smoky blue

Posted by jamesy (christchurch, New Zealand) on 23 August 2008 in Landscape & Rural.

This is the beautiful hokitika gorge on the west coast. It is not very well known as a tourist destination but is probably one of the most stunning places I have been in nz. This photo probably doesn't do it justice but I wanted to show people the colour of the water which hasn't been altered. The unusual colour is because the source of the river is a glacier. For those of you who know lake Pukaki it is a similar colour as it is also sourced by glacial melt. I was disappointed by the sky in this photo

I really enjoy taking photos and would appreciate your feedback so that I can learn as I go. I particularly enjoy photographing birds animals and landscapes

Comments (18)

Calusarus from St Sorlin en Valloire, France

The water color is a dream !

23 Aug 2008 5:12am

@Calusarus: Thanks

Kent from Kvänum, Sweden

Delightful blue color of the water. One was a beautiful landscape picture.

23 Aug 2008 6:15am

@Kent: Thanks Kent amazing colour isn't it

Kylie Greenan from Richmond, Australia

That water is amazing, what a beautiful colour, it is a shame about the sky but I didn't even notice it until I read your narrative to see if you had changed the colour of the water ;o), you could always crop this image really hard Deb, just below where it meets the trees, but I like it the way it is.

23 Aug 2008 8:14am

@Kylie Greenan: Thanks Kylie. It is hard to know what to do with the sky. I think the problem was that it was a really cloudy day

Mary from Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom

Love the colour of the water. I agree with Kylie about the crop Debbie.

23 Aug 2008 7:05pm

@Mary: Mary thanks for the advice.

One from Açores, Portugal

Magnificent image, very beautiful colors on the water, excellent contrast and light, very good shot.

23 Aug 2008 11:40pm

@One: Thanks very much I still feel the sky lets it down

Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom

What a great spot, the color of the water is amazing. I agree with Kylie, the sky is non existant and dosen't do much for the image. If crop to the tree line, then the image springs into life, a bit like me sometimes :))

24 Aug 2008 12:39am

@Observing: Thanks, but I'm sure you don't need to be cropped to spring to life

kdl212 from Brooklyn, United States

that is crazy. is the water clear when you're up close?

24 Aug 2008 2:40am

@kdl212: It wasn't this day But I have seen it so clear that you can see the rocks and fish on the bottom

Linerberry from Sumner, Christchurch, New Zealand

Hi J, just catching up! great shots the last few days:-) I really love this one...its such a true colour. I see what you mean about the sky, some things we can't change. I might have croped a bit off the top...what do you think?

24 Aug 2008 3:36am

@Linerberry: Hi C, hope you had a great time away. The best plan from everyone seems to be to chop the top off so I might try it.

Josh from Vancouver, Canada

This probably where they shot one of the scenes of Narnia : Prince Caspian? If you've watched it? Heard they did some scenes in NZ.

24 Aug 2008 4:20am

@Josh: I'm not sure if anyone has done any filming around this area. I think if they had my sister who lives nearby would have told me. Haven't seen the film yet

Margie from Auckland, New Zealand

That glacial blue colour is amazing. I remember the first time I saw Lake Tekapo and being astonished at the colour. Great shot.
P.S I never know what to do with disappointing grey skies either!

24 Aug 2008 5:16am

@Margie: Thanks Margie the quality of photos on this site is so great its great to know others have problems too

dj.tigersprout from San Bruno, CA, United States

gorgeous shot! i do love glacier lakes for this very same reason... just lovely!!

24 Aug 2008 10:30am

GJC from Kyoto, Japan

You were right to shoot that wonderful water. It's such an amazing color. I agree that cropping at the tree line would be good, because it would further emphasize what you want to show us. Thanks for sharing.

24 Aug 2008 11:18am

Lorraine from Canada

I gasped, I'm so glad that you didn't alter the colour, 'cause just knowing it's real makes me almost cry, it's that beautiful :)

24 Aug 2008 11:37am

willow from Chelsea, United States

WOW! That blue is amazing!

24 Aug 2008 1:14pm

Graham Russon from Cape Town, South Africa

I think you have done the site great justice with this photo, the colour of the water is unbelievable. The effective use of the foreground rocks and moss adds great scale to the shot. The sharpness in the trees rounds this photo off nicely. Great work.

24 Aug 2008 8:04pm