Every once in a while, when out photographing, one comes upon a scene that is totally unexpected, yet completely compelling to capture with the camera.

This particular image is one I came across very early one morning in New Zealand, while I was on my way to see Milford Sound (my real photographic objective that day).

I remember the morning air was very cold, damp & foggy, and a strong frost covered the fields. The chill in the air was the kind to get right through your clothes to the inside of your bones.

Then I saw this scene. I just had to stop, set up the camera and capture this photograph, which I later turned into the digital watercolor that you see here.

For me, the simplicity of this scene whispers the winter secrets of that day…