Tim Pokorny's photostream  

Roaring Meg is a stream located in the mountains between the Central Otago towns of Queenstown and Cromwell. Part of a hydro-electric power generation scheme, there is a dam about 4km upstream feeding two stations. This shot is from lower station's outlet into the Kawarau River.

"Anything, everything, little or big becomes an adventure when the right person shares it." - Kathleen Norris

When I think of the south, it's this sort of scene I have in mind. Snow capped peaks piercing clouds under vivid blue skies. Land so imposing that it commands not just your attention, but your time.

I could sit outside and just watch the clouds roll past for hours. Peaceful and still as the wind whips past and does its best to distract. It's a genuine sense of calm I get here. Things are simple and the days ask for nothing more than to be enjoyed in the landscape. Sit under a tree and read. Wander a near-by path along the lakes edge or find your own through new places. No rush; no worry; just time and possibility. I could sit for hours.

The sun setting red over the mountains behind Queenstown, New Zealand.

It's Autumn in Central Otago, and everywhere the leaves are turning red. Tonight, the sun tried to match it, and then some. It's early days of my trip and I've been in a real funk. The weather has got me down and I've just not been able to throw myself into things like I used to. I'm wasting precious time being a bit of a princess and really have to check myself at dinner to appreciate the position I'm in.

The sunset started to look promising right as I was racing around between Arrowtown and Queenstown. I thought maybe my luck was turning as I navigated to what I hoped was going to be a good spot, only to realize I'd gone in the complete wrong direction. Looking back on these shots many, many months later, I only now begin to appreciate what I've got here. I didn't see it at first, and the other frames from this session are, honestly, very bland. This was the last shot of the day, and felt like a bit of a throw-away as the light was leaving. There's a hard lesson in that for me. Time out with the camera is precious for the amateur. Looking back and seeing that the evening really could produce something I've come to love makes me sad that I didn't appreciate it more in the first place.

Snapshots are like frozen little memories. A candid moment, otherwise lost in the passage of time, captured to help bring back the memory years later. I don't know much about the little girl in this picture yet, except that I love her. I hope she feel as at peace as she looks, that she's comfortable and happy wrapped up in her mothers tummy. As the years pass, there will be many, many more photos, but this particular snapshot, our first real glimpse at her, will always remain something special.