Thunder Creek, a photo from West Coast, South Island

Photographer's Note

Thunder Creek falls along the Haast Pass. It all looks very peaceful dont you think? But the camera hasnt recorded any of the little bas***d sandflies that were crawling all over me when I took this shot. I like to feel relaxed and unhurried when I take photographs - but on the west coast of the South Island you dont get this luxury. The little sandflies find you within minutes and then will not leave you be, biting you again and again. All I could manage at this location was about 3 minutes before packing up and rushing back to the van, cursing the little buggers the whole way. And anyone who has ever encountered sandflies knows that that 3 minute exposure will leave bites that itch for literally weeks afterwards. In fact Im starting to itch again just thinking about them. In case you havent guessed - I hate sandflies!!!

Floydian, Buin, underhand, asajernigan, andante, lilimih33, p_m_geraldes, chicken, kiwi_explorer, pboehringer has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

mesutilgim (0) 2007-05-23 14:22

Hello Adam,
Great capture. Wonderfull compo and pov.
TFS
MESUT ILGIM

bryce_derick (10) 2007-05-23 14:22

wow, very peaceful shot and almost fantasy like....good thing theres no pesky sandlfies on the pics heehee.......absolute loved the pic

Cpamoi (10391) 2007-05-23 14:32

Hello Adam,
wow great picture! colors and POV are excellent.
I post a falls today but colors are not the same :o(

Rapha螔

sacavem (18620) 2007-05-23 14:33

Hello Adam,

It愀 a great shot. Perfect sharpness and beautiful colors.Good use of the long exposure, the look is real good.

Regards,
Filipe

Floydian (30970) 2007-05-23 14:36

Hi Adam,
All (well, almost all) of your landscapes have a perfect composition in light, colour and detail, and this one is no execption. The only thing i miss is the top of the fall, it now looks a bit cut-off on the top. Any problems with the top?
Or the sandflies gave you no the right amount of time for setting up?
Those little creepers give you indeed a feeling that stay for weeks. I had them once in Costa Rica....terrible :-(
Regards, Henk

Buin (42580) 2007-05-23 14:44

Hallo Adam!
Apart from the great scenery here I like very much the interesting build up of this photo! The contrast between the colours of the foreground and the forest with the waterfall is amazing and beautiful. A feast for the eyes!
Greetings from thundery Germany!
Frank

KellEy (1237) 2007-05-23 14:54

Even just the creek in this photo would have been a good shot. I love the clarity and colours.
The waterfall is of course a nice touch though.
Regards,
kelley

asajernigan (21427) 2007-05-23 15:08

Adam,
The long exposure creates a nice effect on the moving water. The lighting and colors are fine with excellent sharpness and attention to detail. I like your POV looking up from the rocks to the waterfall.
TFS,
Asa

hattori (0) 2007-05-23 16:48

dear adam,
very artistic impression
wonderfully sharp
colours are great
congratulation
best regards from turkey

nezih

Cormac (26565) 2007-05-23 17:09

Wow! Gorgeous shot - I don't know if it was worth the problems with the flies, but you certainly got something worthwhile. The combination of textures in the foreground is wonderful - rugged stone and smooth flowing water, and the contrast is mirrored in the colours too. Excellent!

Wahclellaspirit (4125) 2007-05-23 18:50

Hello Adam,
First of all the photo is very beautiful with great colors and exposure. Second of all, you deserved to be bit by those critters as you were there on location and we weren't.
Excellent work...
Steve

lilimih33 (9918) 2007-05-23 19:03

Hello Adam!
Beautiful composition like all yours.
Nice colours, clarity and perspective!
Excellent done!
Lili

p_m_geraldes (774) 2007-05-23 19:07

Hi, Adam,

Very nice photo, with great colors.
Good compo and detail.

Regards

tehanu_f (6896) 2007-05-24 2:20 [Comment]

Show Comment

derek3755 (2341) 2007-05-24 4:52

Hi Adam

you may hate sandflies and only had about 3 minutes, but you usre ended up with a terrific shot, wonderful composition with the rocks in the foreground, would have liked to have seen the top of the falls too, but i know sometimes we have to compromise.

Derek

kiwi_explorer (12209) 2007-05-24 6:35

Hi Adam,
You really have perfected the art of using a slower shutter speed. The effects of in the water is just superb ... it gives dynamism to the image. Excellent! tfs
Cheers,
Renier

christor (271) 2007-05-24 7:26

Great shot, good composition and exposure under pressure! Lovely translucent turquoise waters. Nest time, ask the Maori what they rub on their skin to keep the sandflies off. There is a local plant they crush and do this with.

DLM (6479) 2007-05-24 11:31

Hi Adam,
I wish i had enough time to critique all of your latest NZ images , each one is truely outstanding,
I feel inspired to venture out somewhere this weekend, keep up the great work,
Regards Dave.

jongibbs (363) 2007-05-24 11:51

Beautiful golden tones combined with my fave turqoise shades in the water.Lovely comp and i'm sure you feel it was worth the hassle,more top notch stuff.
cheers
jon

pboehringer (770) 2007-05-25 11:03

A typical "adamesque" management of this composition. An interesting element in the forground leading into the image, the slow shutter speed to give an wonderful silky effect to the flowing water and finally some attractive background. Everything seems to be perfect, at least almost. I'm not quite convinced with the cut of the waterfall, although I have to confess that I don't know the place and there might have a special reason to do what you did.