Top of the world, a photo from Jammu and Kashmir, North

Photographer's Note

This shot is taken on the Khardung La pass few hundred meters away from the Khardung La top. The day before we had crossed this pass into the Nubra valley and there was not even a hint of snow on the road. It snowed through out the night and in the morning we had the daunting task of crossing the snow covered Khardung La pass to go back to Leh. We waited in North Pulu for 3 hrs as the road was cleared by the Indian Army. As we were moving towards the top of the pass the drive became really treacherous. The back wheel of the vehicle was slipping now and then and it was veering towards the edge of the road. Our driver did not have steel chains to wrap around the wheels. So we had to stop innumerable number of times to collect sand and pebbles from the edge and road and then put them on the tracks of the vehicle. We had a hard and frightening time but that was well compensated by the breath taking natural beauty.
So if you visit Ladakh, before leaving Leh for Nubra valley please see to it that your driver has iron chains to travel on icy roads. The height of Khardung La top is more than 17500 ft, now that is the height of the base camp on Mt. Everest. Being quiet close to the line of perpetual snow, the weather at the top is very unpredictable and snow in the summer months of June and July is common.

williewhistler, rigoletto, mcmtanyel has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Notis (18) 2013-11-22 7:11

Wonderful photo and story. I don't know if this blue look was intentional or not. It would be interesting to see this photo with a different white balance to make the snow white. Blending in photoshop would allow to keep the wonderful sky blue. What was on the right of the road? Maybe the composition would be stronger if the road was not so close to the edge of the image. Wish I could be there to enjoy this view first hand. Thanks for sharing!

adidas5nb (5743) 2013-11-22 17:37

ufffff..oshadharon.really an amazing pic and place.lucky to be there.amazing framing too with the car track breaking the monotony of the white frame.
regards
dwaipayan

subhendu_bagchi (26091) 2013-11-22 22:24

nice view dear Subho. You got it well. Nicely managed light. I think you should go with f/14 or above to get a clear and sharp view throughout the frame. The mountains at background are a bit blurry. I think a narrower aperture can made it sharper. Overall a nice work. Tfs.
S

williewhistler (16606) 2013-11-23 2:08

Hello Subho,
as can sometimes happen with snow scenes there is a slight blue caste to the image,fortunately it does not detract from a very well composed and spectacular view.
Kind regards Les.

Nicou (193806) 2013-11-23 6:17

Hello

quelle vue et compo sueprbe captag eet iamge fnatastique image quelles traces c'est merveilleux avec cette cha螽e de montagne.
bravo et amiti�
Nicou

rigoletto (34279) 2013-11-23 6:40

hi subho. it must have been a really terrifiying drive up there, i can't believe the driver didn't have any steel chains! but as you say, the landscape was a present for your taken risk. i find the color temperature a bit low with so much blue and cyan tint, and made a WS fro you to get a whiter snow all around. i hope you don't mind.

[workshop] [compare] +

jemaflor (147076) 2013-11-27 23:02

Hi S,
Nice mountains landscape, good depth effect with your composition with the perspective of this trail, beautiful light and blue tones.

Silvio1953 (221525) 2013-12-04 10:20

Ciao Subho, great view of fantastic mountains, excellent clarity, splendid light and wonderful colors, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

mcmtanyel (68447) 2013-12-15 21:15

Hello Subho,
I am surprised your driver was allowed to take on this route without snow chains. I agree, the view is breathtaking.
Regards,
MT

Miguel82 (47110) 2014-01-10 7:18

Hello Subho, an unforgettable memory, I went there during summer season, Khardung La belongs to Karakuram Nubra Shyok wildlife sanctuary I saw many marmots on the way to go to the pass. I know that place of Transhimalayas and I can say on the picture you were before the summit and the signs indicating the altitude! Congrats, a brillant picture with high resolution and good light, have a nice evening