After a couple of days of looking up Lake Pukaki towards Mt Cook it occurred to us that we could go visit the mountain. So Saturday last weekend we did. We went for a drive up the Tasman Valley, after the place thawed out a bit.
But first there was another stunning sunrise to enjoy. First on Mt Cook and then nearer-by on the Ben Ohau Range.

|1| Sunrise on Mt Cook at the head of Lake Pukaki

|3| Sunrise Ben Ohau Range across Lake Pukaki. The foreground figure was a lucky break – someone who was up earlier than me and was in just the right place.
Eventually we did head off in the car; up the Tasman Valley to the Hermitage and Mt Cook village. This place is familiar territory for me. About 40 years ago I worked a summer based near the group of pine trees in the photo below at the very top end of the lake. We were making the new road around the lake because the old one was going to get flooded. You can’t see the old road anymore so now the one we made is the only road. It was an extraordinary place to wake up each morning.
We went for a walk up the Hooker Valley. We only went about an hour up-valley. The sun was going to leave the valley floor by 3pm and we were keen to beat the freeze. We got a good view of Mt Cook with the last of the valley sun and immediately turned back. We were surprised by how many hardy souls we met on our way back who were still heading up.
On the way back down the valley we stopped off at Fred’s Rock – where Freda du Faur was photographed after her outing up the Hooker Valley in 1910.
Back at Lake Pukaki we were gifted a stunning sunset; and the afterglow was my favourite. I could not believe my luck discovering these two people in the foreground when I walked over to the top of the bank. A gift from the God of Photographers.
The night sky really is stunning in the Mackenzie Country; and more so in winter. I couldn’t leave without another attempt at capturing it.
I’d welcome constructive comments on the photos above. It’d be good to get any ideas for improvement and also nice to know which ones you like the best. Feel free to leave comments below. Thanks.
You don’t need to change anything as the pics are stunning. Loved them all but think my personal fav was of Wyn posing beside the rock looking very elegant
Good choice Gay. And thanks for your comments.I am pleased with how my photos are turning out but I am always keen to improve and learn.
Only constructive criticism that I can think of is to maybe try and keep the colour temperature consistent, between similar images at least, so that they appear more like a set together than individual photos.
In this bunch photos 1-5 are all very similar and have similar post processing and colour temperature but 6 is quite different so it looks a bit out of place.
I see what you mean Michael. Had’t thought about that. Thanks