Himalayan Sands

Gallery: LandscapePosted November 25, 2011657 views19 comments

An untouched, pristine dune would have been nice....I found one, finally, with no paw, hoof or footprints....came back when the sun was lower, and a four-pawed friend had left an autograph....
the white sands of Nubra and the golden mountains of Ladakh in pre-sunset light.
Unfortunately, the sunset didn't happen...so much can change in a few minutes...
Single RAW file processed twice and hand-blended for sand and sky exposures.
Nikkon D700, Nikkor 17-35mm @ 17mm,
1/10 s @ f/16, ISO 100

Comments

19 comments

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on November 25, 2011 at 6:14 PM

Wow, what a vast image - the water seems out of place in the desert. The warm and cool tones really work well together in this shot. The blues look a little too saturated for my tastes -a slight crop off the top eliminates the strong blue band up there and would be an improvement for me. Wonderful find and capture.

Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments

Comment posted by John Fan on November 25, 2011 at 6:31 PM

Magnificent image! I like the texture, curve and reflection. I wish you have a wider lens than 17mm.

Registered on August 24, 2010, 135 Posts, 489 Comments

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on November 25, 2011 at 6:48 PM

The shift from dark blue/gray to almost blown-out white in the sand doesn't look very accurate IMO. Maybe some color shift from a lot of dodging there but that white spot really pops out at me vs the soft, natural light atop the dune at left. I would take a much more gentle processing approach on the dune but the rest looks very good compositionally IMO. I'm glad to see photographs of new places!

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

Comment posted by Hillary Younger on November 25, 2011 at 7:01 PM

I see what you mean Mark....will go back for a gentler treatment...thanks for the comment and advice!

Registered on October 2, 2011, 17 Posts, 167 Comments

Comment posted by Aaron Feinberg on November 25, 2011 at 7:09 PM

Pretty amazing place. The dappling of light is sick. Saturation looks a little strong all over though. Nice work!

aF

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

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on November 25, 2011 at 9:16 PM

Hillary,

I too really like the dappled light here and the composition is excellent. Even the "imperfect" footprints add a nice touch to the scene. I would agree with Marc that the processing is a bit heavy; for me specifically the contrast, but honestly you're not that far off from nailing this one. Thanks for posting.

Lon

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

Comment posted by Rick Goldwasser on November 25, 2011 at 10:29 PM

Wow, a reallyu unique shot with the sand and water pool and the curve really works weel to lead me through the image...great stuff!

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

Comment posted by Daniel & Loana on November 26, 2011 at 10:10 AM

Wonderful shot! Even if sunset was not as good as you expected the light is great. Great composition too.

Congrats

D&L

Registered on October 7, 2008, 166 Posts, 3044 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on November 26, 2011 at 10:17 AM

That's a complex and intriguing composition. While I like the contrasting colors, I could see balancing the light a bit more to open up the shadows.

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

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on November 26, 2011 at 1:12 PM

Great light and color. For me, the small animal trail in the FG really makes this special.

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by David Edwards on November 26, 2011 at 9:51 PM

A beautiful image, Hillary. Love the strong contrast and rich color. The yellow and blue really play well together here. Nice lines leading from the fg dune into the image. I think the animal tracks add to the experience. Nice one!

Registered on December 6, 2008, 142 Posts, 2623 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on November 26, 2011 at 11:07 PM

You got a talent with those landscapes! Nice shot and love how the line, from left to right brings you in...

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

Comment posted by Hillary Younger on November 26, 2011 at 11:29 PM

Thank you all once again for a positive and extremely helpful critique!

Registered on October 2, 2011, 17 Posts, 167 Comments

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on November 27, 2011 at 6:18 AM

Exceptional composition and overall a very compelling landscape image. My tastes are for a less contrasty processing, the transitions between shadow and light look a bit 'off' and the bright patch of sand, which has a different colour cast compared to the rest also seems strange.

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

Comment posted by Miro Susta on November 27, 2011 at 9:06 AM

Excellent image. I like the BG mountains with colorful sky as well as the very nice reflection. Well done indeed.

Registered on August 18, 2006, 719 Posts, 3736 Comments

Comment posted by R.Bill Moser on November 27, 2011 at 2:28 PM

Excellent composition. I would go for a less contrasty processing just like Kah Kit suggested. But it's a great image as is.

Registered on January 29, 2010, 285 Posts, 4281 Comments

Comment posted by Sandipan Dutta on November 28, 2011 at 1:28 AM

We don't see images from Himalayas very often in this forum and this one is special. Like the textures on the sand and the reflection too is magnificent. Wonderful work Hillary... will be looking forward to more images like this taken by you in the Ladakh region.

Registered on March 9, 2009, 171 Posts, 493 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on November 28, 2011 at 7:21 PM

What a stunning photograph! I am musing over whether a splendid sunset might actually have ruined the subtle sinuous light that makes this so expressive. The autograph is an added bonus- solitary, mysterious, witness joined to you in the spirit of the moment...

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Pelton on November 28, 2011 at 10:55 PM

Wow, what a scene and I love your compostion. Blue is a little strong.

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