The Lakes of Harper Road
Scouring Google Maps I spotted a group of small lakes in behind Castle Hill in Canterbury. Sometimes these little lakes can be surrounded by thick bush and difficult to photograph so it was important to delve a bit deeper and find some photos on blogs and/or social media before making the long drive. Turns out they actually look pretty good and that was enough for me to head out there one cold morning hoping for a decent sunrise and still waters.
It was the 6th of September, the beginning of Spring in New Zealand and it was bloody cold still. The cloudless start to the morning didn’t help with the temperature either. It’s an area popular with fishermen/fisherwomen so I wasn’t the only one on the road before dawn but I was the only one that would drive home in a car not stinking of trout. For that, I was happy.
I have a habit of visiting places for the first time when it’s dark. I prefer sunrises because there’s usually less people around compared with late afternoon/sunset. This does present challenges for landscape photography, I have no idea what my composition will be until the first light of day strikes the surrounding mountains. The fisher-people had disappeared down their sideroads and it was just me at this first lake, Lake Evelyn. Peaceful, still, and a pleasant enough sunrise with just enough colour to bring a smile to the dial.
If you want to visit this area yourself, it’s these lakes ‘circled’ in blue.
Highlight of the morning: watching a young’un drifting the gravel road in a clapped out Altezza. The road is rough but the Altezza was rougher..good fun.
