Deadvlei in Pastel

Magnificent. Just amazing, Kah Kit.

Very surreal.
Almost Dali-esque.
I like it!

--Mel.

Wow! This is pretty cool (well, maybe a little hot, too). Wierd and wonderful, Kah

A lovely shot, Kah Kit. The soft tone is nice, and I like the quiet and calm mood you've captured. I also like the way you've arranged the simple elements in your comp. The lighting may be a little flat, but the more I look at it, the more I get absorbed!

The comp is very good and the pastel colored sky really puts this one over the top. Well done!

Beautiful!! Perhaps the best shot I have seen from there. Soft light and pastel colors look spectacular. Excellent work.

Such wonderful light and color Kah Kit. A very peaceful and calming scene.

Yes, this is beautiful. It seems somewhat original from here too. At least I don't think I have seen this shot at this time, with this kind of light/color. It is usually shown with some direct light. I like it.

Chris

A beautifully serene image, Kah Kit. I like the interplay of warm and cool tones in this scene along with the pastels.

Ed

Very nice colors and comp. I don't think I have ever been in an area like this--thanks for sharing this one.

Really something different from this "hyper-photographed" location. I love the blueish-magenta sky and how it beautifully contrasts with the bright sand.
Very nice work, Kah Kit.

Paolo

What a wild landscape--cool!

This is a tremendously oft-photographed location. I really have become inured to most new photos I see from here, but, this is different. The soft, pastel approach you have chosen here is a fresh change from the high-contrast or high-drama images usually seen from this location.

Often photographers seem inspired by the surreal landscape to try and match the surreality of the subject with a somewhat surreal approach (vivid saturation, very high contrast, strong direct light, sun-stars, star-trails, infrared, false-color B&W, etc . . .). While these approaches often create a stunning image, I often feel that they don't let the truly amazing quality of the location itself come out as easily as it should.

Your image really allows the landscape to speak for itself. I love it.

Wow Kah Kit, absolutely otherworldly landscape! Where is this?

Just awesome. The play between the trees and the mountains make the special light and landscape even more special

OK, I found out, it's Namibia. Thought it was Africa!

What a place!

What I really appreciate from this picture is the care that you put in the composition:
the main tree is placed in such a way that the right branch echoes the shape of the dune while the other main tree on the left is not allowed to break into the sky.

I do not know the orientation of this spot, and I am sure you thought of it as well: it would be really cool to have the moon on the left side of the sky.

gio

This is VERY nice, Kah. The composition has such great design and I love the way the colors are playing off each other.

How come we don't see more from you these days.

Really like the other-worldly look here. The "flat" light doesn't bother me at all - I think this is a great time for photos.

I second Ian's sentiment regarding your choice for time of day to photograph here. The majority of the images I've seen from this spot include direct sunlight. Your twilight version is refreshing. I also like your inclusion of the distant trees. They help create the added dimension of depth.

Ah, how I long to visit Dead Vlei and more broadly South Africa. Beautiful imagery like this doesn't make it any easier.

Dead Vlei typically is reknown for offering contrasty scenes with interesting shadow patterns to work with, this more muted approach is an excellent deviation from the norm, though.

Near perfect arrangement of elements. Superb colors. Gorgeous sky and color contrasts.

I really like how the three different bands of colour with the ground, hills are sky are all working together here Kah Kit.The placement of the trees is spot on for the composition.

Awesome shot, Kah !! I have dreams about going to this place to see these trees... the central (L) tree has awesome personality.

I have seen many of these photos and this is a good one!

Excellent framing of the trees within the scene. That's what makes this great, IMHO.

Simply Awesome!

I wish i can visit this place
the contrast is really nice. also, your composition
Fantastic Kah Kit

I think this is a great composition. The colors are beautiful too. Such gorgeous light.

Great comp Mr. Yoong

I like the perfect contrast in 3 layers :)

me too .... i hope to visit this place one day

well done

Regards,

Hamed

Your images are so special, they convey such simple yet different vision. Amazingly beautiful.

This is a very careful composition in that merges were avoided as much as possible, but I think there might be better compositions there. I would walk all around trying to make that foreground tree direct interest to the rest, rather than point away from them. I'd like to see the triangles of the distant hills on the right not clipped by that tree. Maybe moving the tripod to your right and back would let you frame some of the distant and dead trees under that arching branch free of the glowing hillsides...

Pete D. just wishing I was there

Years ago I saw some big prints taken in that area in similar dusk lighting that were rather impressive. Because a good part of my body of work is trees and tree snags, I was immediately envious and looking at your fine frame leaves me with the same hunger. Such a unique landscape that may be unique in the world. Congrats on actually making the effort to visit that remote location in Africa and then bringing back a keeper. As for your framing, its the kind of frame I like to build with exceptionally good geometries carefully tweaked within a frame.