Driving through Milford Sound

Octane (Humayun) · #1 23-01-2011, 02:59 PM

If anyone has a few lazy minutes and wanted a bit of cathartic relaxation, then, this is for you.

I filmed this while driving through Milford Sound earlier last year.

It's taken me so long to get around to start sorting out my videos. They're all slowly being uploaded.

This is the same location where I shot Milford by Moonlight.

This one was 4 GB in size and took 3 days to upload, in 1920x1080p HD.

You don't have to watch the whole thing, but, the first few minutes should give you enough.

Hopefully, it will also go to show you why I find New Zealand such an inspirational place, not just for my photography.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhUe5UNiIHo

More details in the description.

Enjoy.

H

that_guy (Tony) · #2 23-01-2011, 03:02 PM

YEEEEEEE.. This was filmed on my birthday

and Holy Crap the View when you get out of that tunnel.... :O

multiweb (Marc) · #3 23-01-2011, 03:10 PM

Wow! Impressive the amount of water that's running off the sides of those mountains. You wonder where all this water goes. Is the road elevated?

Liz · #4 23-01-2011, 05:06 PM

Beautiful H!! Bought back some wonderful memories, though there was not that many waterfalls when I was there.

Strawb (Dave) · #5 23-01-2011, 05:26 PM

Was ALWAYS cold, wet and miserable - thats why I live here now

Omaroo (Chris Malikoff) · #6 23-01-2011, 05:52 PM

Pretty spesh Humayun. I really need to go over and photograph the place. I've been there a hundred times on business yet haven't seen any of it. Maybe this year...

Bassnut (Fred) · #7 23-01-2011, 07:32 PM

Hard core, the best. The west coast is oft at its most interesting in bad weather. As a young fellow I often motorcycled through it, the atmosphere whilst actually in it can be extreme and very dramatic. Inspirational photography H, you caught the feeling well.

DavidTrap (David) · #8 23-01-2011, 08:50 PM

Wow! It's just soooo different to Australia.

DT

bloodhound31 · #9 23-01-2011, 09:32 PM

Sigh....ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....

SkyViking (Rolf) · #10 24-01-2011, 08:32 AM

What an awesome video H, and what a mountain of water! I went through the Homer Tunnel a few years ago and it is indeed a spectacular place. Thanks very much for posting this. I can't wait to go back there.

Ric · #11 24-01-2011, 10:30 AM

How spectacular is that.

Great stuff H.

Cheers

AstroFlyer (Arek) · #12 24-01-2011, 03:16 PM

Very cool!

Reminded me of our trip to Milford Sound in 1987, virtually the same weather.
Love that place.

Chhers
Arek

M54 (Molly) · #13 24-01-2011, 05:05 PM

Thankyou so much for that H.

Just BEAUTIFUL!

barx1963 (Malcolm) · #14 24-01-2011, 06:24 PM

Fantastic Video H!
We did that drive back in 2008, I think last week of Sept, we left Queenstown at 5am, drove to Te Anau, booked into a Motel then drove to Milford Sound. We left Te Anau and it was overcast and drizzly all the way to the tunnel. Other end of the tunnel it was blue skies and 20 degrees. When we got to Milford it was still clear but each peak had a little cloud on top. It had bee going through a dry spell so the waterfalls on the Sound were running very low but apart from that it was absolutely spectacular! Saw seals and penguins in the sound and had one of the highlights of my travelling life.
Oh and when I say dry spell it hadn't rained for 2 weeks, and in that part of the world not raining for 6 days counts as a drought, at least thats what they told us on the boat!
Malcolm

Spanrz (Brett) · #15 24-01-2011, 09:03 PM

Must say H, that is just awesome. Very much relaxed.

It is very much like the scenery in way Upstate NY (north of Albany). We did a Snow trip this time last year and it sorta looked like this. The Snow, Ice and the melting of it was just weird and wonderful.

Amazing.

Octane (Humayun) · #16 24-01-2011, 09:13 PM

Thank you so much, everyone, for having watched and commented.

I can't begin to explain just how much of a rush it was driving through that rain. It's probably not all that evident, but, I was driving pretty quickly -- only way to enjoy it. I love driving. And, that stretch of road is just simply a driver's dream come true.

I am also very pleased with how the music, particularly the first track, sets the soundtrack to the visuals. They both just meld.

I have more videos of other places that I'll be putting up soon.

H

Octane (Humayun) · #17 24-01-2011, 09:25 PM

One thing, if anyone ever goes there, is to try spending a night in the Milford Lodge, particularly in the chalet.

They're really quite beautiful lodges right on the river, and, across the river is the standard megalith of the region, with waterfalls falling right in front of your face.

The real fun begins after it gets dark. Really dark. I got back at about 12:30 AM after having taken that photograph (link in original post) and by the time I'd showered, etc., was in bed by around 1:30 AM or so. That's when the wind started howling. For the next 2-3 hours, I didn't get a wink of sleep -- I thought I was going to die that night.

From my bed, I could see one window, which was close to the roof, and, about 1-1.5 metres long, by about 60 cm high. All I could see through that window, under the moonlight, was a tree pretty much bent at 90 degrees from the force of the wind! It just got more ferocious as the night wore on. It must have let up around twilight.

The following morning I asked the reception whether that was a storm that passed through the night before. The receptionist said that that happened every night!

The following night, the same thing happened, but, I slept so soundly -- knowing that I was safe in these lodges that have been designed to put up with the harsh weather. It was pretty darn awesome just being out in the middle of nature. : )

H

Lee · #18 24-01-2011, 09:30 PM

It is a great drive - don't try in August though, my wife and I went in Aug 2008. Couldn't drive to Milford - "avalanche imminent" warning and road closed ....

Had to sepnd an extra day in Te Anau.... boring.

CometGuy · #19 24-01-2011, 09:36 PM

Thx for posting this H..a really wonderful video. New Zealand has some truly exotic locations, Milford being just one of them

Please post more video's!

Terry

RobF (Rob) · #20 24-01-2011, 11:25 PM

Thanks for sharing H. Truely a special place. Too long since I've bee there.