New Zealand – Punakaiki Pancake Rocks

Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki in the South Island of New Zealand is an iconic spot for both tourists and photographers. Located only a few minutes easy walk from the main highway the unusual layered nature of the rock formations makes for an outstanding subject for landscape photography. The Pancake Rocks are columns of limestone resembling stacks of pancakes – hence the name. This photograph was taken at sunset on a clear evening. I was lucky that the horizon was clear so that the last rays of sunlight would illuminate the rock in a wonderful warm orange glow. This glow lasts only a few seconds before the rocks take on more chalky white appearance. I used a three stop soft neutral density filter to hold back the sky and keep detail in the foreground rocks. The combination of the unusual rocks with the warm orange glow of last light, the crashing wave and the native New Zealand bird (can only be seen in a large print – See Crop Below) make for a composition and photograph that I like very much.

Pancake Rocks
Ocean Bird - Zoom

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