NZPhotographer Issue 28, February 2020

F16, 1/10s, ISO100
carrying too much gear in the heat is not a good
combination! However, it felt like the hardest part of
the walk was behind us as we started to get out into
the clearing that overlooks the valley.
Upon reaching the top, I looked out and over the
valley and realised, with a shock, that there was no
water in the river. The river looked as if it entered out
from Turkey Flat which, in a way, was very cool but
I was disappointed as all I could see was the gravel
braids that the water had shaped with just one stream
of water flowing. Don’t get me wrong, my first view of
this place was still pretty special, but it wasn’t what
I had thought I’d be seeing.
I pitched the tent I’d been carrying, using it purely for
photographic purposes this time as I took a time-lapse
that started inside the tent before slowly sliding out of
the tent to get the view in all its glory.
I could see mount Bealey on the other side of the
valley which I have previously climbed, and I could
see right up into the Arthurs Pass area and up the River
Waimak – It’s some really big country, and I can now
appreciate why so many climbers come here as you
have instant access to height without having to walk
in, even Sir Edmond Hillary used Arthurs Pass for this
very reason.
As the sun started to set, we were limited to what
we could shoot in this big open space as there were
very few clouds around but we had the bridge over
the Waimak and the golden glow on the mountains.
Sunset itself was a bit of a fizzer but with good
company, we enjoyed some banter.
February 2020 7