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Sunrise at Moeraki


Sunrise at Moeraki
Photo Information
Copyright: John David (johnnymag) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 95 W: 18 N: 465] (2357)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-06-17
Categories: Mood
Camera: NikonD70
Exposure: f/22, 1 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-01-10 5:25
Viewed: 751
Points: 10
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Taken during my recent visit to New Zealand for the British Lions tour. I camped near to the beach and got up before dawn to capture the sunrise, which wasn't that impressive due to the amount of cloud. However, I hope you like my photo of these extremely fasinating boulders.

The Moeraki Boulders are huge spherical stones that are scattered over the sandy beaches, but they are not like ordinary round boulders that have been shaped by rivers and pounding seas. These boulders are classed as septarian concretions, and were formed in ancient sea floor sediments. They were created by a process similar to the formation of oyster pearls, where layers of material cover a central nucleus or core. For the oyster, this core is an irritating grain of sand. For the boulders, it was a fossil shell, bone fragment, or piece of wood. Lime minerals in the sea accumulated on the core over time, and the concretion grew into perfectly spherical shapes up to three metres in diameter.
The original mudstone seabed has since been uplifted to form coastal cliffs. Erosion of the cliffs has released the three tonne captive boulders, which now lie in a haphazard jumble across the beach. Further erosion in the atmosphere has exposed a network of veins, which gives the boulders the appearance of turtle shells. Similar boulders occur at Shag Point, and the nearby swimming beach of Katiki. In Hawke’s Bay in the North Island, scientists have found that the central core of similar boulders contained perfectly preserved skeletons of turtles, sea snails and extinct reptiles, such as plesiosaurs.
Moeraki has a long history of Maori occupation, which is represented in the town today by the Kotahitanga Maori Church and a pa site nearby. This small seaport town was the first European settlement in North Otago. Behind the town a road leads to the lighthouse where you can find a yellow-eyed penguin sanctuary and a seal colony. There are other walks of ecological interest around the coast, and through the Trotter’s Gorge native forest. South of Moeraki is the town of Palmerston, where you can follow an historical scenic route to Central Otago.

Moeraki makes a fascinating stopover point, both for the dramatic coastal scenery and the curious geological phenomenon on the beaches.

Info from http://www.newzealandnz.co.nz/destinations/moeraki.html

PP included adjust colour balance to highlight reds, and increase saturation. Noise removal, sharpen, add border, resize.
Regards

John
AnneFrance, Janice, lpvasco has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To schapman: Thanks for your kind comments.johnnymag 1 01-29 17:52
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Critiques [Translate]

the colours.........so strong and soft together, great picture and pp work.
the pink of the light and these big boulders like big turtles, very nice shot, compo

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3274 W: 268 N: 7772] (33174)
  • [2006-01-10 17:17]

Hi John, I like what you have done to these boulders. Great colour scheme, the brilliant blues look great, and the pink of the sky. Your PP filter works well, just a bit noisy. TFS,
Janice

Never mind the quality (see noisy sky) just feel the moment here. Great colours, a group of three (always a winner) weird objects and an almost surreal scene. It's not on THIS planet, Jim! 9/10 but no points, for I am a Fellow of the Revolution.
Late amendment. The Revolution has introduced a modification to it's guidelines. 500 pts or less and we can donate, so, late but better than never.

Helo John

Great picture, great colors, great work
Luis

I've seen many images of sunrises here and elsewhere, but what makes this one so special is the fact that you have captured the essence of that natural beauty. You saw that moment not only with your eyes but with the whole of your soul.
My compliments,

Shelly.

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