Glimpses of a gold mining past on the Mt Crichton Loop Track.

Many of my photography expeditions take me deep into Fiordland or high above the mountains by helicopter. But sometimes, I don’t have to travel far at all. Living in Queenstown, we have spectacular scenery on the doorstep. For my most recent photography expedition to the Mt Crichton Loop Track, I only had to take a short drive down the road.

Ask any Kiwi and they will tell you the West Coast is the place to find some of the most impressive scenery New Zealand has to offer. And within the West Coast, the Haast Pass stands out as a highlight. On a recent expedition to this dramatic part of New Zealand’s South Island, I took a detour off the main road, crossed a few rivers and found my way to a few spectacular locations.

Two unique geological formations are the focus of Stephan’s camera lens this month. Through the Maerewhenua Valley and the wild and windswept coastline of North Otago, Stephan finds himself at two of the region’s most famous landmarks—without another photographer in sight.

A trip to the Canterbury Plains beneath the Southern Alps delivers the quintessential South Island experience—wild weather and wondrous scenery.

Running the length of the South Island, the jagged, snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps is an immense alpine environment boasting thousands of glaciers, many of which I have photographed over the years. However, on my most recent photographic expedition, I was not venturing to the icy tops but instead exploring the incredible braided rivers of the Canterbury Plains far below, most notably the Rangitata River.

On a recent trip to The Catlins and the south coast, I visited a few scenic locations that have been on my list for a while now. The area is well known for its spectacular coastal drive, the Southern Scenic Route. However, many people don’t know The Catlins is also home to some of the South Island’s most beautiful waterfalls. With many of these locations off the main road, I was glad to have done my research before heading south.

Stephan wins the title of New Zealand’s Landscape Photographer of 2021. The winning pictures are Bismarck Peaks, Mt Tutoko, Swamp Forest and Dart River.

It all started with a conversation with our good friend and client, David. Could we spend a day in the remote Earnslaw Burn valley during winter?

Rangitata River coming soon.

You will find Key Summit along the world-famous Routeburn Track in Fiordland National Park. On a recent trip to capture a series of new pieces, I encountered a few surprise sights and experiences along the way. If there’s one thing I know about Fiordland it’s that I should always expect the unexpected.

Many of the landscapes I shoot are located in and around the spectacular peaks of the Southern Alps. This dramatic mountain range which spans the length of New Zealand’s South Island, offers endless choices for landscape photography.

My travels with a camera have taken me to some of the South island’s most incredible locations. However, access to these ‘incredible locations’ is not without its challenges.

First Snow on Key Summit