As we release editions of his latest hyper-detailed photograph, a huge triptych 'Emerald Eden', landscape photographer Peter Latham shares tales of the hazards that come with the territory and how he captured this remarkable scene.
Emerald Eden | Location: Somewhere in South Westland | Limited Edition of 50 individually signed, numbered & certified Photographic Prints
TPR:
We absolutely love your new triptych Peter! Tell us about how you captured this incredible image.
PL:
In trying to describe this magical waterfall, I find myself lost for words. Perhaps the less said the better, let the image do the talking? But if I could simply add that this was one of the most wonderful sights I've ever witnessed in nature.
Known by only an intrepid few, it lies off the beaten track, without any marked trail. After a few days of no rain, the flow of water was perfect - not too much to cause so much spray, but enough to keep all the ferns, mosses and leaves wet. Using a polarising filter cut the surface reflections of the water and released the deep jade hues (it also allowed the leaves to radiate their deep greens, without being too shiny).
I spent several hours capturing different angles, but for this heroic composition I used my standard 80mm lens and captured 36 individual frames which I stitched together to create this mega file with phenomenal detail. Standing in the icy cold water all this time, my feet were frozen to the bone, but it was thrilling to successfully capture what must be one of the most beautiful natural scenes, anywhere in the world. I proudly present Mother Nature's finest work, the Emerald Eden.
36 frames stitched together to create one 3.0Gb file which displays phenomenal detail & clarity, capable of extreme enlargements & custom sizes, such as the 1500mm x 1000mm canvas above (it can easily cover entire walls also). Enquire here for your bespoke installation.
Equipment: Phase One XF 100Mp Trichromatic Medium Format Camera + Schneider Kreuznach 80mm blue lens
36 frames stitched together to create one 3.0Gb file which displays phenomenal detail & clarity, capable of extreme enlargements
Exposure: 1 sec @ f22 ISO 800
Location: South Westland (actual location withheld to try & protect it from being spoilt!)
TPR:
How do you find locations for your shoots? Do you explore an area to find subject matter, or do you research first to decide what you'll capture?
PL:
New Zealand is blessed with so many hidden gems, I’m always researching tracks and locations online or tapping into various books and magazines (Wilderness magazine is a great resource). Sometimes people will tell me about special spots they love, I try to avoid busy tourist areas and uncover new places instead.
The World's Clearest | Location: Rotomairewhenua - Blue Lake, Nelson Lakes National Park | Limited Edition: 150 individually signed, numbered & certified Photographic Prints
I’m always looking for a fresh angle and lighting is key, it’s usually very fleeting and being in the right place at the right time is not easy. People only see the end result of course, but there are countless trips and time spent, capturing those few new images that I release each year.
Lost World | Location: Te Hapu, Golden Bay | Limited Edition: 150 individually signed, numbered & certified Photographic Prints
Peter on location for 'The World's Clearest' and 'Lost World'. These pics were captured on an iPhone camera, verifying the authenticity of the colours and scenes in his beautiful photographs.
The stories behind capturing the images above are featured in Peter’s latest book 'Land of Light'.
TPR:
The angles and perspective you get are incredible! Do you have to stop yourself from being too reckless? How do you achieve it?
PL:
I have been known to dangle from a tree, but I try to stay safe. It’s important to know your limits and when to turn around. If the weather deteriorates or the going gets too crazy, there’s a point where it’s just not worth it.
In saying that, my passion and determination often test my comfort levels, such as camping solo in the snow above Lewis Pass recently, on what turned out to be the coldest night of the year! Having the best gear helps me achieve these things and weight is a big consideration when my camera (Phase One XF) is already so big and heavy. I regularly hike with 26kg on my back and that’s usually with only 2 lenses, 3 is a luxury!
Peter on a recent shoot above Lewis Pass, on the coldest night of the winter!
TPR:
There certainly seems to be an element of danger to your work. Have you ever been injured on location?
PL:
I’m very conscious that you’re just one bad step from an accident, so I try to be careful and I'm always watching where I place my feet! I carry a PLB (locator beacon) and have GPS Topo maps in my phone, so I can see where a track is should I lose it (the iHike app is brilliant).
A couple of months ago I was racing to catch the light and fell numerous times down an icy hillside above Lake Pukaki. I was fine, but I lost my phone somewhere on that slippery slope which was really annoying. I should have been wearing my boots with the traction spikes I bought recently, but I learnt my lesson!
Wow, you sure go to extremes to capture such extraordinary shots, Peter. Thank you so much for sharing this with us - take care out there and we're excited to see what you have in store for us next!
