Lake Wakatipu Sunset

When wandering Queenstown with a camera, it is easy to become somewhat enamoured with The Remarkables. You find yourself becoming quite tunnel visioned as they continue to draw the gaze of your lens, over and over. So many beautiful sights can pass you by as you remain transfixed on that one mountain range. Stunning as it is, it often becomes a distraction.

 

Today I walked from Queenstown to Frankton. The weather hasn't been that good and I wasn't expecting much, nor was much being delivered. However, for a brief moment on the way back, when I thought all the good light was lost, the last rays of the sun felt it necessary to make themselves known. The Remarkables remained dull, blocked out by cloud, but when I looked down the lake, towards Cecil and Walter peaks, something special was going on.

 

What you see here is the result.

 

Side Note:

There have been many sunsets where I've seen The Remarkables lit up in a stunningly red tone. This hasn't happened while I've been here, and I'm going blame the cloud that has served only to diffuse the light as it sets. Today, the sun managed to briefly peak out from that cloud before it disappeared behind the mountains. That light was blocked from reaching the dominant mountains of the area, but turned Cecil Peak and Walter Peak into something that resembled more of a painting than an actual vista. Heed my advice: when in Queenstown, don't get mezmorized by the alpha-mountains. They won't beat you up and steal your lunch money, but they will cost you some special shots.

Done