Photographer's Note
...As I promised you in my previous posting , here is
Mount Cook , also known as Aoraki , it's Maori name which I like and prefer in respect of Maori culture , and the Maori legend of how this mountainrange was created.
Maori culture has numerous beautiful legends , and here is the one of Aoraki :
"In the beginning there was only darkness . Out of the darkness came Maku( Moisture), who married Mahoranuiatea and they had a son called Raki.
Raki married Pokoharuatepo and their sone were : Aoraki
(Cloud in the Sky ), Rakiroa ( Long Raki ) , Rakirua ( Raki the Second ) and Rarakiroa ( Long unbroken Line ).
They all lived in a special place in the heavens where they had everything they could want.
One day it was revealed that Raki had fallen in love with another woman, Papatuanuku. Raki descended from his home in the heavens to the earth, where he married his new love.
Pokoharuatepo was extremely upset and could not be consoled.
Aoraki and his three brothers became angry because of what their father had done to their mother and they decided to visit Papatuanuku. They climbed into their canoe called Te Waka o Aoraki and descended, sailing across a great ocean called Te Waonui a Takaroa ( The great ocean of Takaroa ).
Aoraki and his brothers journeyed for a long, long time until they found the new wife of their father.
They gazed at Papatuanuku as she lay across the ocean with their father, and realized their father was really in love with her.
Aoraki and his brothers decided that they should return to comfort their mother, who had remained in the heavens. Aoraki stood in his waka and began the sacred chant that would make the canoe rise. Unfortunately he made a mistake and instead of returning, Aoraki and his brothers remained on earth. Strong winds began to blow and the sea began to rise. Aoraki and his brothers panicked when they realised they were stranded on earth. The storm became stronger and the canoe turned on its side. Aoraki and his brothers climbed onto the side of the canoe and waited for someone to come and rescue them.
They waited for a long, long time, but no one came. Slowly, as time passed, their hair turned white and their bodies became as hard as stone.
Eventually they all became snowcapped mountains. Aoraki, the tuakana-eldest of the four brothers, became the tallest peak and is known today by its name Aoraki, while his brothers became the mountain ranges known as Tiritiri o Te Moana - The Southern Alps."
In the workshop you can see Aoraki'a three brothers .
Have a nice day !
Cheers
Dorte.
Buin, Kielia, pablominto, macondo has marked this note useful
Critiques | Translate
Buin
(42580) 2008-10-02 7:48
Hallo Dorte!
Breathtaking - I think especially for you. These mountains are much more glaciated than these in the Alps - with the same altitude. Your picture was taken from the right angle, so that the summit still is over the photographer.
What is man in comparison with these huge rock faces and glaciers. But we shouldn't forget that man by now is able to destroy this beauty. Someday your photo will be a document...
Greetings from autumnal cool, rainy stormy and grey Germany!
Frank
Kielia
(24077) 2008-10-02 11:41
Hej Dorte,
thanks for sharing this spectacular capture of majestic Mount Cook! The colours, the light and the sharpness are outstanding, each and every fold of the rocks is visible. Fantastic work!
Hjertelig hilsen
Harriet
meltemi
(0) 2008-10-03 10:46
Hello Dorte,
what a beautiful picture! The light covering of snow really makes this more attractive, and shows the texture of the mountains very well. Great note too, as I didn't know too much about New Zealand geography and traditions, so I learned something. Well done.
All the best.
Stella
pablominto
(53746) 2008-10-04 0:08
Hei Dorte,
I learned that the Norwegian national alpine skiing team was in NZ practicing this summer, seems like they had great conditions!
This is a fine composition with impressive details, beautiful colour palette with a great sky...
Greetings,
Pablo -
jrj
(34843) 2008-10-04 5:02
Great landscape and a very good capture and result this photo of the high mountain peak Dorte. Perfect light from this fine day up there.
alvaraalto
(42804) 2008-10-04 12:11
Hi Dorte,
Spectacular view of the highest mountain of New Zealand. Very well documented with the Maori legend in your info.
Groet Rob
batalay
(41261) 2008-10-20 4:17
Hello Dorte,
You spectacular image of Mount Cook is complemented by a Maori mythology — are both impressive and fascinating. The sheer verticality and texture of those rocks (probably granite) how hostile this area must be to the climber. From the comfort of an airplane we can look and admire their rugged beauty.
Every aspect of your visit to the point diametrically opposite your world Denmark, I am convinced, will remain with you forever. In your narrative your sentiments become clear. What an experience it must have been.
Warm regards,
Bulent
macondo
(20449) 2008-11-02 1:09
Hello Dorte.
Klaudio and I were again talking about TE and wondering where you had gone. I said I was sure you were still around. I see this one was posted about 4 weeks ago. It's a beauty taken from the air. So sharp and with the snow superbly exposed to show all the details. What a breathtaking sight. I certainly never had a view like this of the mountain; my photos were all taken at ground level. Next visit I must try the helicopter trip.
Anyway, hope you are well and enjoying the autumn. Here, it's warming up; we just had our first rain for about 6 weeks, which lasted about an hour!
Regards,
Andrew
Photo Information
-
Copyright: Dorte Sandorff (dorte_s_t)
(2287)
- Genre: Places
- Medium: Color
- Date Taken: 2008-03-05
- Categories: Decisive Moment
- Exposure: f/8, 1/400 seconds
- More Photo Info: view
- Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
- Date Submitted: 2008-10-02 7:16