Behind the Lens: Enchanted forest

This image was created one special morning in the Spring, high up in the Fiordland mountains in New Zealand. The winter had been quite average, but several weeks prior I had discovered this beautiful family of Silver Beech perched high up at 1000m elevation, completely exposed to the relentless elements which regularly batter Fiordland.

Twisted and stunted by the frigid winds, I knew I had to see these trees in the snow. A combination that would be so special.

After a couple of sleety failed attempts, a decent cold blast from the south was finally forecast, which would no doubt be the last potential snow for the season.

I was on a plane returning from some workshops in Australia, but knew I'd also be setting a 3:30am alarm in order to be amongst this forest for sunrise.

After a questionable snowy drive from my home in Te Anau and an hour of uphill walking, I was finally amongst the fairy tale of ice and snow, surrounded by towering mountains in every direction and thick snow down to the valley floors.

It felt more like Canada or Alaska, as decent snow like this is rare and doesn't last long in the fiords.

Wearing the draping moss like armour, it was incredible to see the trees now completely clothed in white, adorned with large icicles. Between the freezing squalls which would blow through, the sun was able to make its triumphant arrival, bringing a sparkle and warmth to the majestic scene.

It was quite an overwhelming experience because every direction was just so beautiful and unique, but finding a composition that worked was another matter. As the low sun graced the forest, I opted for shooting ultra-wide at 12mm, hoping to portray the unique experience of being immersed in such a scene.

With the modern sensors we have today I was able to capture this dynamic light in a single exposure, shooting for the highlights and recovering some shadows in post. I used f/9 for the depth of field and ISO 100. The image was handheld, which is how I always shoot.

I positioned myself to have the sun partially obscured by the tree, which helps create the sunstar and kept the highlights under control. I was able to go home with a series of new images of the morning, but this one is certainly a personal favourite.