Reflections

Reflections in the Lake - f/13 | 1/180 sec | ISO 1250

After out helicopter flight around Mt. Cook we went on a walk around a lake where on a calm day you can see the reflection of the mountain. Sadly Mt. Cook was hidden in clouds but I still managed to take some pretty cool shots of the forest reflected in the water and we also watched some birds fishing which was awesome! 

Landscape - f/9 | 1/250 | ISO 100

Uncurling Fern - f/5,6 | 1/100 sec | ISO 500

Boardwalk - f/5.6 | 1/30 sec | ISO 100

Cloudy - f/5.6 | 1/1250 sec | ISO 100

Helicopter Flight

Glacier Textures - f/7.1 | 1/400 sec | ISO 100

White and Blue - f/6.3 | 1/400 sec | ISO 100

Cloudy Sky - f/8 | 1/500 sec | ISO 100

Angle - f/8 | 1/500 | ISO 100

Snow Drifts - f/7.1 | 1/500 sec | ISO 100

Meltwater - f/5.6 | 1/400 sec | ISO 1250

My godfather kindly treated me to a helicopter flight when I was in New Zealand, we flew around Mt. Cook and the Franz Josef Glacier. We also had a landing on the glacier, it was an amazing experience to walk around up there and get a different perspective from above! As the guide explained about the glaciers, it was clear how much they have melted even in the last few years, it would be a shame for such beautiful features of the landscape to disappear...

Off to Watch the Sunset...

Sun Breaks Through - f3.5 | 1/400 sec | ISO 200

Firstly, sorry I haven't been up to date with my posts of late! But I will continue with my New Zealand adventures from here and show some of my wildlife photographs near my home as we continue into 2014...

This collection of landscape photographs were shot one evening when we decided to drive up onto the mountain ridge on the road that would lead to Akaroa to watch the sun go down! Sadly the weather went against us and we caught only glimpses of the beautiful landscape until we got much lower out of the clouds. At the same time the conditions made for some interesting atmospheric shots that have a sense of mystery to them...

A Purple Sea - f/5.6 | 1/400 sec | ISO 1600

Haunted - f/5.6 | 1/400 sec | ISO 2000

Looking Back - f/3.5 | 1/400 sec | ISO 125

Castle Hill

Castle Hill Landscape - f/6.3 | 1/320 sec | ISO 100

 We drove up to Castle Hill one afternoon, that is so named for the imposing limestone boulders in the area that resemble from afar an old run down castle. As we walked around the place I saw lots of people bouldering - it's a fantastic place for climbing and a beautiful natural landscape!

Rock Formations - f/6.3 | 1/320 sec | ISO 100

Rocks - f/3.5 | 1/320 sec | ISO 100

Looking Up - f/5 | 1/320 sec | ISO 100

View from the Top - f/4 | 1/320 sec | ISO 100

Akaroa

Looking Up - f/4 | 1/200 sec | ISO 640

 We decided to drive to Akaroa a pretty town near Christchurch on the coast for lunch. Afterwards we went on a walk in the hills and through a pretty New Zealand forest! 

Forest Track - f/3.5 | 1/60 sec | ISO 125

Bay in Black and White - f/8 | 1/125 sec | ISO 100

View of the Bay - f/4 | 1/200 sec | ISO 100

And on to Christchurch...

Sunset - f/3.5 | 1/320 sec | ISO 100

We continued on down towards Christchurch catching the ferry between the two islands and driving the rest of the way in one day. The road ran alongside the beautiful coastline and I kept asking to stop to take photos! We saw more seal colonies along the way, and there was an amazing sunset sky...

Panorama - f/5 | 1/320 sec | ISO 100

Cape Palliser

Cape Palliser - f/4.5 | 1/200 sec | ISO 100

 We left Whanganui and headed down towards the south coast, to stay the night at Cape Palliser. A short drive from our campsite there was a seal colony and it was great fun watching them as well as getting some photos! 

Yawn! - f/5.6 | 1/640 | ISO 640

Relaxed Seal - f/8 | 1/250 sec | ISO 1250

Crab Hiding - f/8 | 1/250 sec | ISO 3200

On one of the beaches we stopped at, there were some amazing rock pools, we saw starfish, crabs and more alongside beautiful corals and shells! 

Seal - f/8 | 1/320 sec | ISO 800

Seaweed - f/8 | 1/160 sec | ISO 200

Barnacles - f/8 | 1/160 sec | ISO 400

Natural Patterns - f/6.3 | 1/125 sec | ISO 100

Seal Fight - f/6.3 | 1/125 | ISO 200