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Limited Edition Print - 150
Captured at the close of day in the shallows of the West Sabine River, this image sought to preserve the raw and untamed energy of alpine water as it surged through the valley carrying icy mountain runoff from deep within the surrounding ranges. Resting the camera carefully on a rock in the smalls of the river flow, the exposure was timed delicately, just long enough to reveal movement within the water, yet short enough to retain the texture, force and chaos of the current without softening it into a silky blur.
In the distance, the West Sabine Hut swing bridge stands quietly above the river, offering a subtle human reference against the scale and power of the landscape. Around it, dense native foliage clings tightly to the riverbanks, shaped by river itself. Together the elements create a scene of flowing life deep in back of the Nelson Lakes National Park, a fleeting moment where light, water and wilderness combined to reveal the wild spirit of this remote alpine valley
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Getting to Rotomairewhenua (Blue Lake), home to what NIWA considers the clearest freshwater in the world, isn’t exactly a casual stroll, especially once one has travelled far enough past the yardarm in life to appreciate just how long eight and a half hours up the Sabine Valley actually is. Thankfully West Sabine Hut sits roughly two thirds the way along the journey, providing the perfect excuse to stop, recover, and question why carrying heavy packs through remote alpine valleys ever seemed like a good idea in the first place.
The journey begins with a water taxi across Lake Rotoroa before following the Sabine River deep into the backcountry toward West Sabine Hut, the resting place for the night.
This trip was more about family, friends and surviving five days in the wilderness with them than serious photography, so I’d packed light. One little Fujifilm X-T30, one lens and absolutely no tripod. Food, dry clothes and whiskey had taken priority.
But sitting beside the West Sabine River that evening, one couldn’t help but feel completely pulled into the energy of the water charging through the valley. The challenge quickly became figuring out how to capture that feeling without losing the camera to the river in the process.
Balancing the X-T30 on wet rocks in the edge of fast-moving alpine water was less refined photography technique and more controlled panic. Several times the camera nearly disappeared downstream forever. Still, after around fifty images and a collection of increasingly awkward body positions, this frame stood apart from the rest.
It somehow held onto the raw energy of the West Sabine River, cold, fast and untamed, exactly as it felt standing there beside it.
Needless to say, by the following evening at Blue Lake, whiskey and a campfire comfortably defeated photography as darkness settled across the mountains
Location
West Sabine Hut sits deep within Nelson Lakes National Park alongside the fast-flowing West Sabine River, surrounded by dense native beech forest, steep alpine ridgelines and rugged mountain terrain. Positioned within the remote Sabine Valley, the hut acts as a key stop along the journey toward Rotomairewhenua (Blue Lake), one of New Zealand’s most isolated and untouched alpine environments.
Latitude: -41.9447
Longitude: 172.6576
Printed on Hahnemühle Photo Rag®
Each limited edition print is produced on Hahnemühle Photo Rag® 308gsm, one of the world's most renowned fine art papers. Made from 100% cotton with a softly textured surface, it delivers rich depth, exceptional colour, deep blacks, and striking contrast. This museum-grade paper is acid- and lignin-free, ISO 9706 certified, and crafted for true archival quality — ensuring your print will last for generations.
Pigment-based inks provide exceptional longevity, delivering archival quality for up to 100 years when paired with UV70 glass framing.
read moreHandcrafted in Nelson by Nelson City Framers, each frame is made from kiln-dried pine for strength and longevity. Finished in timeless grained black, with dimensions of 26mm wide × 40mm deep, offering a refined balance of depth and elegance.
Your print is mounted on acid-free, neutral pH foam board to ensure archival quality and long-term preservation.
read moreYour limited addition print is protected with UV70 non-reflective glass, each photograph is shielded from 70% of UV light to prevent fading. The anti-reflective finish allows for clear, uninterrupted viewing even in bright or high-glare environments.