Okarito
On the wild west coast of New Zealand's south island, the gentle hamlet and wetland of Okarito Lagoon sits lazily in the afternoon sun, with a striking backdrop of luminous clouds hanging low over obscured Alps beneath.
This is home to fellow landscape photographer Andris Apse, and it's easy to see why. It is also the largest unmodified wetland in New Zealand, and a habitat for many wading birds including the rare Kotuku (Eastern Great Egret).
This was my lunch stop for the day and as I ate and pondered, the clouds behind this boat shed became ever more alive until I couldn't resist the scene in front of me. I was not sure if the capture would result in an image I had envisaged on the day, so seeing the developed film weeks later was a great surprise and delight. Originally exposed on colour transparency, I was encouraged to transform the image to B&W by another photographer...and I am thankful for his suggestion. The absence of colour ensures the textures of the boat shed and the luminosity of the clouds become the rightful main heroes of the photograph. After beginning my career taking a lot of B&W photos, lately I am coming full circle and becoming more interesting in creating more black and white photo prints into the future.
capture: film | paper: fujiflex crystal archive | edition: limited 200
