Leavin' Home

[nikkortorokkor]

Found this folder earlier today. Most images date from the middle of the decade. I think that all were made on the humble Oly C-750 UZ. Not much pointing and shooting going on though.
We've left the South Island now, so these places are no longer a short drive away. Hope you like 'em. Feel free to critique.


Lake Daniels

Punakaiki

Cave Rock - Sumner

Cape Foulwind

Waiau Ferry Bridge

Home

Cass Straight

Cape Foulwind

A Kea (Alpine Parot)

The Craigieburns

[ellacoya1]

Stunning scenery, gorgeous colors. I particularly like Lake Daniels, with the dock leading out into the water and the clouds between the mountains.

[vintageslrs]

Great Pix...Wow!

They are all wonderful.......hard time picking a favorite.

But I guess I have to go with numbers 1 and 3.

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing.

Bob

[PeterW]

Glad you dug out those pictures, Michael, and thanks for sharing them. I think they're great, and just can't pick a favourite. I'd no idea that South Island had scenery as varied and wonderful as this. You've out-done National Geographic!

PeterW

[mickeyobe]

Michael,

They are spectacular pictures, every one of them. There is nothing at all to criticize.
And what a magnificent country!

Mickey

[herron]

They're all great pictures, but for me, it's number 3, definitely. Love the atmosphere captured in that one!

Thanks for sharing these! ;D

[nikkortorokkor]

Thanks all for your kind comments. I am still blown away by what can be achieved with the little C-750 UZ. It is by no means perfect, but even if and when I get a DSLR I'll not give up the wee compact.

It is gratifying to know that my landscapes have some merit - since I consider myself a pretty lousy people photographer (I'm trying to improve).

I worry that I oversaturate pictures in the digital darkroom. I was an avid user of Ektachrome and Elite when I couldn't afford the the pro stuff. I loved E100S (the "S" stood for Saturated). I'm currently thinking about buying a tank, E6 chemicals and a film scanner so that I can keep on using slide film in my classics. Anyway, back the point, the l've of colour reversal film makes me tend to bump up the contrast on digital images - leading to a more saturated look. I usually run the Oly at ISO 50, at which it does a fair impression of the creamy grain of E100S.

The scenery? The South Island makes any photographer look good. Peter, since NZ is a long archipelago, variety is the spice of life. If you don't like the scenery, drive for half an hour. If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes! It was difficult for me working in the Outback in Australia - beautiful, but days of sameness. I grew to appreciate the subtlety, but the variety in NZ spoils one.

Cheers,

Mike.

Oh, and though I'm a keen tramper (hiker), I just realized that these were all roadside photos, except #1, which is a five mile hike from the road.

[Randy]

Holy Smokes! That is really beautiful photography. My wife went nuts over the parot.

[nikkortorokkor]

Randy, thanks for the comments. The pic of the Kea is my favourite too because it is the one and only really successful bird photo I've made. Keas are an easy target. Playful, curious and intelligent, the mountain parrots are also destructive little buggers that can wreck a tent, pack, ski boot, bicycle or car with gay abandon. They particularly love to rip into rubber - so wind shield wipers and surrounds are fair game. Go to an Alpine carpark in the South Island and you'll usually find keas having a ball. They are also majestic, and strong fliers. The name is Maori (native New Zealand), and is an onomatopoeia. When hiking or skiing it is thrilling to hear cries of "Keeeaaa" echoing around the peaks as the birds call to one another.