~ into thin air ~, a photo from Xinjiang, West

Photographer's Note

A shot taken from Karakoram Highway 5000m elevation, the highest paved border crossing in the world. From red wine sandstone hills to the sand mountains around Karakul Lake and the Pamir Plateau, there are so many different colours as the land changed constantly to go with the elevation. This is partially frozen valley east of the great lake which is almost barren there, next sand and dirt hills, up to rocky slopes to glacier covered mountains.

Seeing this entire arena of mountains is dramatic indeed and you can spot on the bottom third lhc of picture, those are yurts - round white moveable houses- belong to the Khirgiz people who tend to herds of camel, donkeys, yaks and sheep.

Little post processing has been done on this photo other than pushing the contrast slightly to represent that mood a little better.

Taken on a cold spring morning in partly overcast weather.

Setting: 90mm, 1/320sec, F20, ISO Raw 100, 0916 hrs

daddo, COSTANTINO, papagolf21, Fis2, holmertz, Royaldevon, jhm, PiotrF, adramad, delpeoples, alvaraalto, s_lush, kordinator, lucasgalodoido, mcmtanyel has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

daddo (28696) 2016-10-22 2:09

Spectacular, awe-inspiring landscape in which the yurts are made to look minuscule. Hardy nomads are the worthy inhabitants of such a pure landscape. I presume someone sitting in some party office in Han China has got plans on how to "civilise" these nomads and have them settle down in some souls apartment blocks. The colours and shading are so refined despite the actual harshness of the place. Salam. Klaudio.

BennyV (24763) 2016-10-22 2:27

Like a scene from another world, or from a 19th century journey of discovery to southpole. Terrific picture, dear Abmdsudi. Thanks for sharing it.

Benny

COSTANTINO (81958) 2016-10-22 2:27

Hello dear friend and have a nice time
original version
amazing composition with no life
a different shot from you indeed
a photo taken from Karakoram Highway
5ooom elevation the highest paved border
first shot quality you are a very good
photographer
regards
Costantino

pajaran (80065) 2016-10-22 2:34

Dobar dan.
Lep pogled, dobar tekst ...
Dobar rad, kompozicija, perspektiva i kontrast, lepo uhvacen trenutak, lepa panorama.
Lepa priroda.
Lepo popodne i sve najbolje za vikend, srecno.
Paja.

Good day.
Beautiful view, good text ...
Good work, composition, perspective and contrast beautifully captured moment, a beautiful panorama.
Beautiful nature.
Nice afternoon and all the best for the weekend, good luck.

papagolf21 (130389) 2016-10-22 3:07

Bonjour, cher Abmdsudi,
Encore un paysage 彋onnant qui fait froid dans le dos et qui pourtant 幦erveille.
Belle pr廥entation.
Amiti廥.
Philippe

Fis2 (126419) 2016-10-22 4:35

Witaj Abmdsudi!
Beautiful landscape, amazing mountains.
Good POV and colors.
Well done.
Nice evening.
Krzysztof

holmertz (72309) 2016-10-22 5:00

Hello Abmdsudi,
The mountains are beautiful but this is above all a composition of very beautiful colours within a rather limited range of tones. It is literally a breathtaking view and I can only feen a deep respect for the people who have learned to live their lives in this tough environment.
Kind regards,
Gert

Sergiom (106233) 2016-10-22 7:13

Bonjour Abmdsudi,

J'aime vraiment 幯orm幦ent ce paysage glaciaire.Le point de vue est extraordinaire et le cadrage excellent ainsi que la mise au point. Le ciel tortur� apporte des textures tr鋊 int廨essantes.

Amicalement

Serge

Nicou (171632) 2016-10-22 8:06

Hello

Merveilleuse vue et d嶰or quelle compo et vue quel rendu et compo ces montagnes quelle neige et image avec les belle traces en premier plan la glace superbe et ces pentes de montagne merveilleux.
Bravo et amiti�
Nicou

rychem (57313) 2016-10-22 8:42

This is a wow photo, so can we imagine these mountains in their full beauty, simply an amazing photo
regards Ryszard

Cricri (144116) 2016-10-22 9:40

Hi Abmdsudi
Merveilleux paysage, j'aime les teintes , le ciel brumeux avec un coin de ciel bleu, fantastique
best regard
cricri

Royaldevon (54686) 2016-10-22 10:04

Hello Aabmdsudi,

This is an eye-catching photograph!
The mountains do look icy, in fact, they remind me of pictures that are produced from silk threads, beautiful in every way.
It was not until I read your notes that I recognised the yurts.
On seeing those, the mountains took on a whole new perspective and a massive scale.

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

Silvio1953 (174170) 2016-10-22 11:31

Ciao Abmsudi, fascinating mountain landscape, wonderful cold colors and splendid light, very well done, my friend, have a good, week end, ciao Silvio

GyurMaster (12270) 2016-10-22 13:18

Dear abmdsudi,

You photographed a very picturesque, yet very moody and severe landscape. The picture really has a feel of endless space.

Best Wishes
Gy.

lousat (110347) 2016-10-23 1:56

Waaw! A great gift to who like landscapes like that as me! Fantastic view,looks Iceland in winter,and the pic seems a peinture,absolutely great the show available from this border cross...i wish to be there! Have a nice Sunday and thanks for this very interesting post,Luciano

jhm (177562) 2016-10-23 3:33

Hello Abmdsudi,

A very nice mountain landscape picture with snowy peaks.
Also nice depth and perspective, the foreground is a nice addition.
Composition and presentation are superb.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice Sunday,
John.

PiotrF (35044) 2016-10-23 7:39

Hello Abmdsudi,
Wonderful picture from Karakoram Highway, beautiful mountains landscape.Perfect exposure and good color saturation.Perspective and depth are excellent taken.Fine presentation.
For me superb!
Regards
Piotr

Vato_Law (12732) 2016-10-23 8:07

The tones reflect well what you say in your note, it was cold. But surely it was well worth getting out to appreciate this amazing view.

Love this criss-croos of lighten/dark zones.

Paulo

adramad (57114) 2016-10-23 12:46

Hello Abmdsudi.
Breathtaking scenery, this superb view, ideal this flat part in the foreground, then show the towering mountains, completely covered with snow,
Very good color that highlights the image.
Magnificent management brightness and sharpness, to enjoy the details.
Very well done. I like it.
Have a good start to the week.
Best wishes.
Luis.

federico (5077) 2016-10-23 14:18

hello Abmdsudi, wondefull and icing landscape here, great atmosphere, great inspiration, perfect lighting and colors
regards
Fred

shreya2000 (2809) 2016-10-24 0:32

Namaste Ab sir,

Thats a dreamland image. Fantastic one.

Only the lower part need a bit sharpness and lighting here.

Regards,
joginder

delpeoples (60286) 2016-10-24 2:32

Ciao dear Abmdsudi

This looks like a painting. The light and textures are truly impressive and give the impression of three dimensions. I love the muted tones and the effect of the snow on the far-off ridges. A sensational shot, congratulations.

Warmest wishes
Lisa

alvaraalto (30518) 2016-10-24 4:25

A very spectacular place on 5000 m high on the highway. Indeed what you could call a high way, but I think not the kind of a broad 4 or 6 lane highway in our country.
A very fascinating picture with good colour management.
Groet Rob

grigand (20272) 2016-10-24 4:39

Hi abmdsudi,
Wonderful scene ! a very nice compo, the light and colors created a perfect atmosphere of these mountains.
well done
ciao
Andrea

mkamionka (46119) 2016-10-24 13:38

Hi Abmdsudi,
very impressive landscape. Monumental mountains with such a flat plain in the foreground. I like the almost black and white effect here. It has a mystical touch.
Very well seen and captured,
M

s_lush (16602) 2016-10-25 10:25

Hello, Abmdsudi,
A very harsh, but highly beautiful, landscape. Your picture reproduces colors and atmosphere of highlands perfectly well. The composition, management of light, colors and quality are excellent here. Thanks for the comprehensive and informative note.
My warmest regards,
Sergiy

kordinator (15497) 2016-10-26 0:55

Dear Abndsudi
An impressive mountainscape you captured.
Nice shapes and relief forms.
I like colors a lot.
Excellent composed image.
Kind regards
Sa惨

lucasgalodoido (25728) 2016-10-27 16:12

Ol� Abmdsudi,
impressionante a beleza dessa paisagem mesmo, e as cores e contraste ficaram muito bons. Belo trabalho.
Parab幯s e Abra蔞,
Lucas

claudeD (43740) 2016-10-27 23:41

Hello,
wow what an amazing landscape picture from over 5000m elevation. Very good composition, fine light managment and sharpness. I like this view very much.Very well done.TFS.

WIth regards from Luxembourg

JC

gervaso (23393) 2016-10-28 3:20

Hello, Abmdsudi!

The snowy mountains almost merging with the clouds look great, it's a wonderful landscape captured with very good colors and sharpness! Very nice job!

mcmtanyel (42831) 2016-10-28 22:05

Hello Abmdsudi,
This is an impressive photo of these majestic mountains showing the rugged and cold terrain with great impact. Congratulations and TFS!
Regards,
MT

kasianowak (12445) 2016-11-01 15:04

Hi Abmdsudi
Seeing this photo sent my heart racing - I have just come back from there, the Karakoram Highway. Missed Karakul, having got stuck at the border, with Khunjerab Pass closed for several days. I then had to race against time to catch my flight back home from Urumqi. I may never go to Xinjiang again...
Beauty of the landscape aside, this is a great photo that shows the classic majesty of the Karakoram with some dark slopes on the background of snow-capped peaks. The sky looks like a stain of ink.
Best wishes
Kasia

npecanhuk (79319) 2016-11-24 0:59

Hello Abmdsudi!
Magnificent natural environment!
Wonderful picture, with special regards to the exposure, colors and composition!
TFS - congrats,
Cheers
Neyvan

SolarSky (82) 2017-04-15 14:35

Wonderful landscape photo. Classic, on the wall. Congrats.