Glacial Landscapes of the Southern Alps / Kā Tiritiri o te Moana, New Zealand
This series of aerial images was photographed from a light aircraft and captures the blue waters of the braided Tasman, Godley, and Cass Rivers flowing into Lakes Pukaki and Tekapo, from the high mountains of Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park which features New Zealand’s highest elevation at 3,724 meters (12,218 feet).
The blue coloration of the water is due to fine silt particles, or “glacial flour,” created by glacial erosion. The silt is so fine that it does not settle to the bottom quickly, remaining suspended in the lake water and refracting light to create varying shades of blue.
Glacial landscapes are increasingly threatened by climate change, as glaciers melt and retreat due to global warming. The objective of this image series is to document the beauty and power of the mountains and glacial environments of this extraordinary part of the world.
About Stuart Chape
Stuart Chape developed a love for the natural environment from an early age. After earning a degree in biology and ecology, he spent the next 40 years working on environmental issues across many parts of the world. His environmental work naturally merged with his photography, leading to a deep passion for aerial photography from helicopters and small planes to document the unique ecosystems that define the planet. Before the digital era, he used medium format film cameras to capture ecosystems and natural patterns from above. These patterns often follow the principle of form follows function, which is best appreciated from an aerial perspective—where form and function blend into a vision of Earth’s beauty not easily seen by all.
He now uses a 100MP Fujifilm GFX 100 II, which he considers essential for capturing highly detailed images suitable for large-scale wall art prints, sold through the Bluethumb Gallery. When he began aerial photography in the 1980s, very few photographers specialized in artistic aerial work. However, with the rise of consumer drones, this remarkable perspective has become more widely accessible. Nonetheless, the altitude restrictions and resolution limitations of consumer drones still leave the extraordinary, high-altitude, and often more geographically remote perspectives available only to those photographers who can hire helicopters and small planes an approach that continues to fuel his passion.
Stuart Chape has received numerous awards, and his work has been exhibited in both solo and group exhibitions worldwide. While he specializes in aerial landscapes, portraits and photography that address documentary and social issues also form a significant part of his portfolio. [Official Website]
