Alone on the Wall #2, a photo from Hebei, North

Photographer's Note

This is the Jinshanling (金山嶺) section, which literally translates as 'gold mountain range'. I guess it refers to the how the wall is like a golden line along these ridges or perhaps at winter how these brown bushes look golden under warm sunlight.

We started here early morning and reached the Simatai section in the afternoon (see previous post). From this angle, one is looking towards west; which meant left was imperial China and right was land of the 'northern people'.

Hope you like this pic, any comments would be very welcome!

Silvio1953, KevRyan, marknunnerley, rhizomes, plimrn, feather, ktanska, kevinos, lasscor ha puntuado esta nota como útil.

Critiques | Translate

Silvio1953 (220637) 2007-01-06 4:20

Hello Cheuk, splendid view of the great wall, wonderful colors, great perspective, very well done, ciao Silvio

KevRyan (22956) 2007-01-06 5:08

I think there is something incredibly sophisticated in this image...whether consciously undertaken or simply seen and valued as an image without conceptual compositional awareness is of little consequence.....this is a little gem of leading the eye into the frame and maintaining the compositional role through the whole image........first you lead us on the diagonal - bottom left - superbly arranged entrance to the walkway...good definition, contrast, colour and sharpness - through a point of interest up to this tower on the right .....we then read back across the whole picture - a strong and varied horizontal and then tracing our line - back across the whole picture again.......you have created one of my favourite compositional forms - the S shape...here flattened out somewhat in the landscape format but nevertheless extremely effective.....a very nicely framed and executed image Cheuk.

best wishes Kev

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ben4321 (9875) 2007-01-06 5:51

A superbly balanced composition Cheuk. I like how the wall leads out from the left corner, and the position of the tower on the right provides a natural resting place for the eye before following the sweeping line of the wall into the hazy distance.
Is that a layer of frost on the wall? Must have been cold.
Good work.

Cheers,
Ben

delkoo (68) 2007-01-06 8:26

hi cheuk
what a beautiful landscape,i do likeThe wall which winds in the top of hill such a big caterpillar.

excellent

didier

vincz (19113) 2007-01-06 9:38

Very nice composition on the Great Wall making us realize the immesity. To the infinity and beyond! Well done with great light.

marknunnerley (2780) 2007-01-06 13:36

At first I didn't think this was as strong as the first post, but on second thoughts it does have a better reading as Kev points out. I always like the lead in from left to right as this is the natural way we read things in the western world. A great capture again Cheuk. A lovely part of the world,
br
mark

rhizomes (15343) 2007-01-07 4:33

Hi Cheuk,
This is an impressive view of the wall ! Colors are so fantastic and the wall leads the eye through this landscape. Great work !
Christophe

PixelTerror (0) 2007-01-07 7:19

Hi Cheuk Hin,
Despite the hazy sky we can see here well how it snakes over the mountains till the far end, it's also surprisingly empty here, quite different from other points (Badaling ?) where photos can't avoid masses of tourists, finally I prefer this virgin looking part !
Have a nice day,
Jean-Yves

feather (51130) 2007-01-07 8:10

I am really enjoying your Great Wall series. The light on the closer part of the image is good allowing for lots of tiny detail to be discerned. I can't better KevRyan's description of the composition; it is simply first class. It's not just the line of the wall but also the ridges in the moutain that also direct our attention if our gaze should waver. Very good work.
Kath

Kenny10pin (19301) 2007-01-07 8:37

very nice mist around the Great wall, nice winter shot, well done

manub (920) 2007-01-07 8:49

I prefer this one rather than your previous one, though the landscape was more complex in the other.
But here, what I especially like, apart from the fact that is absolutely empty form tourists (whish i could go there to one day), is the wonderful light (mix of warm light in the foreground and fog in the background) that you caught.
emmanuel

ktanska (44484) 2007-01-08 3:56

Hi CheukHin,
Beautiful scene with wintery atmosphere. Never been there but seen many pictures with tourists ad certainly appreciate lonely looking one. (Was there lots of people behind you? :))
As the sky is featureless it could be even better if you aimed a little lower to show less of it.
Kari

capthaddock (28790) 2007-01-09 10:06

Hi Cheuk Hin - initially I thought the colours were remnants of autumn, good to clarify that it's because of a good low light, I must visit this section one day, pushy bus groups appear to be absent.

kevinos (7517) 2007-01-09 23:02

Hi Cheuk. It's so difficult to photograph things that have become standard pictures but you have found a way to make it look fresh and different I like bold composition and the subdued colouring. It is very atmospheric. regards Kevin

mphotographies (1976) 2007-01-10 1:57

Hey Cheuk,

I like the 'ancient' tones here, the warm golden tones that atmospheres these marvelous man-made structure ever build!

WOW!

om

coco (30439) 2007-01-12 17:45

Hi Cheuk.

Really a very nice photo of this famous place.
The depth and composition are good, as also the touching light.

Simple and good.

Have a nice weekend.

veronika (6058) 2007-01-14 9:45

Hi Cheuk Hin,
this is sooo huge :) unbelievable view for me, like it so much!
Has a spirit inside.
Nice sunday
Vero

Mistral (15416) 2007-01-15 16:35

Ni hao Cheuk
Impressive image of such a great monument!
Very good PoV and execution. The wall line lead our eye along all the image...
A smile
Luca

kensimage (8563) 2007-01-20 13:06

Beautifully framed, Cheuk Hin, it really leads the eye back and forth across the frame. You dealt well with the haze by making sure there was plenty of interest in the foreground, especially the golden light. You could perhaps show even less sky, since it's so bland, but it's very well done as it is. Makes me want to go there! Regards, Ken.

lasscor (7640) 2007-01-21 17:40

Hi Cheuck,
Wonderful composition.
Wonderful wall, perspective, landscape, colors and light.
Nice peaceful atmosphere.
TFS,
Corinne

tinamunk3 (6408) 2007-01-28 13:48

Hi Cheuk,

What a view of the great wall with such a great light on it. I like how we can see the wall wind through the landscape......clear in the front and the slowly fading out.

Well captured with a well chosen pov.

:) Tina