Blue Pools 2012

A creek running into the Haast River on the South Island, about an hour north of Wanaka, a convergence dubbed the Blue Pools. One of the real pleasures of returning to the same place every year is that you see it in so many different conditions. The sky was heavily overcast when we were there in May, so the sparkling blue water was muted. This is a 30 second exposure with a couple of ND filters thrown on the lens – I wanted the water to have that dreamy, creamy effect. Not sure the image works as dreamy, something about the jaggedness of the rocks and the cold, unforgiving light that make it seem a bit harsh. Nothing like it looked a couple of years ago (click here to see the post from the 2010 shot) where the light was almost yellow and the water was turquoise.
Wonder what it will be like in 2013?












Beautiful. Interesting to have the comparison shot from 2010. Wonder who or what will come floating around the bend? A sea creature, mermaid or just someone going with the flow?
Happy Daze
03/07/2012 at 2:36 am
Back in 2010 there was a pot of gold in the river! My how things change…
Titirangi Storyteller
06/08/2012 at 11:57 pm
I have always loved long-exposure shots of water that create a kind of velvet effect. So cool and completely different from 2010, like it’s a totally different place.
poietes
06/08/2012 at 10:12 am
I’m a little disappointed in my waterfall shots from my trip down to Ruapehu – But one or two may make on here… give me a day or two…
Titirangi Storyteller
06/08/2012 at 11:58 pm
How do you pronounce Raupehu?
poietes
07/08/2012 at 3:01 am
Roo-uh-pay-hoo… there are no accents on any of the syllables in Maori (Mao {like the Chairman} ree) words…
It’s a quite simple, very melodic language. Like most polynesian languages, there are repetitions in words, so while some seem long, they are easily broken into bits and once you know a few key words, it starts to make sense. (sort of like Latin, but simpler) Titirangi (titi + rangi = fringe of heaven). Rangi is a fairly common Maori man’s name…
Titirangi Storyteller
07/08/2012 at 7:59 am
Fringe of Heaven would make a wonderful book title . . .
poietes
08/08/2012 at 12:57 pm
Damn! I’ve got so many book s to write already!
Titirangi Storyteller
08/08/2012 at 1:02 pm