Landscape - 1st Place

Gallery: EPA 2013Posted August 29, 20133,296 views55 comments

Resurrection

Probably the biggest challenge for any landscape photographer is to create something unique at an iconic location that has been shot to death.

I've visited Namibia countless times for years and years, and coming up with something new each time is quite a challenge, to put it mildly.

This is a shot that I wanted to make years ago, but fog is quite rare in Deadvlei so I just never got the chance. Until last year.

I'm very pleased that I was able to create something unique in Deadvlei, and that the judges of the 2013 Wildlife Photographer Of The Year Awards liked it as well.

You can read the full story here.

Comments

55 comments

Comment posted by Ben Horne on August 29, 2013 at 10:40 AM

Sweet!!!

Registered on August 27, 2009, 51 Posts, 959 Comments

Comment posted by Yiming Hu on August 29, 2013 at 11:04 AM

Stunning and fresh.

Registered on April 28, 2011, 38 Posts, 733 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Cameron on August 29, 2013 at 11:11 AM

Fabulous compellingly beautiful.

Registered on August 6, 2004, 1125 Posts, 3318 Comments

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on August 29, 2013 at 11:18 AM

Wonderful, Marsel!

I see a bit of cyan in the rays near the tree and in some of the branches in both IE and FireFox. It's minor though, and does not detract from this stunning image.

--P

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

Comment posted by Matt Anderson on August 29, 2013 at 11:25 AM

Marsel this is simply fabulous!
Love your work.

Registered on September 6, 2007, 346 Posts, 2696 Comments

Comment posted by Roel Wijtmans on August 29, 2013 at 11:32 AM

That is simply fantastic! Such a simple yet powerful photo!

Registered on September 30, 2012, 116 Posts, 2257 Comments

Comment posted by Colin H Sillerud on August 29, 2013 at 11:39 AM

Spectacular use of such unique conditions to create something so unique in and of itself.

Registered on May 26, 2011, 17 Posts, 58 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on August 29, 2013 at 11:45 AM

Wow, encounters of the beautiful kind. This is phenomenal Marsel, one of your best.

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

Comment posted by Morris McClung on August 29, 2013 at 12:03 PM

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on August 29, 2013 at 12:03 PM

This is really cool...you definitely succeeded in creating something unique at this location. Wonderful idea and execution.

Registered on August 24, 2009, 123 Posts, 3099 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on August 29, 2013 at 12:17 PM

Beautiful!!! Very haunting image and the blues work really well with it.

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

Comment posted by Navin Sarma on August 29, 2013 at 12:24 PM

Gorgeous, an 11/10. Patience, persistence, and execution

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

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on August 29, 2013 at 1:10 PM

WOW! It's all been said. Wonderful image, Marsel.

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Hartmann on August 29, 2013 at 2:10 PM

Good use of the flashlight and good job being prepared for the chance to use it in this interesting environment.

Registered on January 15, 2009, 13 Posts, 772 Comments

Comment posted by Thomas Haney on August 29, 2013 at 2:20 PM

Amazing image Marsel, and definitely worthy of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition! The composition is perfect with the small trees at lower left and the light rays dominating the scene. What can I say, it's a work of art.

Registered on April 7, 2013, 138 Posts, 537 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Anderson on August 29, 2013 at 3:03 PM

Great story and you had amazing vision and tenacity to pull this off. A truly unique and evocative image! Amazing work as usual!

Registered on January 31, 2006, 228 Posts, 3072 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on August 29, 2013 at 3:16 PM

Wonderful work on this one, Marsel. I enjoyed reading about the planning and implementation story behind this fine image too. The proof of the plan and field work sure paid off nicely as seen here.

Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel & Loana on August 29, 2013 at 4:44 PM

Wonderful shot, Marsel!
D&L

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

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on August 29, 2013 at 6:36 PM

Stunning beauty Marsel! Love the blue tones an gorgeous light.

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Coskun on August 29, 2013 at 6:44 PM

One of the most unique and surreal images I've seen in a while. Love the creativity here. Glad the conditions worked out for this shot so I could see this!

Registered on October 31, 2011, 170 Posts, 1240 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Turner on August 29, 2013 at 7:33 PM

Stunning capture and well rewarded results. Very spiritual.

Registered on February 18, 2012, 534 Posts, 2755 Comments

Comment posted by John Neukirch on August 29, 2013 at 7:37 PM

Absolutely stunning, I'd say you achieved your goal. This image is spectacular and mesmerizing.

Registered on July 9, 2012, 207 Posts, 1476 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Palmieri on August 29, 2013 at 8:24 PM

Spectacular!

Registered on September 1, 2011, 35 Posts, 748 Comments

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on August 29, 2013 at 8:33 PM

Incredible image. Love it

Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments

Comment posted by Joseph Campisi on August 29, 2013 at 11:11 PM

First saw this on FB Marsel. All I can say is...

Registered on November 24, 2008, 304 Posts, 3211 Comments

Comment posted by Jeremy Kessler on August 30, 2013 at 1:24 AM

Stunning

Registered on September 13, 2007, 36 Posts, 1283 Comments

Comment posted by James Fougère on August 30, 2013 at 2:01 AM

I found it very interesting how you described in your link how you study the pool of images captured in a specific area. and how you would strive to reinvent yourself and be creative as an artist. I would safely say that what you have captured here at this highly visited and photographed location is in a league of it's own.

Awesome Capture

Registered on October 25, 2010, 41 Posts, 831 Comments

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on August 30, 2013 at 2:15 AM

super vision, brilliantly executed.

Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on August 30, 2013 at 9:01 AM

Talk about painting with light!! Killer. Image, vision, and execution. Congrats on the award.

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Reid on August 30, 2013 at 9:59 AM

Stunning image Marsel and truly unique. Stark and beautiful. Great determination and visualization. Wonderful image.

Registered on January 27, 2013, 65 Posts, 2460 Comments

Comment posted by Shantikara Valuska on August 30, 2013 at 4:18 PM

Stunning image! And a perfect title for it. Drama on stage.

Registered on July 25, 2011, 38 Posts, 451 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on August 30, 2013 at 4:59 PM

I knew a long time ago that you were gonna be good at this. I just knew it.

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Donovan on August 30, 2013 at 6:16 PM

Been said, but this is such an amazing image Marsel. Congratulations! The story of your perseverance is fantastic!

Registered on August 29, 2013, 11 Posts, 40 Comments

Comment posted by Kathy Barnhart on August 30, 2013 at 10:29 PM

Wonderful photo and really interesting story on the development and implementation of the idea. Wow!

Registered on November 11, 2011, 404 Posts, 1639 Comments

Comment posted by Zack Clothier on August 31, 2013 at 1:51 AM

Fantastic vision and execution, Marsel. Congrats on the award, well deserved.

Registered on January 28, 2010, 343 Posts, 2257 Comments

Comment posted by Abdulmajeed Aljuha on September 1, 2013 at 5:13 AM

I love how you wait all of these years to get a such shot, I can't imagine your feeling while you are shooting it.

well done

Registered on December 4, 2010, 77 Posts, 149 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on September 1, 2013 at 2:09 PM

Amazing shot, Marsel! You have a strong portfolio--but this is right up at the top!

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Moore on September 2, 2013 at 3:51 AM

That is really sweet, and I enjoyed the blog article as well.

Registered on January 12, 2010, 84 Posts, 388 Comments

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on September 2, 2013 at 7:55 AM

It has all been said.

Jagdeep Rajput

Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments

Comment posted by Barry Ashenhurst on September 2, 2013 at 2:27 PM

It rings my bells.

Registered on August 4, 2009, 253 Posts, 455 Comments

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on September 2, 2013 at 4:59 PM

Incredible shot and surely the coolest Deadvlei image ever.

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

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on September 2, 2013 at 6:04 PM

Brilliant! Always love seeing new images from you!

Registered on December 19, 2008, 306 Posts, 4840 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on September 4, 2013 at 10:29 PM

Stunning..
Congrats on the WP, as well as the other Awards!
Sandy

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

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on September 7, 2013 at 5:25 PM

Outstanding!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 474 Posts, 5555 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on September 8, 2013 at 8:25 AM

Your vision superbly captured Marsel. An amazing photograph

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Kory Lidstrom on September 8, 2013 at 3:01 PM

AMAZING work. I read the full story and loved it. Pre-visualizing something and then making it happen is the highest form of photography in my opinion.

Registered on November 19, 2008, 49 Posts, 1035 Comments

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on September 10, 2013 at 10:44 PM

Many congratulations on this, Marsel! You've certainly taken nature photography to another level - a celestial one!

Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments

Comment posted by Balan Vinod on September 15, 2013 at 12:33 PM

Hey Marsel ..congrats on the wp !! ...lol

Balan Vinod

Registered on March 20, 2006, 889 Posts, 2312 Comments

Comment posted by Gary McGhee on September 26, 2013 at 3:11 PM

Amazing shot Marsel.

Gary.

Registered on April 15, 2010, 142 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Joe James on September 29, 2013 at 9:02 PM

Another stunning image Marsel!

Registered on November 20, 2009, 89 Posts, 808 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on January 5, 2014 at 6:25 PM

Hey Marsel,

Very, very ethereal and very, very nice. The simplicity of this is both sublime and beautiful.

Congrats on the EPA...well-deserved!

Cheers...

Brad

Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments

Comment posted by Ingrid Vekemans on January 6, 2014 at 1:44 PM

Congrats on the EPA, Marsel. It's a beautiful and inspiring image.

Grt, Ingrid.

Registered on August 2, 2010, 138 Posts, 780 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on January 6, 2014 at 2:31 PM

Marsel, I want to be like you when I grow up. Just fantastic. Congratulations.

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on January 6, 2014 at 10:54 PM

Just stunning - congrats on the 2013 Landscape win!
We're heading to Namibia in May. This will inspire me!
Sandy

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

Comment posted by Basri Akcasoy on January 7, 2014 at 2:47 PM

Marsel, congratulations...
Thank you very much for sharing this amazing shot with us.

Registered on February 16, 2012, 118 Posts, 767 Comments