There’s something quietly transformative about standing above the clouds. The world softens, slows down, and for a moment, everything seems exactly as it should be.

These photos were taken during an early morning hike near Lake Wānaka in New Zealand, one of those rare places where earth, sky, and water come together in perfect symmetry. The first image, taken just after dawn, captures the stillness of the lake as the mountains begin to catch the light. A few wisps of cloud drift low over the valley, and in the distance, the Southern Alps stretch out like a dream you haven’t quite woken from.

Later that morning, the second image was taken as the sun crested the range. The peaks lit up in hues of pink and lavender, a reminder that sometimes, nature shows off just because it can. I remember standing there — cold hands wrapped around a coffee thermos, boots soaked in morning dew — and just watching. No music, no notifications, no rush. Just breath, sky, and silence.

What strikes me most about moments like this is how grounding they are. As a software engineer, I spend so much time immersed in digital worlds — writing code, designing systems, shaping virtual spaces. But being here, high above it all, reminds me of the real systems we so often forget to marvel at: the way the light moves, the timing of a breeze, how a mountain wears snow.

It’s these quiet adventures that inspire everything else I do — in design, in writing code, even in the music I choose to soundtrack my workdays. Nature doesn’t follow strict rules or design systems with clean lines — but somehow, it all works together, beautifully.

If you ever find yourself in Aotearoa, I can’t recommend this part of the South Island enough. Bring a camera, sure. But mostly, bring your presence.

Until the next trail,
— Max