Otago Rail Trail Photo

Photographer’s Note

Hi all. This is a shot of the Otago Rail Trail.
Trains used to travel this route but the tracks are all gone now and what is left behind is a cycle trail. The trail follows the exact path of the rail tracks across the same bridges and viaducts, through the same tunnels and cuttings and even past the same stations where they remain.
Cyclist share the trail with walkers and horse riders, though we saw the occasional walkers the only evidence of horses was the “horse emissions” scattered very sporadically along the trail. Cyclists were certainly the majority of trail users. The trail has a maximum gradient of 1 in 50 so it’s not exactly arduous and cafes and B&Bs are spread conveniently along the way to keep the travelers nourished and rested. Nice local pubs too for the occasional ale.
The trail has partially rejuvenated the region with cycle hire and accommodation providers being the major beneficiaries. From memory there are in excess of 3000 cyclist doing the trail per year but with 160 KMs of trail there are always sections were you don’t bump into anyone and you feel you have the trail to yourself. Those likeminded travelers you do meet along the way are generally friendly and open for a chat. We found ourselves bumping into the same people time and again and always stopped for a little catch-up.
The trail travels from Clyde in the east to Middlemarch in the west and covers a distance of 160 KMs (100 Miles). For more info on the climate see my last post.
Bonus photos in workshop.
Enjoy, Paul.

robertosalguero, AiresSantos, besnard, Budapestman, npecanhuk, danos, Kielia, dareco, lucasgalodoido, vmf-214, ktanska, pablominto, Docarmo, xavshot, papagolf21, dip, jhm, JCG, trekks, josepmarin, Charo, gracious, Cretense, stego, plimrn, belido, Bluejeans, Angshu, Didi, Longroute ha puntuado esta nota como útil.

Critiques | Translate

robertosalguero (110) 2009-06-11 1:13

Hello Paul,

Must be a delight to drive along this road. Endless vies of flatlands and mountains. Nice perspective with the road ending on the corner. The view is wide here. I like this image Paul.

Roberto

AiresSantos (42440) 2009-06-11 1:49

Hi Paul
Very nice perspective of Otago Rail Trail. Beautiful tones and colours. Excellent high POV and details
TFS and have a nice day
Aires

besnard (30868) 2009-06-11 1:53

Bonjour Paul
Un cliché intéressant avec le regard qui suit la route. La prise en hauteur nous permet d'apprécier ce joli paysage.
Merci pour le partage et bonne journée.
Nicole

Budapestman (42328) 2009-06-11 4:48

Hi Paul,
Beautiful view with spectacular composition and superb details. The depth of the photo is splendid, beautiful soft colours and lights. Tfs! Have a nice day!
George

npecanhuk (14234) 2009-06-11 5:38

Hello Paul!
The same place of the previous picture, with the same soft lights, colors and sharpness, but different pov and composition that also please me a lot, specially for the inclusion of the rail trail! Thus, the photo is even more interesting!
TFS - congratulations!
Best regards,
Neyvan

Dyerco (9176) 2009-06-11 7:07

Hi Paul
You have a nice strong diagonal in this image. The colours are very real and unsaturated for a change. Nicely done.
Phil

ribeiroantonio (21955) 2009-06-11 7:14

After reading the note it seems an excellent trail to try. The photo is beautiful and shows us a very nice section with a bridge which I would like to see on a picture. The bridge and the river make two nice curves intersecting in the middle of the frame. Well done.
Antonio

danos (32812) 2009-06-11 7:27

Hello Paul,
nice this panoramic landscape view with the Otogo rail trail to penetrate vertical the river.Finally is a useful construction with all the drivers to used it.Informative your note too.

Regards,Danos

Kielia (8607) 2009-06-11 10:35

Hi Paul,
this is a very exciting place! The image is very pleasant with a wonderful perspective of the trail. A tempting destination for all trekkers, I am sure. And you have written a very interesting note. My compliments, also for the impressions in WS!
Warm regards
Harriet

dareco (17104) 2009-06-11 11:03

Very beautiful countryside, and I'm wondering if they have places along the way to rent horses. I love to ride and this looks like the perfect place to go. Very nice pov and colors. TFS

lucasgalodoido (16605) 2009-06-11 14:27

Olá Paul,
uma paisagem muito bonita aqui, e impressionante o tamanho dessa ponte. Interessante a vegetação seca também.
Parabéns e Abraço

vmf-214 (1624) 2009-06-11 20:50

Hi Paul,

Beautiful landscape scene, Like POV looking down at the old railroad bridge. Wonderful place to ride a bike looking at the mountains and trees, Excellent color contrast and clarity Paul.

Best regards
Jason.

Graal (58267) 2009-06-11 23:23

Hi Paul,
fine glance on the river, road and bridge, good POV and composition. An interesting place . Well presentation. I like it.
Gr., Aleksander

danyy (69147) 2009-06-11 23:47

Bonjour Paul,
cet endroit est vraiment très particulier et les couleurs sont toutes automnales, une saison qui se marque bien sur cette vue.
Beaucoup de profondeur et de netteté, de quoi distinguer tellment de détails.
Amicalement.
Daniel.

ktanska (16641) 2009-06-12 1:50

Hi Paul,
Wonderful landscape, I'm glad you climbed to this higher PoV. Old railway line must be optimal for a cycly route, keeping the route as level as possible, and probably going further away of bigger roads. And at that corner of the world it doesn't get too crowded either.
Kari

pablominto (40958) 2009-06-12 2:07

Hello Paul,

It is interesting to see autumn scenes from the Southern hemisphere!
The seasonal colours stand out well in the fine light, the composition is attractive with a strong diagonal lead-in...
Amazing sharp details and a good sense of depth!

Greetings,
Pablo -

Giorgio (8730) 2009-06-12 3:44

- Another view on this beautiful area Paul, splendid region, this curve by rails and the cross with river, is a undeniable bonus, well done!
Have a nice weekend.
giorgio

jafadabret (39923) 2009-06-12 7:18

Bonjour Paul.
C'est un paysage qui s'étend à perte de vue avec la nature presque sauvage, la rivière et la voie ferrée qui coupe la composition de sa belle courbe.
Beau travail.
Amicalement
Jacques

Docarmo (8844) 2009-06-12 12:38

Hi Paul,
What a beautiful view! Cyclists are lucky to have this trail. You've chosen an excellent angle of view, with the trail in diagonal.
Bravo!
Docarmo

gneufeld (15217) 2009-06-12 16:13

Hi Paul,
I like it - very good energy created by the diagonal l ines of the trail that cuts across the frame. Am wondering though whether a slight boost of contrast would have strengthened some of the details. Nice work and well presented. tFS. Gerald

xavshot (62759) 2009-06-12 22:40

Bonjour Paul
joli paysage. J'aime bien la courbe dessinée par le pont.
Une belle image.
Xavier

papagolf21 (56483) 2009-06-13 0:42

Bonjour, mon ami Paul,
Merci, Paul, de nous entraîner dans ces contrées sauvages. J'imagine le train parcourant ces vastes contrées et cette ligne de chemin de fer courant à travers ce ravissant paysage.
Amitiés.
Philippe

xuaxo (5765) 2009-06-13 9:32

Hi Paul,
That's a very nice idea. I wish they do the same on the unused railroads in Portugal.
The photo displays the bridge in a very attractive diagonal way.
Greetings,
Francisco

dip (12690) 2009-06-14 1:17

Hi Paul,
beautiful image with excellent point of view and good depth of field,
also interesting note about the place,
well done,
Dimitris.

jhm (82879) 2009-06-14 2:04

Hello Paul,

You show here a very nice shot of the Otago Rail Trail
splendid lovely panorama, the bridge carez for good perspective.
Sharpness and clarity are superb.
Very well composition and good presentation. TFS.

Have a nice sunday,
John

JCG (25531) 2009-06-14 3:03

Hello Paul,

Really pleasant area for in love ones with the bicycle !!! Superb marked out way. I like much your photograph with the bicycle in the image which gives an extraordinary depth to the image. The colors are splendid, I acknowledge to have a preference for this one. Very beautiful landscapes and thank you Paul for your interesting note.

With all my friendships and very good Sunday,

Jean-Charles

jmdias (19535) 2009-06-15 3:13

PAUL

basicaly the same landscape of yours last post but very different cause the addiction of this interesting bridge that created a line crossing the compo, landscape ahead, the golden trees and its valley and the high place in the foreground created a marvelous group of elements. perfect light, pov, framing, colors and everything else. congratulations

hugs

jorge

trekks (14324) 2009-06-15 6:30

hi Paul

Wonderful scenery.

Oh it will be fun to roll down from the far end of the bridge. This is a superb view of the country and trail.

Otago and South Island charm, very well presested!

tfs, bill

darek1978 (11371) 2009-06-15 8:27

Hi Paul,
Wow! Very good idea to present us this bridge from this high POV. Excellent composition and just fantastic DOF. Well done!
Best regards,
Darek

josepmarin (33861) 2009-06-15 9:55

Hi Paul,
A deep perspective of the old trail of the railroad in this capture. The landscape is immense, and our look go away following this path towards the horizon and the mountains.
In Spain also we have these former routes that nowadays are in use as paths for cyclists and walkers.
Nice work, my friend.
Best regards,
Josep

Waylim (10933) 2009-06-15 11:45

Hi paul,
Another very nice shot of the same area, the rail bridge and steam crossing each other adds some interest elements and make it more interesting compositionally. As always relaly beautiful tone naturally without overly saturating or contrasting. I like it. Beautiful as it is.
Way

barrufeto_77 (25869) 2009-06-15 14:46

Hi Paul.

It's a nice compo with the oil rail trail in the middle of the picture. I also like the depth.

Well done!

aadilj (17950) 2009-06-15 22:27

You've found a lovely spot Paul and have done wonderfully well to capture all its stark colours and beauty so well. I like your pov and the shot composition

Scharan (13955) 2009-06-16 15:12

Olá Paul

Uma paisagem linda...o detalhe
da ponte quase em diagonal está
fantástica. Lindas cores, uma
bela foto.
Parabéns
GA
Vera

berek (28937) 2009-06-16 20:47

Hi Paul,
another impressive nature view with long road. it give to us great perspective. I love your balanced composition.
Best wishes.
Burak

Nicou (45197) 2009-06-17 1:59

Hello,

Ce chemin fait une belle ligneé dans ce décor aux teinte d'autonme, merveilleuse vue, avec les belle collines en fond, la terre sèche et arride, très bel ensemble.

bravoe t amitié

Nicou

Charo (31677) 2009-06-17 9:17

Hello Paul,
Magnificent view on the river and the railway crosses it. Ocher tones as great for the fall for that part of the world, the antipodes of Spain.
Best wishes,
Charo

gracious (20017) 2009-06-17 11:42

Hello Paul,
Sorry for my delay to come in to view this gorgeous view of the cycle trail!
perfect pov with good distance view at far!
thank you for the sharing and the informative notes
warmest regards
Tony

Cretense (56520) 2009-06-17 13:25

Hello Paul!

Beautiful place, great landscape photo! Great POV, excellent framing and compositon, great diagonal "split" of the frame by this road! Great light managment, beautiful colours! Congratulations!

Hercules

stego (22376) 2009-06-17 15:49

Hi Paul,
A great view and compo. I like how you used the lines of the landscape, notably the bent railway bridge, that combine quite harmoniously with the lake and the slopes. I also like the dry tones announcing Autumn of the trees and grass, the latter keeping some green in the BG.
The WS's are really a bonus and are really great photos. Both deserved a main post, specially the one of the bike, which presents an amazing perspective given by the track that seems to reach the amazingly clear distant horizon.
Regards, José.

mauro61 (15948) 2009-06-19 0:30

ciao Paul,
bella e selvaggia immagine con il ponte che taglia in diagonale lo scatto.
Ottima gestione della luce
saluti
maurizio

plimrn (19688) 2009-06-19 22:51

Hi Paul,
Very nice photo of an amazing cycle track!! What a cool use of former RR tracks!! I never knew about this. Did the two of you do the trail? Whaty a great way to see NZ.
HLj, Pat

belido (16647) 2009-06-21 4:55

Hi Paul,

very interesting scenery. You made great use of the old railroad in its perspective against the natural beauty of the place. Light is very pleasant and the dof is really good. Great job!
Regards,
Carlos

Bluejeans (32633) 2009-06-24 10:59

Ola Paul ,
Magnifica paisagem em tons de outono com este rio e o caminho a cortarem a paisagem , gostei do ponto de visão bem alto , parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

Angshu (33877) 2009-06-30 2:08

Hello Paul
I would like to believe that the trees you showed here are the same Willows as in your earlier post, following the path of the river. Quite a contrasting landscape in your WS post, looks arid & desolate. Here I wonder about the rail track...surely they were narrow gauge trains? Good informative note to accompany this good picture
Regards
Angshu

Didi (36266) 2009-07-23 9:19

Hi Paul
Very nice dominant point of view.
Oh I forgot ! This is spring in your country but the colour trees has an autumnal appearance.
Best regards

Greg1949 (8511) 2009-07-28 4:16

Paul, NZ surely looks to be an awesome place, this looks a lot like the inland side of the Cascades near Portland Oregon, and I hope it goes without saying that it is beautiful.

I think the colors and details in this shot are super and that the overall shot is great, the diagonal line of the bridge works well.

Greg

serp2000 (9629) 2009-11-03 0:23

Hello, Paul,
excellent! I like this photo, good landscape with industrial sign. Good POV, nice colours. TFS!
Serghei

Longroute (9559) 2009-12-11 3:58

A beautiful and elegant composition with the railway creating a soft curve and diagonal. The river valley with the brownish trees is in itself a valuable subject but the bridge and the distant mountain range make it richer and more interesting.
(Landscape photography may appear simple but it takes a good eye and a fine sensitivity to see the right framing).
TFS,
Donato