Dead and Dusty, a photo from Hardap, South

Photographer's Note

Over hundreds of years it became so dry in Dead Vlei that not only did the trees die, but it became too dry for the trees to even decompose, and they simply scorched black in the sun and became petrified monuments.

The trees, now over a 1000 years old (it is believed they were living for some 200 years before the climate shifted again), form a barren forest of ancient dead trees, frozen much as they were some 900 years ago.

Suppiluliuma, InasiaJones, Kofman, siudzi, SnapRJW, timecapturer, bayno, Bartleby, jjcordier, Angshu ha puntuado esta nota como útil.

Critiques | Translate

JFS (32459) 2011-06-14 22:39

Simplicity is the whole beauty of this image. Magical scene. thanks Wanda!

FlyPrm (391) 2011-06-14 22:42

I just want to say WOW!
Wonderful Work Of Wanda!
Heel mooie foto!
Fulya

Suppiluliuma (3931) 2011-06-14 22:50

Crystal clear, delighted by the circular polariser, I guess.

As a nit-picking, I would prefer a slightly larger frame on the right and top, to have a more breathing space for the dead tree. :-)

TFS Dear Wanda.

Erdem

InasiaJones (31566) 2011-06-14 23:37

Hi Wanda,

With this photo, you are showing that a strong composition can be made out of simple elements, if you know how to cleverly organize them.

First, the root in foreground that guides us into the image, straight from the lower corner. Then I can see the care for details with the similar distance you have kept between branches and the frame - the one at top and the one on left side - just as you did with the last tree in the background.

The horizon is placed on a line of third and your low point of view allows the branches to stand out against the blue sky. Nice tones, soft light and lots of textures.

Impeccable.

André
XXX

wolf38 (30) 2011-06-14 23:41

Hi Wanda. Really a strong photo. Composition, Light and colours are perfekt. Best tecchnical quality. Compoliments for this subtle landscape. Rgds,Wolfgang.

bostankorkulugu (42866) 2011-06-15 0:03

with all these vivid colours this place doesn't seem to be dead at all :P... beautiful shot wanda...

kisses

korkut

siudzi (34141) 2011-06-15 1:49

Hi Wanda,
What a great shot with an interesting note! Like how you built that composition focus on the dead tree in the foreground. Very good work. Congrats!
Cheers, Malgorzata

SnapRJW (31631) 2011-06-15 3:06

A considered composition Wanda, the tree root leading the way into the frame, the branch and root/shadow on the left embracing the small group of trees. Very attractive earthy colours and a nicely graduated blue sky. I hope you don't mind if I add this one to my Namibian Landscapes theme. Nice job. Kind regards Rosemary

PS. Looks like the water has gone!

mporterf (558) 2011-06-15 4:20

Wonderful photo Wanda! I think the thing that would make this better would be not to have cropped out the top and right sides of the tree. Even still the contrast and colors are great.

timecapturer (49288) 2011-06-15 5:36

Hi Wanda
an evocative and stunning composition. Perfect clarity and the light management is impressive. I love it! Excellent use of the shadows to bring out detail but also create atmosphere. Wonderful work!

Regards - Brian

bayno (18348) 2011-06-15 7:13

Hi Wanda,
but where we are? on the moon? spectacular shot, the colors are amazing, perfect framing and exceptional clarity.
Cheers,
Valter

Bartleby (13552) 2011-06-15 11:47

Hi Wanda,
Love this! The composition is really pleasing to the eye and those colors!...wonderful! Impressive place!

Philippe

Jeppo (17645) 2011-06-15 12:13

hi Wanda,

I think the charme of Namibian Landscape also depends on the light...
in this shot light is not so brilliant.... I personally prefer the landscape with more vivid colours...but this doesn't mean I don't like the shot. on the contrary!!!!

I think there's a constant element in every namibian landscape: a vivid haze-free bright blue sky

tfs
silvio

jjcordier (79299) 2011-06-15 21:29

Wanda
La combinaison désert-arbres morts donne une composition des plus intéressantes. Très bonne qualité d'image. Mon seul petit regret vient du cadrage trop décalé à gauche et qui coupe la branche à droite de l'image.
Amicalement
JJ

jugnutoor (1017) 2011-06-16 11:32

Hi Wanda, beautiful composition, nice colors, beautiful POV, contrasts are really beautiful very impressive.

regards
Jugnu Toor

tusharkmandal (3173) 2011-06-16 11:49

Hi Wanda,

A nice composition with beautiful vertical presentation. The minimal composition with dry trees gives it a different look. Have you tried it in grayscale to see how it looks like. I am sure it will look great.

Nice times
Tushar

abmdsudi (95869) 2011-06-17 20:21

Hi Wanda
Fascinating location, these trees still stand firmly despite the age the way they crumble that they are dead and look as if they have had a tough life in the desert. Love the texture, the jaggedness and starkness with the sand dune in subtle light and colors and the shadow really shows the depth. Simple, but very effective and strong impact. The contrasting blue sky really offset each other so well. A spectacular scene, great capture. Congrats
Best regards

kmangwani (352) 2011-06-19 23:44

Love the transition from whitish to brown to blue all connected by the dead tree.

Kumar

Elaine_Blath (8471) 2011-06-20 4:00

Hi Wanda,

another great photo from Namibia, place I wish to see (or better to say: one of many places I wish to see). Interesting, lonely and catchy, this stand-alone tree works well as a desert photo subject.

Have a nice day, Ivana

Angshu (56760) 2011-06-22 22:02

Dag dear Wanda
These trees are almost iconic of the dead valley in Namibia. Normally we see a wider & landscape shot of these dead trees...you shot is a novelty, focussing on one of the trees. The vertical format works well with good contrast between the cool blue of the sky & the warm tones of the sky. Evidence of the salt on the ground! Good work!
Best Regards
Angshu

npecanhuk (79329) 2011-07-01 17:39

Hi Wanda!
That place is so arid, it looks like from another World, with unique colors, shapes and textures!
It's also very much photographed, because it's certainy a superb subject for great images!
IMHO, you did a superb job with it and the visual results are magnificent!
TFS - congrats,
Have a great week-end,
Neyvan

emilbo (22616) 2011-07-06 5:43

Allô Wanda!
Merveilleuse photo et très intéressant cet arbre mort sur un sol désertique. Une photo de grande qualité que j'adore. Les petits arbres plus loin ajoutent de l'intérêt à la photo. parfait éclairage et merveilleuse harmonie de couleurs.
Toutes mes félicitations et merci de ta visite,
Emilius