Motuariki Island – Lake Tekapo

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On my way… and traveling home to Lake Tekapo the sky revealed signs of an approaching storm. The light and the weather were in tandem, I had to get to higher ground to
capture the magic.

At 1,000m above sea level the top of Mount John beside Lake Tekapo offers superb 360 degree views of the Mackenzie Basin with countless photographic opportunities.

I was in luck, the light and weather put on quite a show but, the price to pay was to endure a howling wind that sent a chill to the bone. No time to race back to the truck for gloves, compositions were changing by the second.

I have never felt such cold hands… not even as a milk boy on an endless frosty morning. At the worst possible moment the auto focus gave up, until realising I was pushing down on the camera body and not the shutter release. I had lost all sense of touch in my fingers and began to empathise with mountain climbers who’s constant enemy is frost bite.

The show was over. I made my way back to the truck feeling happy with the shoot and looking forward to seeing the results… then my numb fingers began to warm up with a sort of tingling sensation… well that was fun!