New Zealand: Lake Rotoiti
Here’s Lake Rotoiti outside the village of St. Arnaud on New Zealand’s South Island as it appeared late in the afternoon on February 17th. The name Lake Rotoiti is partly redundant because roto already means ‘lake’ in Māori. The iti means ‘small’ or ‘narrow,’ an implicit comparison to the larger Lake Rotoroa that we also visited a little to the west of this lake.
Portraits of Wildflowers 
That is absolutely breathtaking! I could gaze into that view for hours. Thankyou for sharing such a classically beautiful photo 🙂 Leah
twothirdswild
May 7, 2015 at 5:46 AM
You’re welcome. Just a few minutes ago I was thinking that I don’t do a lot of classical landscapes, but this is one.
Steve Schwartzman
May 7, 2015 at 6:03 AM
I thought for a guy who does mostly flower photos, you did very well with this landscape. Beautiful place and composition.
Jim in IA
May 7, 2015 at 7:08 AM
Thanks, Jim. The main reason I don’t do more in the way of conventionally beautiful landscapes is that central Texas is a far cry from Yellowstone, Yosemite, Colorado, the Arizona desert (as you saw last fall), and most recently New Zealand. When not traveling, I show the best of what I find here, the broadest scope of which is usually something like a field of wildflowers.
Steve Schwartzman
May 7, 2015 at 7:16 AM
Ah! Now I understand better why you do so many wildflowers. Although over the years, you’ve shown many example of other things. This is just beautiful and I’m glad you shared it.
dogear6
May 7, 2015 at 3:42 PM
True, I have shown many things other than flowers, although one of my purposes here is to make people aware of the hundreds of native species of plants we have in this area. When I’ve shown central Texas landscapes, they often fall into the category that nature photographers have started calling intimate landscapes, meaning that there’s no horizon or distant vista, as for example:
https://portraitsofwildflowers.wordpress.com/2015/04/27/yucca-flowering-on-a-steep-slope/
https://portraitsofwildflowers.wordpress.com/2012/11/01/cliffs-along-bull-creek/
https://portraitsofwildflowers.wordpress.com/2014/12/04/bald-cypress-trees-along-the-guadalupe-river/
Steve Schwartzman
May 7, 2015 at 4:07 PM
Yes, you do. I’d forgotten about those cliffs along Bull Creek. They’re fascinating – although all the pictures are good.
dogear6
May 7, 2015 at 4:17 PM
That is so beautiful, it brings tears to my eyes.
shoreacres
May 7, 2015 at 6:27 AM
That means a lot, Linda. Thanks.
Steve Schwartzman
May 7, 2015 at 7:09 AM
I love how this photo just sweeps you in~ I can practically feel the water on me feet! Is a lot of New Zealand open like this?
melissabluefineart
May 7, 2015 at 10:55 AM
Yes, especially on the South Island, which is also less densely populated than the North Island. Unfortunately we didn’t make it to the southern part of the South Island, where there are fiords and even glaciers.
I agree that this view sweeps you in, especially because of the X created at the center by the cleft between the mountains and the reflection of same.
Steve Schwartzman
May 7, 2015 at 11:09 AM
Somehow I never thought of them having fjords and glaciers. That would be nice to see, wouldn’t it?
melissabluefineart
May 7, 2015 at 11:16 AM
It was part of the original plan, but too many things intervened and time ran out. Yes, New Zealand is further south than many people realize who aren’t from there, so I’m not surprised you didn’t imagine fiords and glaciers. The southern part of the South Island gets really cold in the winter, especially in the mountains.
Steve Schwartzman
May 7, 2015 at 11:27 AM
That water looks SO clear! Reminds me a little of the Norwegian fjords, which I suppose were formed in a similar manner.
Heyjude
May 7, 2015 at 1:08 PM
My understanding—perhaps not as clear as the water in this lake—is that the fjords in Norway and New Zealand were both formed by glaciers during the last ice age. So far I’m 0 for 2 when it comes to seeing those sets of fjords, but let’s hope I’ll make it to one or both someday. It sounds like you’ve been to the Norwegian set.
Steve Schwartzman
May 7, 2015 at 1:20 PM
I was fortunate to work in Norway in 1973 for the summer. A most beautiful country. I have yet to get to the south island of NZ though so you are up on me there 🙂
Heyjude
May 7, 2015 at 1:35 PM
An absolutely beautiful view. Thank you, Steve.
Isabel F. Bernaldo de Quirós
May 7, 2015 at 4:02 PM
You’re welcome, Isabel. There are many views like this in New Zealand, so I recommend visiting there if you get the opportunity.
Steve Schwartzman
May 7, 2015 at 4:09 PM
Gorgeous reflections. You caught this on a good day.
Raewyn's Photos
May 8, 2015 at 5:29 AM
The reflections added to the appeal, no doubt about it, and the clouds did too.
Steve Schwartzman
May 8, 2015 at 6:55 AM
A breathtaking landscape! The mountains, reflections and clear water combine to make it a very attractive tranquil image, Steve. I’ve actually started making plans to get over there within three years now. I hope you make it back again one day. I’m sure there is plenty for you still to discover.
Jane
May 8, 2015 at 5:42 AM
I think tranquil is an excellent word for it, Jane.
There’s so much to see in New Zealand that I applaud your plans to get over there within three years. I do hope to make it back someday because there were so many more places I wanted to see but I ran out of time to visit them.
Steve Schwartzman
May 8, 2015 at 7:14 AM
There is a serenity to this landscape that is deeply pleasing, Steve. Very well done.
Steve Gingold
May 9, 2015 at 4:26 PM
Thanks, Steve. You’re not alone in feeling the serenity.
Steve Schwartzman
May 9, 2015 at 10:00 PM
Gorgeous shot Steve! I would love to put a kayak in the water and see where I could go between those mountains!
Michael Glover
May 10, 2015 at 9:59 PM
Sounds like you need to set your sights on New Zealand, Michael. You’ll find a slew of scenic places there.
Steve Schwartzman
May 10, 2015 at 10:20 PM
I have long wanted to go to New Zealand. Such a beautiful country and I can imagine never running out of things to take photos of.
Michael Glover
May 10, 2015 at 10:25 PM
The only thing I ran out of was time. I’d hoped to make it farther south on the South Island, which is where some of the most majestic scenery lies, but I got only a third of the way down before having to head back to the North Island and Auckland for the flight home.
You should definitely go if you can swing it.
Steve Schwartzman
May 10, 2015 at 10:32 PM
Time constraints always seem to get in the way. Definitely one of these days I will make it out there!
Michael Glover
May 10, 2015 at 10:35 PM