Everyone has moments of time that will stand out for them forever. Watching this sunset in Milford Sound, New Zealand is one of those moments for me.
This was one of the most breathtaking scenes I’ve ever had the honor of photographing. Being so completely awestruck as the sky lit up was almost enough to bring tears to my eyes.
I almost missed this sunset. I only had a couple of days in this area and had already gone kayaking and on a cruise in the previous days, so I had spent the day a little further in land hiking. On my drive back to the lodge, I noticed the sky starting to turn orange and I knew there was going to be a great sunset. I rushed past the lodge and made it to the waterfront just in time to catch the brightest point of the sunset.
There were only a couple of other people along the water’s edge watching this sunset. Despite the fact that there were probably hundreds of people visiting the area. I couldn’t help but wonder how many other phenomenal sunsets go almost unnoticed. And if something this bright and breathtaking is barely noticed, how often do we miss the smaller, less obvious moments of beauty?
This is one of the reasons this photograph stands out for me and holds a special place in my heart. It is a reminder to slow down and be aware of the beauty around us.
Though it is called Milford Sound, this area is actually a fiord which means the steep sheer rock faces were etched by glaciers. In these photos, Mitre Peak is featured in the centre, though it is actually five peaks it appears as one from shore. To the right of Mitre Peak, far into the distance, you can see Stirling Falls. Stirling Falls is the second highest waterfall in New Zealand and is the waterfall Hugh Jackman “jumps off” in the movie Wolverine. Thanks to CGI magic, Hugh Jackman didn’t actually have to jump the 151m waterfall. However, you can take a cruise or kayak right into the falls. My cruise used the bow of our boat to fill drinking glasses with glacial water. The water was delicious and very cold!
Despite the lovely weather in the photos above, Milford Sound is one of the wettest places in the world! The area averages 182 days of rain per year and can have 250mm (almost 10 inches) of rain per day! This means there are thousands of temporary waterfalls in the area.
This photo has been featured on my homepage and Facebook.
Prints are available here.
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