Bo-Huei Huang, A New Year’s Reflection (PLACES WILDERNESS 2026)

Standing at the edge of this alpine lake along the Routeburn Track, I watched the first light of 2024 slowly illuminate the jagged mountain peaks. The air was remarkably still, making the lake a perfect mirror for the awakening wilderness and the drifting, low-lying mist. Capturing the first sunrise of the year in such an isolated, majestic environment felt deeply grounding, emphasising the timelessness of the New Zealand backcountry.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.