on a trip towards wanaka via the crown range road, the highest paved road in new zealand at 1,076 meters, the road winds steeply to an opening just a few feet fitted enough to park the car, i gently pulled aside and then walked out. looking back from the crown terrace towards the zigzag road beneath and the distant wakatipu basin, the infamous backdrop to queenstown – the remarkables, i had the opportunity to see the range from the less fanciful eastern slope, which was remarkably sandwiched between the upper formation of low cloud and its lower shaded farmland as borders. it was an exceptional moment firmly crystallized as soon as i released the shutter. june 2010.

the location: