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Hardy hiker captures photos of Disappearing Tarn at night

It took a six-hour mountain adventure in the cold and the dark, with two artificial knees, but we think you will agree that 70-year-old Kevin Smith’s effort was worth it for these photos.

Kingston photographer Kevin Smith took this photo of the Disappearing Tarn on kunanyi/Mt Wellington on Saturday night, with Mona's Spectra beam in the sky beyond. Picture: KEVIN SMITH
Kingston photographer Kevin Smith took this photo of the Disappearing Tarn on kunanyi/Mt Wellington on Saturday night, with Mona's Spectra beam in the sky beyond. Picture: KEVIN SMITH

THE Disappearing Tarn on kunanyi/Mt Wellington has been a busy place this past week, but Kingston photographer Kevin Smith had this beautiful spot all to himself when he took these photos.

Mr Smith, 70, who has had both knees replaced, hiked two hours each way to the tarn and back on Saturday night, just so he could capture this beautiful scene at night, with the brilliant beam of Mona’s Spectra in the background.

Picture: KEVIN SMITH
Picture: KEVIN SMITH

“I used to work in police forensics, so I have quite a bit of search and rescue experience, I’m still pretty good on my feet,” he said.

Mr Smith originally planned to capture the tarn at night with the moon above, but was too late leaving home to catch it, but when he realised Spectra was shining, he made a feature of that instead.

Picture: KEVIN SMITH
Picture: KEVIN SMITH

He used the “painting with light” technique to illuminate the dark landscape, using a long exposure and a separate light source, with the distinctive blue hue of the water obvious even at night.

MORE: VISITORS RUSHING TO SEE TARN CREATE TRAFFIC CHAOS

It was freezing cold and he did not get home until 3am Sunday, but the effort was worth it.

Picture: KEVIN SMITH
Picture: KEVIN SMITH

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Original URL: https://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/hardy-hiker-captures-photos-of-disappearing-tarn-at-night/news-story/ce88484a3be433348f829f80ec3b9c2a