When I captured this image, I felt a sense of pure magic three nights in a row beneath crystal clear skies. I had ventured out to a new spot for astrophotography and, to my surprise, discovered a hidden lake untouched by light pollution. As the Milky Way rose gracefully above the still water, I knew I was witnessing a moment worth capturing.
This wasn’t just any lake it was Ō Tū Wharekai (Ashburton Lakes), a place steeped in history, memory, and spirit. Nestled deep in the high country, these wetlands are a taonga of Ngāi Tahu, carrying the Maori the life force that binds people, land, and sky.
Standing beneath the stars, I felt that same connection a quiet reminder that this landscape holds timeless beauty and the stories of those who came before us
Technical Details:
• Cameras: Canon 6D (Astro-modified) & Sony A7R II
• Lenses: Canon 24mm f/1.8 & Sony Zeiss 16-35 mm
• Tracker: iOptron SkyGuider Pro
• Sky (Tracked): ISO 2000 | f/2.8 | 40 sec (24mm)
• Foreground: ISO 1000 | f/4 | 30sec (blue hour)
• Processing: Lightroom | PTGui | Photoshop | StarXTerminator
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