Sacred Waters, a photo from Waikato, North Island

Photographer's Note

Wai-O-Tapu (Māori for 鉄acred Waters�) is an active geothermal area just north of the Reporoa caldera in New Zealand's Taupo Volcanic Zone. The area has many hot springs noted for their colourful appearance, in addition to the Lady Knox Geyser. Prior to European occupation the area was the homeland of the Ngati Whaoa tribe who descended from those on the Arawa waka (canoe).(Wikipedia)
Wai-O-Tapu is a marvel of Nature. Raw power, raw smells, raw scars over the land. Humans, or at least the Anglo- Saxons have come up with romantic names for some of the features- names like Artist痴 Palette, Champagne Pool, Oyster Pool, Primrose Terrace�
What you see is the oft-photographed Champagne Pool about which Wikipedia says the following:

Champagne Pool is a prominent geothermal feature within the Waiotapu geothermal area in the Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand. The terrestrial hot spring is located about 30 km southeast of Rotorua and about 50 km northeast of Taupo. The name Champagne Pool is derived from the abundant efflux of carbon dioxide (CO2) similar to gas bubbles in a glass of bubbling Champagne. The hot spring was formed 900 years ago by a hydrothermal eruption , which makes it in geological terms a relatively young system. Its crater is around 65 m in diameter with a maximum depth of approximately 62 m and is filled with an estimated volume of 50,000 m3 of geothermal fluid .
Hydrochemistry
The deep geothermal water below Champagne Pool is of the order of 260ｰC [3] but water temperature within the pool is maintained at 73ｰC to 75ｰC by losing heat to the atmosphere. The pH of 5.5 is relatively constant due to buffering by the flux of CO2. Gases are mainly CO2, but to less extent nitrogen (N2), methane (CH4), hydrogen (H2), hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and traces of oxygen (O2) [4]. The siliceous geothermal fluid is oversaturated with metalloid compounds such as orpiment (As2S3) and stibnite (Sb2S3) which precipitate and form orange subaqueous deposits [5]. The colorful deposits are in sharp contrast to the grey-white silica sinter surrounding Champagne Pool.

s_lush, Colombiana, judesta, BWJ, plimrn, Atousa, phwall, ellelloo, Dyerco, Kielia, cagla, MayaG, narges_samandi has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Ina (2687) 2008-10-31 15:06

Fine colors, lovely composition and a fantastic landscape...

TFS... Ina...

s_lush (16602) 2008-10-31 15:34

Interesting natural phenomenon, successful shot and a lot of useful information.

Colombiana (2957) 2008-10-31 15:49

Hi Klaudio!
This place does look spectacular..
73ｰC still pretty hot! :)
The photographer on the left enhances the
composition fairly well. I like color
contrasts. Very well captured, even the
vapour look perfect.
regards from Miami!
Maryori :)

judesta (1006) 2008-10-31 17:00

Hi Klaudio
I like your description of raw smells, had to laugh, I could have used other words for it.
I love the vibrant colours in this photo particularly the sky and the wonderful orange/brown that edges the lake. The steam gives a great indication of how hot this water is.
Great detail captured in the foreground rocks and water and the photographer adds to your composition.
TFS
Cheers Jude

batalay (41261) 2008-10-31 17:09

Hello Klaudio,

Your highly informative note complements image perfectly. I feel as I can small the odors emanating. The depth and diameter suggest that it is virtually hemispherical, with hellish temperatures in the lower regions. Nonetheless, life is known to exist in ocean depths, where vents give off even higher temperatures. I wonder if any life form has been detected in Champagne Pool?

Warm regards,

Bulent

jimkilgallon (0) 2008-10-31 18:10

Hello Klaudio
I visited this place in 2003, and cant wait to visit it again with the camera because the atmosphere and colours are brilliant in Rotorua. I was lucky to witness the steam shoot about 80 meters into the air that year. I need the weather to improve though at the weekends as it is not the best here at the moment. I think all has been said by other comments, just like to add that the note was a excellent read. Im sure Bulent also appreciated the facts.
Regards
Jim

gneufeld (15890) 2008-10-31 18:12

Hi Klaudio,
A fine capture of this interesting geothermal area. Reminds me of a recent trip we made to Yellowstone National Park in the USA - very well known around the world for similar activity. I like the colors of your image and by including the photographer in the image you brought a fine human element to the shot. TFs. Gerald

BWJ (3094) 2008-10-31 18:47

Hello Klaudio,
This is a fantastic place! There is a lot of steam rising from the pool. Your composition is spectacular with wonderful colors, good exposure, and sharpness. Excellent note too!
Kind regards,
Betty

plimrn (21344) 2008-10-31 21:29

Hi Klaudio,
I think this may be one of the best geothremal scenes I have seen. I think it's the balance between the red-rimmed green pool with its cloud of steam and the blue sky with its cloud. The point of jungle separates the two nicely while the photographer makes a perfect focal point. In addition to the harmoniuos framing, the color detail and note are all outstanding.
HLJ, Pat

cak (4931) 2008-10-31 22:14

perfect coloured thermal springwater .thank u

Atousa (7131) 2008-10-31 22:30

Salam Klaudio,

Wonderful capture of this beautiful nature..colors, clarity n framing are great..the steam has really added to its mood ..TFS
Greetings, A

phwall (6787) 2008-11-01 1:44

Hi Klaudio,
Each time I see and image from New Zealand it reminds me I have to go back there. The last time I was there was 1971 and I can still smell the rotten egg gas. Very nice capture, (as always), the composition letting the steam dominate the right of frame works, and having the other photographer in shot adds the human touch. Great colours, so simple, yet so effective.
Wonderful image.
Regards
Peter

ellelloo (6572) 2008-11-01 4:34

Hello Klaudio,
A spectacular nature phenomenon. You have presented the Champagne Pool in a great way with a good composition, which includes the curving edge of the pool on the foreground, a fellow photographer, the trees on the background and the blue sky with white clouds. The colours are very good and crisp and the depth and sharpness are excellent. Good photojob! Thanks for the informative note too.
Greetings and have a nice weekend,
Lasse

Dyerco (10185) 2008-11-01 5:53

Hi Klaudio
The inclusion of the photographer added human interest as well as scal to this image.
Phil

testmaniac (13508) 2008-11-02 1:07

Hi Klaudio, nice and colorful shot of this wonderful place! Very good photo job with and good composition!

TFS

Phil

Kielia (24077) 2008-11-02 9:41

Hi Klaudio,
great atmosphere, I can imagine how it smells! The colours are fantastic. The photographer is adding a nice human dimension. TFS!
Warm regards
Harriet

Burberry1 (6041) 2008-11-02 9:44

MAN! THIS IS SOOOOO DAMN GOOD.
This perspective is superb!
Light and colors speaking and
U managed to create a great atmosphere.

a g n i e s z k a

cagla (4342) 2008-11-03 8:01

Merhaba Klaudio, You must be so lucky that you were there. The fog or vapor over the pool, the pine forrest behind, the blue sky, the sharpness of the volcanic structure at the shore, everything is wonderful. I'm envy of that man taking photos. Also your detailed note is very useful, thank you. Cagla.

MayaG (2415) 2008-11-09 1:43

O, Novi Zeland!
What a nice and interesting place, Klaudio. Have you grown younger after visiting it? ;p

I like the curve with this strong deep orange vanishing in the background. I think I would even crop the sky out and leave only the human and the trees with this wonderful vapour. Very nice, must have been a great experience!

wolf38 (30) 2008-11-25 9:47

Hello Klaudio. An impressing motive. Beautifully and worth seeing. Ideal a picture for TE. Informative text. Best regards, Wolfgang.

jmdias (116601) 2008-11-30 3:47

klaudio

amazing view. You got to show the place and how beautiful and strange it is, good that curve in brownish colors and the guy in the corner. perfect framing. the mist over the waters and the trees in the BG are other nice details and complete a perfect compo. congratulations

hugs

jorge

narges_samandi (48) 2008-12-13 4:10