Alpen glow of twilight over Southern Alps with Mt. Tasman and Aoraki, Mt. Cook from Three Mile beach near Okarito, Westland Tai Poutini National Park, West Coast, UNESCO Wolrd Heritage Area, New Zealand, NZ

Can’t help myself not to make another post on wetlands in New Zealand. Our wetlands, on the West Coast of the South Island in particular, are very special not only for their support of hugely diverse range of birds species, many other animals and plants but simply because they’re just incredibly photogenic.
This photograph demonstrates how important it is to know your location, to know what’s possible to occur.
One of those occurrences in the case of this lagoon is, that it can get blocked after some severe storms. It stops it’s usual cycle of draining and filling up in accordance with the tide, and forms wonderful lake creating an opportunity for some beautiful reflections of the surrounding environment and nearby Southern Alps.
Of course, one has to be patient or lucky to be at the spot on a calm evening like in this image and be aiming for the winter when the mountains put up its best display.
I’ve been at this lagoon so many times but can only remember being there twice or three times over the years, when the lagoon was full and blocked like this.
Remarkable fact is, that from lagoons in this area to the foothills of the Southern Alps, it can be as little as 10-15 km.

These lagoons are also part of Westland Tai Poutini National Park – UNESCO World Heritage, and you can find more images from this location under the following link Westland Tai Poutini National Park.

Thank you.

Views of Southern Alps across coastal native forest and lagoon near Okarito, Westland Tai Poutini National Park, West Coast, UNESCO World Heritage Area, New Zealand, NZ

It’s strange, but for some reason, wetlands are rather forgotten places of a general interest, yet, they are the home to probably more creatures then any other environment. Sadly, over the centuries, the vast majority of these essential habitats in New Zealand have been drained in the sake of “human’s development”.
Fortunately, a few of these wetlands manage to survive under protection of national park status, such as this, in the Westland Tai Poutini National Park.

Photographing in these places is hugely rewarding, since wetlands offer endless opportunities for wonderful photographs to be made.
This image has been photographed on an early morning, just when the sun appeared over the Southern Alps.
There was a morning mist over the lagoon of the wetland near Franz Josef Glacier, and as the sun climbed higher and higher on the sky, its morning light was defused by the mist and illuminated the scene with beautiful warm tones, lending the image wonderful airy mood.

What a wonderful morning it was, with the Tasman Sea crashing behind my back and Mount Tasman, 3,497m, the second highest mountain of New Zealand on the horizon.

For more images with similar theme, please visit COASTAL IMAGES.

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Alpine sunset viewed from Mt. Fox with Cook River and Tasman Sea in distance, Westland Tai Poutini National Park, West Coast, UNESCO World Heritage Area, New Zealand, NZ

Continuing with the theme of “my golden 20 minutes”, this image was made not too far from Fox Glacier, high up in the alpine environment, when the end of the day light was dressing up the scene with a wonderful golden glow.

This is one of my favourite locations where I love spending my time; exploring and amalgamating with the environment, looking and planning for new photographs.
What’s remarkable about this alpine place is that the Tasman Sea, visible on horizon, is barely 10km away and you’re already around 1600m asl.

I’ve been in this spot many times before, observing angles of the light, compositions, simply chasing photography opportunities. Among other images, I have always been attracted to the rock stacks scattered all around this alpine terrain, with these rocks in particular. They offer wonderful angle toward the sea on horizon, while incorporating the Cook River draining the Fox Glacier into the sea. All I needed was to be there in right time, when the setting sun was at the right angle and a suitable amount of clouds, or, rather lack of it, enabled the light to cast its wonderful warm hues across the landscape.

For more images with alpine theme, please visit ALPINE IMAGES.

Thank you.

Soft colours of twilight over Southern Alps with two highest peaks in New Zealand, Aoraki, Mt. Cook 3724m (right) and Mt. Tasman 3497m (left) and Franz Josef Glacier, Westland Tai Poutini National Park, West Coast, UNESCO World Heritage Area, New Zealand, NZ

In a pursue of my images, I try to find new places, locations unknown and not photographed by others to create a new, fresh and appealing frame. It’s not only for the sake of novelty though, rather, to make me happy and excited with new vistas, new discoveries.
Sometimes, however, there are places which demand our high respect, making us to ditch our egos, because of just what they are. One of those spots is a popular lookout from the Okarito Trig, offering spectacular views toward the majestic Southern Alps. And sometimes, all it takes to create a wonderful photograph is to be there in the right time of the day and play it simple. Like in this example, when I took advantage of those gorgeous, soft pastel hues cast over the landscape by the ending of the day. And of course, when pretty, lenticular clouds hung around for a minute, that’s when the image speaks up.
These would be, arguably the most expansive vistas over the Southern Alps, encompassing a few hundreds of km of rangers laid out right in front of you in 180 degree span.
2 highest peaks of New Zealand’s Southern Alps with leafy shaped Mount Tasman on right 3,497m with highest mountain Aoraki/Mount Cook 3,724m right next to it on right. Franz Josef Glacier is just visible below them.
Thank you.

Pastel colours of sunset over Whanganui Inlet on west coast with alpine vegetation, Nelson Region, West Coast, South Island, New Zealand

There are many things that I like about this area; total lack of people is one of them.
Apart from a few farming vehicles, it will still surprise you when you meet with another freedom traveller heading towards you on this wonderfully narrow, dusty road.
Another nice thing is a beautiful silence. More often than not, in coastal areas you can hear boats’ engines reeving up but very seldom here…only birds echo through the air. But the main thing I’d like to point out here is my favourite one – it’s all about native bush here.
Not like in the Marlborough Sounds where sadly, as far as you can see, there is always a pine grove in a view, spoiling these beautiful Sounds. Luckily some great work is being done to eradicate this trees from these hills where they don’t belong.
In Whanganui however, no pines at all. You’re surrounded only by native coastal forest just like what it was hundreds of years ago. …and that’s something we must treasure dearly.

Pastel colours of sunset over Whanganui Inlet on west coast with alpine vegetation, Nelson Region, West Coast, South Island, New Zealand

Thank you and Enjoy!

Sunset scene with kayak in Okarito Lagoon, Westland National Park, West Coast, World Heritage Area, South Westland, New Zealand

When we, photographers, set our minds on one image it’s all too easy to forget about what’s happening around us. We have this magical scene in front of us, the light is changing fast, the heart is pumping with excitement so no wonder it can slip from our minds that there may be another magic happening behind our backs. In my case, I can get too concentrated on my photograph in front of me, that I don’t pay enough attention to what’s happening behind me…but I’ve learned this lesson number of times and am now much more careful not to miss an opportunity for some other photograph then to what I set my mind on.

Saying that though, I still do think that concentration on making a photograph you came for should be priority, as I’ve also experienced this in a hard way, that if we want too much, we often end up with average, missing on the best moment on the intended image.

This photograph of kayak perfectly reflecting in sheets of gold light on a still Okarito Lagoon on the West Coast in New Zealand is a perfect example of an opportunity when you got your main frame in a bag and are hungry for more!

Kayak reflecting in Okarito Lagoon at sunset, Westland National Park, West Coast, World Heritage Area, New Zealand

Photograph ©Petr Hlavacek – nzicescapes.com

Pastel colours of twilight over Southern Alps with Mt. Cook and Mt. Tasman from Okarito Lagoon, Westland National Park, West Coast, World Heritage Area, South Westland, New Zealand

It’s hard to describe my feelings when I’m at pristine places like Okarito on the West Coast in New Zealand with its surrounding lagoons, wetlands and wild beaches. Without wanting to be too sentimental, I just can’t help it to say that my heart is always up my throat, filled with joy how beautiful this place is.
Regardless of the time of the day, you always can make a wonderful photograph in Okarito. For me though, my time I love to photograph is when the sun is near the horizon and the light orchestrates its play around you. Once the sun dips below horizon, the air fills up with pastel hues of pinks and purples, contrast balances out, remoteness with silence all around makes me feel this place belongs just to me….and it’s then, when photographs like this can be made.

Dusk at Okarito Lagoon with views of the Southern Alps on horizon, West Coast, Westland National Park, World Heritage Area, South Westland, New Zealand

Thank you for checking in and Enjoy!

Image ©Petr Hlavacek – nzicescapes.com

Milford Sound with Mitre Peak with dramatic skies before sunset, Fiordland National Park, Southland, World Heritage Area, New Zealand

Last week I got back home from my winter trip to Fiordland National Park, Milford Sound Fiordland in New Zealand and what a wonderful trip it was!

I visited many locations, the iconic ones as well as number of new spots, which I scouted out on my last visit over a year ago.

Although the rain pinned me down for few days, I couldn’t wish for better weather, really. Well, I say “pinned down” but the rain didn’t stop me from exploring for new spots I might use on my next visit.
The other advantage of the incoming rain, next to doing other useful photography things such as location scouting, is that there is always great cloudy sky to be photographed before you get drenched…and when there is some wonderful backdrop as well, and there is no shortage of them in Milford Sound, it seems like a perfect recipe for a nice photograph.

Mitre Peak in Milford Sound with sun rays penetrating the sky, Fiordland National Park, Southland, New Zealand

Thanks for checking in and Enjoy!

Image ©Petr Hlavacek – nzicescapes.com

Rolling mist over hills of Banks Peninsula at sunset, Canterbury, New Zealand

It’s interesting what pressure can produce.

Last several days I spent photographing Banks Peninsula near Christchurch. I wasn’t alone as I had a pleasure to drive peninsula’s roads and run the hills with one of the best polar – mountain photographer, not only in New Zealand but worldwide, Colin Monteath.
We had a great fun scouting places and looking for new spots to photograph.

Anyways; on one of the evenings, waiting for the sunset at a previously scouted location, the clouds kept hanging on and on and on, so we faced a decision – either to risk that the clouds open up the valley below or not, returning home empty handed.

As the situation erred on the side of clouds sticking around for the night, we quickly decided to move on and hurried to find re-placing frame for the photograph we could make.
It didn’t look very good and we were becoming reconciled that it’s going to be a dry evening but after some running around we came across this magical frame. It was just for a short moment but well worth the rush.

I love the beautifully soft hues of colours reflected from the sky in the rolling mist, as the sun sets on the West Coast.
Suddenly it felt like in Tuskany….

This photograph of Rolling mist over hills of Banks Peninsula at sunset, Canterbury, New Zealand is not online yet, but feel free to check our other images from similar locations under this link.

Photo: ©Petr Hlavacek – www.nzicescapes.com

Thank you and Enjoy!

Pastel colours of dawn on rocky shores of Kaikoura coastline with Seaward Kaikouras mountains in background, Kaikoura, Marlborough Region, South Island, East Coast, New Zealand

Kaikoura in New Zealand is world wide known for its incredibly rich marine wildlife. People from all over the world come to see this abundance of life of the sea Kaikoura has on offer, but it’s not only marine species which draw the crowds here, it’s also very picturesque, rocky coastline with abruptly rising ranges of Seaward Kaikouras mountains, dominating the background of most photographs from this area… and just like in this photo, as well.

The northern side of Kaikoura Peninsula offers an amazing array of limestone rock formations, from smooth rock platforms to very sharp, jugged rocks, all serving as great anchoring foregrounds for any photograph.
I discovered this location the evening before and visualised how this scene would look like in pre-dawn light. In my mind, I saw these wonderful pastel colours and by long exposure smoothed off sea with only razor sharp, jugged rocks sticking out.. I couldn’t wait to come back the following morning!

Pastel colours of dawn on rocky shores of Kaikoura coastline with Seaward Kaikouras mountains in background, Kaikoura, Marlborough Region, South Island, East Coast, New Zealand