Mirror Like Reflections of Aoraki Mount Cook and Mount Tasman by OLena Art

by Lena Owens - OLena Art Vibrant Palette Knife and Graphic Design

Canvas Print

$77

Framed Print

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Art Print

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Poster

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Acrylic Print

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Tapestry

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Throw Pillow

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Fleece Blanket

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Duvet Cover

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Shower Curtain

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Bath Towel

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Ornament

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Jigsaw Puzzle

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Tote Bag

$24

Weekender Tote Bag

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Zip Pouch

$22

Portable Battery Charger

$46

Yoga Mat

$59

Greeting Card

$5.95

Spiral Notebook

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Sticker

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iPhone Case

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Beach Towel

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Round Beach Towel

$69

Weekender Tote Bag

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Coffee Mug

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Men's Clothing

$27

Women's Clothing

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Youth Clothing

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Toddler Clothing

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Baby Clothing

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Title

Mirror Like Reflections of Aoraki Mount Cook and Mount Tasman by OLena Art

Artist

Lena Owens - OLena Art Vibrant Palette Knife and Graphic Design

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

LAKE MATHESON
Tucked between two moraine terraces on the northern side of the Cook River Flats, Lake Matheson is one of the most iconic ‘postcard’ scenes in New Zealand. It has long featured on chocolate boxes, beer bottles, calendars and even the 1946 New Zealand Peace Stamp.

Mirror Like Reflections of Aoraki Mount Cook and Mount Tasman by OLena Art
We have made our way to the New Zealand West Coast.

Getting here we were on the road in the dark with the hopes of photographing sunrise an hour away from our stay. The day before we had found some green rolling hills covered with sheep, a beautiful lake down below and impressive mountains in the distance. Although very beautiful setting the day before, it was not very impressive at sunrise on this morning.

As we crossed over and through New Zealand’s alps, we found a couple of beautiful waterfalls to photograph. The Fantail Waterfall was particularly interesting. It’s many visitors have stacked hundreds of rock cairns along the waterfall’s opposite bank and completely covering a large barren tree also lying there.

We added a rock cairn of our own before leaving.

When we reached our Bed & Breakfast outside of Franz Josef Glacier, we were hot and road weary. Temperatures are running much warmer than usual, and with that and the humidity, it is tuff on us. With a tripod and a full-sized camera, it doesn’t take more than a few minutes into a hike before you are over-heated, sweating, and soggy from the humidity.

So the cool comfort of the B&B was incredibly welcoming.

This is the first place we have stayed that has had screens on windows! Now that has been puzzling for me, as every place we have stayed; when we have arrived, we have always found windows open. And no screens on the open windows,

I think it is due to the humidity that they leave windows open for ventilation throughout the day and night.

But we have found that the open window is also and open invitation to sandflies. Native to New Zealand and most prevalent in the wetter climate of the west coast; I don’t know if they got their name because they are the size of a grain of sand (sometimes bigger), or if it is because there are so many of them?

Regardless, they bite and leave itchy welts behind. And while the travel book said they were mostly active around sunrise and sunset; they have been chewing on us all hours of the day and night. They absolutely love the back of my arms and elbows. All the bites prove it.

We did bring repellent, but it’s just not comfortable trying to keep repellant on 24 hours a day.

So the screens on the windows did not help. We both were bitten by sandflies last night. But that is not a surprise. Sandflies are everywhere. They are outside, they are inside, they are in your car. There is no escaping them.

But on to more pleasant matters - Perhaps the most iconic landscape photograph in New Zealand is Mount Cook and Mount Tasman reflecting in Lake Matheson. However, most tourist photos of this iconic scene either show the mountains covered in clouds (very common) or the lake whipped by wind and no reflection (also very common).

The guide book we are using recommended that you skip sunrise and come mid-morning as the lake was more likely to be reflective… and don’t expect to see the mountain tops because of the clouds that are almost always present.

Well made a trial run yesterday evening with the hope of catching the best image we could the next two mornings. We were going to give it our best shot and be happy with whatever we got.

Lake Matheson is 45 minutes from our B&B, and then a 35 minute hike. Yesterday evening the water was calm, but the mountains were covered in clouds, even though the balance of the sky was mostly cloudless.

The forecast for this morning was for clear skies, so we were hopeful when we retired.

When we woke just before 6am, there was a heavy fog out. As we made the drive we found some encouragement as the fog soon cleared on our route. When we pulled into the parking lot, there was no wind, but the mountains and the sky above us was covered in clouds.

It was still dark so we used headlamps (torches down here) to light our way over a very beautifully forested path. There were already 3 photographers set up when we arrived. We had plenty of room.

The lake was a beautiful mirror, but I had no hopes of seeing any mountain tops… but I just needed to be patient? It was a beautiful morning and setting. In 30 minutes or so the clouds above us and over the mountains began to break and lift.

More time passed and I could see that the rising sun was turning the clouds behind and to our left a beautiful pink. The color kept spreading… slowly it was working its way into the scene in front of us. A scene that now revealed the mountain tops. Mountain tops that were now reflected on a mirror-like lake… This Was Awesome!

We got the iconic shot! Far more beautiful than we ever hoped!

Life is good. If only we can have a good sunset at Okarita Lagoon this evening!

Cheers!

Lake Matheson is famous for mirror-like reflections of Aoraki/Mount Cook and Mount Tasman on calm clear days. The lake was formed about 14,000 years ago when the Fox Glacier retreated from its last major advance towards the sea and left a depression which later filled with water. The excellent reflecting properties are thanks to the dark brown colour of the waters, the result of organic matter leached from the humus of the forest floor.

The Lake circuit is one of the most popular short walks in Westland Tai Poutini National Park olena art, landscape, reflection, mountain, glacier, mountain range, mountaineering, newzealand, south new zealand, mountains landscape, westlant national park, west land, aoraki mt cook, mirror lake, lake matheson