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2 men on a mountain
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2 men on a mountain

by Geoffrey Baker

Gallery: LandscapePosted September 16, 2010420 views15 comments
Can you see them?, they're up near the top

This was taken on "Corn Ddu" which leads to "Pen y Fan" which is the tallest mountain in South Wales.

3 of us decided to climb it one Winter's Sunday, it was a few degrees above freezing at the base, no problem we thought

We had the usual Winter's clothing on but nothing like the clothing we needed up there as we later found out.

We got this far and took a few shots before my hands went past being cold, then numb, then they stung as though I'd put them in boiling water, I was the only one who forgot to take gloves.

Ice crystals were forming all over us and the clouds were dropping.
The wind was gale force up there, (just a breeze at the base) and it was more like a down draft, coming almost vertical down the mountain, never experienced anything like it before, it was difficult to stand, I was pressing down hard on my tripod while taking this photo.

I dread to think what the wind chill temperature was, must've been -20 or thereabouts I guess.

My friends helped me pack away my camera and we turned back, leaving it to the better equipped climbers
It took about half an hour before I could feel my hands again.

Minolta Dynax 7D
Sigma 10-20 EX
1/3 second
f25
ISO 100
12mm

Comments

15 comments
Comment posted by Taylor Reed on September 16, 2010 at 9:39 AM
Really cool shot. I thought this was an ocean wave from the thumbnail
Registered on February 18, 2010, 26 Posts, 556 Comments
Comment posted by Andrew Finlayson on September 16, 2010 at 9:48 AM
What an amazing shot, I had the same thought as Taylor from the thumb. Feels like I'm about to drop in :)
Registered on July 29, 2010, 26 Posts, 404 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Chambers on September 16, 2010 at 10:54 AM
Neat shot Geoffrey, and interesting story too. This portrays the conditions very well.
Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments
Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on September 16, 2010 at 11:29 AM
Very nice comp, Geoffrey. It feels very wave-like with the frosted grass being the white foam at the crest. I'm shivering just reading your experience.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments
Comment posted by Soubhik Patranabis on September 16, 2010 at 11:34 AM
Whatever Taylor said.
Nice shot.
Registered on January 25, 2010, 54 Posts, 610 Comments
Comment posted by Eva McDermott on September 16, 2010 at 11:58 AM
Looks like brutal conditions up there Geoffrey! Interesting image and story.
Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Siggins on September 16, 2010 at 12:37 PM
I'm impressed you took the time to put together this well composed shot given how cold it was. The two hikers add to the interest.

I too thought it was a wave in the thumbnail!
Registered on October 11, 2007, 115 Posts, 223 Comments
Comment posted by dean hebert on September 16, 2010 at 1:12 PM
As an element I think the hikers are a bit small but overall I like the shot. I might consider cropping the left side to remove the blue sky and keep my attention leading straight to the hikers and the conditions that they are in. Just my 2 cents.
Registered on August 4, 2010, 70 Posts, 1132 Comments
Comment posted by Luis Argerich on September 16, 2010 at 2:08 PM
Very nice I also thought it looked like a wave that makes the image very intriguing.
Registered on December 22, 2009, 91 Posts, 1349 Comments
Comment posted by John Williams on September 16, 2010 at 4:17 PM
Brrr... I can feel the cold. Very unique effect with the sweep of the hill, frost and fog.
Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments
Comment posted by Michael Dreese on September 16, 2010 at 6:09 PM
This image has a unique 3D feel to it. Nicely composed!
Registered on June 1, 2010, 18 Posts, 51 Comments
Comment posted by Doug Roane on September 16, 2010 at 6:30 PM
a great shot for your efforts - really gives the feeling of cold and harsh. I love the simplicity and lines in the comp :toast:
Registered on December 12, 2008, 213 Posts, 2226 Comments
Comment posted by Dorin Bofan on September 17, 2010 at 9:25 AM
Excellent capture of the difficult conditions you guys went through. Superb!
Registered on April 30, 2007, 122 Posts, 3086 Comments
Comment posted by Alessandro Carboni on September 17, 2010 at 11:35 AM
it seems a big wave.
i like this image, what a creativity!!
congrats
Registered on January 21, 2010, 20 Posts, 98 Comments
Comment posted by Nicolas Belokurov on September 18, 2010 at 2:12 PM
What a great way of combining people and landscape. The comp and the light are top notch.
Registered on July 22, 2009, 41 Posts, 533 Comments