Lake Taupo is marvelled for its magnificent views of the surrounding mountain ranges. My objective when I flew out to New Zealand was to capture the spectacular beauty of Mt. Ruapehu. Unfortunately, as it was the winter season, finding that perfect moment was especially difficult with the unpredictable miserable weather. Eager, on four separate occasions, I tried to photograph both the sunrises and sunsets, braving the blistering icy winds after it had snowed on multiple occasions. However, as I was ready to give up and started to pack up, there was a split second of the clouds parting to reveal the peaks I had been waiting to capture. Just as it was the right time, the setting sun’s rays gave off a pinkish-purple hue as it bounced off the clouds and onto the snowy Mt. Ruapehu, blending perfectly with the blues from Lake Taupo, naturally silhouetting objects in the foreground. It’s as if ‘Purple Haze’ was constructed in a painting with multiple layered hues and tones to create an incredible hazy effect. A perfect ending to a freezing evening.
