Vlei of the Dead

Gallery: LandscapePosted December 13, 2016241 views21 comments

On our recent road-trip through Namibia, we couldn't resist also making our way to the now-famous Dead Vlei in the Namib desert.
I had been here before in 1995, but we didn't even know about this spot back then, and only visited the larger Sossusvlei.

The problem these days is that a place that is photographed as often as this can risk not feeling new and jawdropping on your first visit. Nevertheless, I was happy with some of the images I walked away with here. Some more thoughts:
http://bit.ly/thosetrees

Techs:
Nikon D3s
Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 VR-II @ 145mm
f11 | 1/400 SS | ISO-200

Comments

21 comments

Comment posted by Dan Kearl on December 13, 2016 at 6:28 PM

One of the better images I have seen from here Morkel. you really nailed the comp with
the tree grouping and the Dune slope and light. Excellent...

Registered on September 2, 2013, 209 Posts, 1514 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Gettle on December 13, 2016 at 8:09 PM

Love the simple graphic nature of this shot. Color likely would be a distraction.

Registered on November 29, 2016, 36 Posts, 111 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on December 14, 2016 at 5:42 AM

I like the delicate processing and tones of this. My eye wants the trees centered a little bit more so that the highest tree trunk is just to the right of the largest and brightest section of dune. Sounds like a great trip out there.

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

Comment posted by Mattia Oliviero on December 14, 2016 at 8:17 AM

This is a really good image, Morkel. The graphic effect is very nice and the BW is perfect. It would be curious to see the colors version.

Mattia

Registered on August 24, 2016, 43 Posts, 254 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on December 14, 2016 at 11:09 AM

Absolutely beautiful Morkel. I've never seen one from Namibia with the diagonal dune/hill in the BG before and that certainly brings this image to the forefront. I'm on a crappy work monitor so take this with a grain of salt but I might increase contrast a bit. I also wish the top of the main tree didn't break the plane of the dune, but that's very minor. All in all an exquisite image.

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

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on December 14, 2016 at 11:57 AM

This is excellent, Morkel. I like that you kept the high key look, which provides very nice luminosity, and open shadows. The composition is spot-on.
--P

Registered on November 1, 2003, 471 Posts, 5188 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Moreau on December 14, 2016 at 12:56 PM

This is a great comp and light, but I'm not sure how I feel about the b&w. It could be because I know the deep rich orange color of the place, but I feel like all those midtone grays in the background would be much more interesting in color. Perhaps this is another side effect of a place being photographed a lot.

Registered on April 21, 2015, 64 Posts, 584 Comments

Comment posted by Marylynne Diggs on December 14, 2016 at 2:38 PM

Absolutely fabulous, Morkel. I love the starkness and drama. No nits to be found.
ML

Registered on December 14, 2010, 122 Posts, 1034 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on December 14, 2016 at 5:32 PM

It's hard to tire of images from this place and region. The starkness and simplicity really sets this place apart. You've done very well to give us another pleasing rendition from here. B&W works beautifully here.

Lon

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

Comment posted by Dave Dillemuth on December 14, 2016 at 8:31 PM

Wow, this is excellent! A strong, very graphic image. B&W rendering works great.

Registered on December 10, 2015, 104 Posts, 1112 Comments

Comment posted by Genny K. on December 15, 2016 at 1:02 AM

That is very striking, and somewhat eerie. It just grabs your attention, and doesn't let go. I think it is a very strong image. It is simple and stark. Well done!

Registered on June 5, 2006, 132 Posts, 2001 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on December 15, 2016 at 2:57 PM

Thank you all kindly...

Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments

Comment posted by Danny Laureys on December 16, 2016 at 12:43 AM

Excellent image!

Registered on January 5, 2008, 590 Posts, 1261 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Richter on December 16, 2016 at 10:38 AM

This is a kind of minimalist approach that is very appealing to me and consistent with the scene. Your b&w processing underlines your interpretation aptly in my opinion.

Peter

Registered on November 10, 2010, 218 Posts, 2723 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on December 16, 2016 at 5:10 PM

Beautiful. I really like the high key look and the starkness of the place really comes across with the B&W treatment and overall processing. Excellent take on the locale.

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

Comment posted by Vance Gese on December 16, 2016 at 7:50 PM

Love the starkness, the stunning lines and geometric designs, the gorgeous textures, everything. An outstanding image.

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

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on December 17, 2016 at 8:25 AM

A really effective bw image which works so well because of the light play behind on the dunes.

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

Comment posted by Navin Sarma on December 17, 2016 at 9:30 PM

This is an amazing shot Morkel. Every detail of this comp adds to the image, including the subtle shadows of the trees. I love the sidelight you captured on the dunes, works really nicely and adds a significant graphic quality to this

Registered on July 17, 2011, 233 Posts, 1373 Comments

Comment posted by Aaron Feinberg on December 18, 2016 at 12:44 AM

Always love this area...dig this image and different presentation. Only nit is getting that one branch below the horizon of the dune...which might not have been possible depending on tripod height. Great work.

aF

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

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on December 24, 2016 at 4:39 AM

Thanks to everyone who commented!

Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on December 29, 2016 at 8:25 PM

Sure wish we'd known about this place when we were there!
Stark and very dramatic - and the B&W conversion is perfect. Took me a few seconds to realize the silhouette in the BG is one of the red sand dunes. You left just enough detail to make it out and add some intrigue.
Very exceptional image - congrats on a fine WP.
Sandy

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