Author(s): Arno Gastieger; Philip Temple

Pictorial

Shortlistd for the 2004 Montana NZ Book Awards,Illustrative section.Central Otago, a dramatic landscape of big skies, waving tussock and sweeping mountain vistas, occupies a special place in the minds and hearts of everyone who goes there. Rich in myth and history, Central Otago always seems to be evolving. From the gold rushes of the nineteenth century through to the 'new gold' of tourism and wine-making, this region appears to be constantly adapting and changing. But the extraordinary landscape remains the same, never losing its power to excite the senses.Arno Gasteiger's photographs, taken across a variety of seasons, capture many of the constant and sometimes inconstant elements that make up this unique part of New Zealand. Dunedin author Philip Temple describes the history and development of an area he loves to explore.Philip Temple has been exploring Central Otago for forty years. It has featured in several of his many novels, non-fiction books and guides. He has won a number of fellowships and awards for his work, most recently the Montana Book Award for Biography and the 2003 Creative New Zealand Berlin Writer's Residency.Arno Gasteiger was born in Austria and now lives with his family in Auckland. A former New Zealand Geographic photographer, Gasteiger has exhibited in Australia, New Zealand, Austria and Germany. He has been awarded the Cathay Pacific Photographer of the Year and the American Express Photographer of the Year awards and many of his works are held in collections in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Gasteiger has a special interest in the landscape of Central Otago.