Mount Gahinga Crater

Gallery: LandscapePosted July 5, 2011222 views9 comments

Hi,

this image shows a view at the swamp inside the crater of Mount Gahinga (a.k.a. Mgahinga) which is one of the volcanoes in the Virungas mountain chain at the borders of Rwanda and Uganda. Actually the place that you see on this photo is the border: I shot this, when I was standing in Uganda, and Rwanda is already on the other bank of the swamp. The crater is at altitude of 3,473 m above sea level. The mist visible here above the swamp was a cloud. The wind had blown it off the swamp for about a minute, and I could take a photo. Of course, I shot many images from different points - but each time I had to wait till the wind reveals the swamp.

Shooting data: 21 mm, ISO 100, f/16, 1/40s, GND filter, tripod

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on July 5, 2011 at 9:03 PM

Nice image. I like the depth and the colors. The cloud adds to the feeling of the image.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Anand Narayanan on July 5, 2011 at 9:13 PM

This one is such a pleasure to view. So refreshing to see something from the tropics. The foreground vegetation is just incredible !

I would love to just sit there and stare at that swamp for eternity !

Registered on October 25, 2009, 110 Posts, 835 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on July 5, 2011 at 9:52 PM

Fascinating place. I really like the depth in the comp and the sense of scale it adds to the scene.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments

Comment posted by Jack Brauer on July 5, 2011 at 11:15 PM

Wonderful shot! The cloud mist really adds to the mysterious/exotic allure of the photo.

Registered on September 12, 2005, 40 Posts, 627 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Smorra on July 6, 2011 at 12:19 AM

This is very nice Arthur. It feels very tropical to me. I like the comp with the foreground plants and the swamp below. No nits from me.

Registered on November 2, 2009, 161 Posts, 2143 Comments

Comment posted by Aaron Feinberg on July 6, 2011 at 5:06 PM

That is a very very cool place. Nice documentary shot

aF

Registered on October 26, 2009, 399 Posts, 2789 Comments

Comment posted by Barry Ashenhurst on July 7, 2011 at 4:28 AM

Captivating visually Arthur, and interesting for me as someone who has never photographed Africa. The landscape has an ancient quality. Nor have you found it necessary to 'goose reality' in capturing the moment. I would like to see this place.

Registered on August 4, 2009, 253 Posts, 455 Comments

Comment posted by Arthur Tiutenko on July 7, 2011 at 7:35 AM

I really appreciate your feedback, guys! Thank you very much!

Barry, such landscapes aren't common also in Arica. This place is quite high in the mountains, and this is why its original look remained. Certainly, if it were the Alps in Europe, there were a cable railway to bring tourists, a paved road around the swamp, and at least one restaurant at each side of the border... In Africa, only Kilimanjaro may soon come to a similar level of landscape destruction. Other mountains are still in quite original state. Other areas on African continent that are more suitable for economic use are already overpopulated and economically overexploited. Substantial "goosing of reality" is therefore quite often necessary - for instance, in photographs of savanna.

Registered on July 9, 2009, 9 Posts, 95 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on July 7, 2011 at 5:18 PM

Interesting and very atmospheric image here Arthur!

Looks good.

Registered on June 19, 2009, 276 Posts, 6240 Comments