Shooting from a moving vehicle .....................

[Bernzfotos]

On the way up to Auckland for our Xmas break I managed to get some shots whilst my wife was driving through the Desert Road. All taken with my 18-105mm lense.

In New Zealand the most striking near-desert experience you can have is on the road to Waiouru.

State Highway One winds through a bleak windswept tussock plain called the Rangipo Desert. This is a unique alpine semi-desert, with the forbidding appearance of a wild desolate wasteland. To the east it merges with the densely forested foothills of the Kaimanawa Ranges. To the west there is no horizon, as the landscape and sky are overwhelmed by the monumental outline of Mt. Ruapehu. Dark canyons and shadowy scree slopes tumble from the snow-capped peaks and merge with the indistinct landforms of the plain.

The majestic grandeur of Ruapehu is a powerfully moving sight especially on a clear day. It is well worth a photo stop to capture the changing moods of the mountain. Sometimes the peace and solitude is disturbed by armoured vehicles on manoeuvres near the ‘Desert Road’. Waiouru is home to the New Zealand Army’s largest military base. The training area parallels the highway for 35 km and extends from Ruapehu’s snowline to the Rangitikei River 30 km to the east.

Waiouru at 815 metres above sea level has ice-cold winters and stifling hot summers. The township consists of a small cluster of hotels, tearooms and service stations along the highway. There is one imposing concrete structure that catches the eye. At first sight this striking edifice, with rampant tanks guarding its entrance, lacks aesthetic appeal. Perhaps its fort-like appearance is appropriate for what really is an outstanding museum.

The Queen Elizabeth II Army Memorial Museum features excellent static displays of New Zealand’s military heritage. It tells the history of New Zealand Army campaigns in all theatres of war, up to our present day role in overseas peacekeeping missions. The realistic displays include ‘Tears of Greenstone’, a dramatic memorial wall, which is the largest greenstone structure in the Southern Hemisphere.

The wild, desolate places of the central Volcanic Plateau have a mystique and magic of their own. This shaky portion of the ‘Pacific Ring of Fire’ offers up some memorable landscapes.







Although regarded as a separate volcano, Mt Ngāuruhoe is Tongariro’s main active vent. The remarkable symmetry of Ngāuruhoe’s steep cone is the result of regular eruptions.

Ngāuruhoe frequently belches out clouds of ash. Over 70 ash eruptions have occurred between 1839 and 1975, on average about six years apart. Eruptions of lava are less common – they have been witnessed only in 1870, 1949 and 1954.

In 1867, Māori people told the scientist and explorer James Hector that in May ash from Ngāuruhoe had covered the ground with a white dust, like snow. They said that during a previous eruption, in 1865, the Taupō district – and even the water of the lake – was covered with several inches of black dust. The showers of ash that fell into Rotoaira, a small lake between the volcano and Lake Taupō, had poisoned the fish there.

[Hayward Taylor]

HI Bernie - quite an education here today .... and beautiful images to go with it ... very nice

[SoxAddict]

Spectacular colours Bernz, these are awesome shots, so beautiful. I love the zones of colours you've created in your compositions here, marvellous.

[fstopMike]

Incredible scenery, Bernz. I like the clouds shrouding the mountain in your first shot.

[MiriamVarela]

AWESOME and beautiful Shots WOW..

[PrimeTime]

Awesome shots bernz, and you got them all out of the car, driving on the wrong side of the road .

[Chewys Dad]

Very Informative post with Wonderful photos to accompany it!
Thanks for sharing these with us Bernz!

[skyline photo]

wow pretty good for a moving car... nice shots

[Angelb]

Very nice Bernz. The last time I drove down desert road was when Steve and I came to see you.

[Bernzfotos]

Originally Posted by Hayward Taylor

HI Bernie - quite an education here today .... and beautiful images to go with it ... very nice

Thanks Hayward

Originally Posted by SoxAddict

Spectacular colours Bernz, these are awesome shots, so beautiful. I love the zones of colours you've created in your compositions here, marvellous.

Thanks Nicky

Originally Posted by fstopMike

Incredible scenery, Bernz. I like the clouds shrouding the mountain in your first shot.

Thanks Mike

Originally Posted by MiriamVarela

AWESOME and beautiful Shots WOW..

Thanks Miriam

Originally Posted by PrimeTime

Awesome shots bernz, and you got them all out of the car, driving on the wrong side of the road .

Thanks PrimeTime - thought someone would say that. Cheers, Bernz

Originally Posted by Chewys Dad

Very Informative post with Wonderful photos to accompany it!
Thanks for sharing these with us Bernz!

Thanks Michael

Originally Posted by skyline photo

wow pretty good for a moving car... nice shots

Thanks Skyline

Originally Posted by Angelb

Very nice Bernz. The last time I drove down desert road was when Steve and I came to see you.

Thanks Angela