Into the Light

Gallery: LandscapePosted June 14, 20091,152 views57 comments

Sossuvlei, Namib-Naufluk NP, Namibia

This may well be my favourite shot from the trip. It was certainly the most thrilling scene to photograph. Winnie and I spent the afternoon exploring the large dunes. As the sun set I was perched in an elevated position to capture the last light of the day hitting some of the lower dunes. Most of the area was already in shadow. I noticed a lone oryx approach the last dune still illuminated by light and hoped it would reach the crest. Just as it was about to do so, it appeared to head down the slope again. However in the dying seconds of light left it changed direction again and walked across the peak.

Canon 1DsMkIII, 300mm 4L IS, handheld, ISO 400, f4, 1/1000.

Comments

57 comments

Comment posted by Eric Vaughan on June 14, 2009 at 1:49 PM

What can you say, OUTSTANDING! Don't get much better than this.

Registered on April 29, 2009, 57 Posts, 670 Comments

Comment posted by Igor on June 14, 2009 at 1:50 PM

Wow! That's pretty dramatic.

Registered on February 22, 2009, 12 Posts, 618 Comments

Comment posted by Jason Sheriff on June 14, 2009 at 1:54 PM

I cant quite get my head around how the contrasting dark and light sections are possible but however you managed it, this is really fantastic Kah Kit. Keep them coming.........

Registered on January 16, 2009, 5 Posts, 60 Comments

Comment posted by Joseph Campisi on June 14, 2009 at 1:56 PM

Wow Kah Kit, very unique and powerful shot! Would have given me chills to witness this!
The only thing I might do would be to crop out some of the black on the bottom, top, and left side. Awesome capture!

Registered on November 24, 2008, 304 Posts, 3211 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on June 14, 2009 at 2:02 PM

An amazing opportunity and capture, Kah. A truly beautiful scene.

Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments

Comment posted by Michael VanBeber on June 14, 2009 at 2:03 PM

I only have one word “WOW”!

Registered on February 27, 2009, 34 Posts, 183 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Baumbach on June 14, 2009 at 2:10 PM

What luck. Very powerful image.

- Dan.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 473 Posts, 7980 Comments

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on June 14, 2009 at 2:16 PM

Perfect catch!

Registered on January 26, 2007, 360 Posts, 9876 Comments

Comment posted by Erik Stensland on June 14, 2009 at 2:24 PM

This is amazing. Help me understand why the sky behind looks black. Is there a higher dune behind the animal? This is really incredible Kah Kit!!!

Registered on September 27, 2004, 121 Posts, 718 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on June 14, 2009 at 2:26 PM

only 4 words - yikes, perfect, EP material!

sandy r

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Abdullaziz Bin Ali on June 14, 2009 at 2:39 PM

What a great photo

Lighting here is more than great

at least you got awesome shot :-)

Waiting for your next art Yoong

Abdullaziz

Registered on May 31, 2009, 112 Posts, 1590 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on June 14, 2009 at 2:43 PM

Spectacular!

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on June 14, 2009 at 2:46 PM

Thanks for the comments. An explanation for the lighting, the oryx is on a lower dune. There is a plateau behind in shadow. I increased the contrast and let much of the shadowed areas go to black to simplify the design of the composition. There is no sky in the shot.

Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on June 14, 2009 at 2:53 PM

One of the best play on light I've seen. Fantastic.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Windom on June 14, 2009 at 3:09 PM

Post this over in Fauna and run away with the annual EP....fantastic image. The lighting, color, scale.....all top notch.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 176 Posts, 2302 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Sieren on June 14, 2009 at 3:13 PM

Awesome night shot! Love it!!

Registered on January 2, 2008, 360 Posts, 5321 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel Ewert on June 14, 2009 at 3:16 PM

This is pretty incredible. Well done!

Edit: I can't stop clicking on this picture. One of the strongest images I have seen this year.

Registered on June 2, 2009, 103 Posts, 1500 Comments

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on June 14, 2009 at 3:31 PM

Wow, that's some really incredible light, and with the Oryx you've got a real winner of an image. The light does look almost artificial in contrast and direction - I'd be interested in seeing a version with slightly less contrast enhancement as I think it would help improve the 'believability', and would not really hurt the composition/impact.

Registered on December 19, 2008, 306 Posts, 4840 Comments

Comment posted by David Cobb on June 14, 2009 at 3:35 PM

It doesn't get much better than this. Right light, right place, and the know-how to pull off the shot. Great image!

David M. Cobb

Registered on December 14, 2007, 312 Posts, 3243 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on June 14, 2009 at 3:40 PM

Amazing impact with the light you captured! Outstanding!!!!

Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments

Comment posted by Tien-Chien Chen on June 14, 2009 at 3:54 PM

Isn't that the magic hour all of us wait for? Bravo.

Registered on September 2, 2005, 34 Posts, 225 Comments

Comment posted by Dorin Bofan on June 14, 2009 at 4:42 PM

Amazing image, Kah Kit! I followed your other posts from the Namibia trip and I must say you have very strong additions to your already wonderful portfolio.

Registered on April 30, 2007, 122 Posts, 3086 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Pelton on June 14, 2009 at 4:54 PM

Wow, this is stunning, Kah Kit.

Registered on November 25, 2003, 380 Posts, 4647 Comments

Comment posted by Zack Schnepf on June 14, 2009 at 5:10 PM

incredible image indeed. This is one of the more unique images I've seen in a while. Well done!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 403 Posts, 2528 Comments

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on June 14, 2009 at 5:10 PM

Incredible image. Almost certainly my all-time favorite of yours. Such a rare and special moment captured to perfection.

Registered on September 17, 2005, 780 Posts, 8091 Comments

Comment posted by Greg Cope on June 14, 2009 at 5:22 PM

Nothing much to say except that this has got to be one of your best...it certainly is now one of my favorites of yours.

Registered on January 22, 2007, 212 Posts, 2737 Comments

Comment posted by S Govindarajan on June 14, 2009 at 5:43 PM

Masterful! Great use of light and great read of the moment.

Registered on April 19, 2008, 115 Posts, 1921 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on June 14, 2009 at 7:11 PM

WOW! Not much to say except that this is one of the most dramatic landscape/wildlife images I have seen. Excellent!

Chris

Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments

Comment posted by Martin Stankiewicz on June 14, 2009 at 7:25 PM

Amazing shot! The oryx is a perfect additional to this scene. I also love the way the ridge line just disappears into the shadows.

Registered on October 26, 2008, 52 Posts, 462 Comments

Comment posted by Rui Vieira on June 14, 2009 at 7:59 PM

WOW... fantastic image Kah. One of the best images I've seen in a while.

Registered on September 11, 2008, 39 Posts, 246 Comments

Comment posted by Guy Tal on June 14, 2009 at 8:02 PM

Kah Kit, this is one of the best nature images I have ever seen, from any photographer. A true masterpiece.

Guy

Registered on November 1, 2003, 566 Posts, 15507 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Lowe on June 14, 2009 at 8:50 PM

Talk about serendipity. This is an amazing image, Kah Kit. I love the dramatic light and the side pose of the oryx.

Ed

Registered on February 7, 2004, 414 Posts, 7115 Comments

Comment posted by Alex Mody on June 14, 2009 at 9:03 PM

The deep shadows are a bit confusing to me, but I think this is still a fine image. Well done.

Registered on December 25, 2007, 163 Posts, 1896 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on June 14, 2009 at 9:41 PM

Very cool!

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Younes Bounhar on June 14, 2009 at 9:47 PM

SPECTACULAR! This is a terrific combination of great vision, skills required to take advantage of of luck when it comes knocking :) Well seen and captured.
I would also like to see a slightly less contrasty vision as Floris suggested, the dark/light transition on the RHS is a bit overpowering.

Registered on November 25, 2007, 81 Posts, 1234 Comments

Comment posted by Arnab Banerjee on June 14, 2009 at 10:27 PM

I love it, but want to see it with less contrast. The high constrast makes it almost unreal, artificially-lit like - not a bad thing as you probably envisioned that way

Registered on January 3, 2007, 313 Posts, 2270 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on June 14, 2009 at 10:33 PM

Kah,

EXTRAORDINARY! Most all has been said... but I'm not sure if National Geographic has been mentioned. I'm sure you're already making plans, but this has huge potential and should be marketed pronto!

Sandy/all - Yes, this would certainly be a weekly NP and Annual contender... But alas, Kah is on staff at NPN and therfore not eligible.

I have no doubt that this image will bring great rewards.

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Pramod Viswanath on June 14, 2009 at 10:36 PM

Fabulous image! Such moments are rare and when it happens, we cherish for a lifetime. Just love the spot light effect here. High impact image!

Registered on December 4, 2008, 60 Posts, 697 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Goldwasser on June 14, 2009 at 11:35 PM

I'm speechless - magic hour indeed!

Registered on May 10, 2009, 127 Posts, 970 Comments

Comment posted by Mike Dawson on June 15, 2009 at 12:40 AM

Wow, what amazing timing and light, Congrats on a great image!

Registered on February 4, 2006, 364 Posts, 8872 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Pelzmann on June 15, 2009 at 12:49 AM

SUPERB ! Congrats on a great image.

Registered on January 26, 2005, 27 Posts, 265 Comments

Comment posted by Pramod Viswanath on June 15, 2009 at 1:27 AM

Fabulous image! Such moments are rare and when it happens, we cherish for a lifetime. Just love the spot light effect here. High impact image!

Registered on December 4, 2008, 60 Posts, 697 Comments

Comment posted by Prashant Khapane on June 15, 2009 at 5:00 AM

i still can not imagine how the rear part of the image is so black unless it is a higher dune. Incredible image nevertheless.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 492 Posts, 4580 Comments

Comment posted by Sebastien Lamadon on June 15, 2009 at 5:07 AM

This is a killer !!!

Seb

Registered on April 7, 2008, 23 Posts, 97 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Maile on June 15, 2009 at 5:30 AM

at first glance, I thought it was a macro of some tiny creature. Beautiful colors, balance, the whole package. Amazing Kah Kit, thank you!!

Registered on March 2, 2009, 984 Posts, 2518 Comments

Comment posted by Paulo A.Lopes on June 15, 2009 at 8:24 AM

Award winning for sure. Amazing Kah,

Registered on October 14, 2008, 122 Posts, 836 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Plant on June 15, 2009 at 11:59 AM

totally kick ass!

Registered on July 7, 2008, 271 Posts, 1657 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Richins on June 15, 2009 at 12:04 PM

Marvelous capture. How did you get the wildlife to cooperate?

Registered on March 6, 2008, 113 Posts, 1009 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Lawson on June 15, 2009 at 12:07 PM

Fantastic. Looks like he's pausing before walking into the darkness on the left side.

Registered on March 3, 2008, 29 Posts, 337 Comments

Comment posted by Andreas Resch on June 15, 2009 at 2:06 PM

That's a killer shot, Kah. The vignette adds a lot of mood here. Love it.

Registered on November 14, 2007, 322 Posts, 6101 Comments

Comment posted by Rajeev Thomas on June 15, 2009 at 2:27 PM

Kah... never seen anything like this one! And I don't think I will ever one also... I think I can just delete all of photos after seeing this one. Once in a life time, rare shot...your best so far!!

regards, Rajeev.

Registered on February 20, 2008, 0 Posts, 291 Comments

Comment posted by Vance Gese on June 15, 2009 at 3:21 PM

One phenomenal and exquisite image. Simply amazing.

Registered on November 13, 2008, 298 Posts, 6629 Comments

Comment posted by Joseph Rossbach on June 15, 2009 at 4:25 PM

I am speechless Kah

Registered on November 25, 2005, 484 Posts, 1377 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Mason on June 15, 2009 at 6:09 PM

Congratulations on a breathtaking image! I agree it would be interesting to see a version with less contrast for comparison, but I can't imagine it could be better than this.

Registered on December 14, 2005, 399 Posts, 2305 Comments

Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on June 15, 2009 at 7:50 PM

Awesome!

Registered on July 26, 2007, 244 Posts, 2807 Comments

Comment posted by Karsten Wrobel on June 16, 2009 at 3:36 AM

Pure magic, this blows my mind...
also wonderful how the ridge of the back dune fades into the bg on the left

Registered on November 1, 2008, 117 Posts, 851 Comments

Comment posted by Anil Rao on June 16, 2009 at 6:13 AM

One of the best nature photographs I have seen. Absolutely brilliant, Kah.

Registered on November 15, 2003, 234 Posts, 4923 Comments