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Towering Tentacles
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Towering Tentacles

by Morkel Erasmus

Gallery: LandscapePosted January 6, 2017112 views10 comments

Visiting Dead Vlei in Namibia can be daunting if you've seen plenty of photos taken by others at this location. Nevertheless, I tried to capture my own vision of the place - whether I succeeded is open to discussion.
 

This photo was included in my personal 2016 photographic review on my blog. You can check out the post here: http://bit.ly/Morkel2016

 

Techs:

Nikon D800

Nikkor 14-24mm f2.8 @ 15mm

f16  |  1/15 SS  |  ISO-200

Comments

10 comments
Comment posted by Dave Dillemuth on January 6, 2017 at 11:31 AM
Very nice! Excellent framing choice.
Registered on December 10, 2015, 104 Posts, 1112 Comments
Comment posted by gary phillips on January 6, 2017 at 12:17 PM
I think you succeeded very well in an original presentation.  I love the graphic quality of the dead trees framing what we typically see from this local.  I think this would make a very dramatic monochrome presentation with the lovely tones in the foreground trees and gradient in the sky.
Registered on October 24, 2013, 185 Posts, 4136 Comments
Comment posted by Sharron Sims on January 6, 2017 at 8:51 PM
Very nice. I like the way the foreground trees are positioned in relation to the trees in the background.
 
Registered on April 28, 2014, 54 Posts, 166 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Gavin on January 6, 2017 at 9:28 PM
I agree with the other comments. Splendid, different image from this iconic place. There are a couple of white marks that can easily be removed; one above and between the M and o in your signature and the other top middle.
Registered on August 14, 2008, 293 Posts, 1250 Comments
Comment posted by Stephen Stanton on January 6, 2017 at 11:26 PM
I don' t know the area,Morkel, but your perspective is pleasing wonderful...magnificent balance of colors, shapes and forms.   
Registered on March 1, 2015, 54 Posts, 453 Comments
Comment posted by Igor Doncov on January 7, 2017 at 12:22 PM
This is a really great image IMO, better than your previous b&w. It's unique and really beautiful. Much of that comes from the 3 layers in different colors. Small suggestions: 1. I would try lifting the shadows just a tad on the right side of the trunk on the left. 2. I would make the far trees pure black. 3. I might clone out those distant bushes. None of these are major changes and this is great just the way it is.

PS. You might raise the luminance of the orange hills a tad but keep the color saturation as is.
Registered on November 22, 2014, 189 Posts, 2733 Comments
Comment posted by Lon Overacker on January 7, 2017 at 2:42 PM
Morkel,

Terrific image from here and a great and different take on composition from this popular location.  Well seen and captured.

I would agree with Jim on the little spots of white.  at first the main one top, middle I thought was a blurry crescent moon, but then noticed the other white spots below the signature and branch.  Must have been remnants of some scattered high clouds?  Not a big deal, but I think given the graphic nature and design that you've crafted, I think cloning them out would work well.

Great work on your 2016 images.  Your wildlife images are always top notch.  "Chaos at the river" is epic.

Lon
Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments
Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on January 8, 2017 at 12:10 PM
Thanks a lot folks. Glad you appreciate this one.
The white spots are little bits of high cloud indeed. Might remove them for a print version eventually.
Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments
Comment posted by Ryan Shain on January 8, 2017 at 7:15 PM
Hi Morkel,

This image is a fine example of excellent framing, comp, exposure, and a strong graphic nature that I truly enjoy!!!! The use of the fg trees works so well with the mg and bg trees. Love this one man!!!!
Registered on February 20, 2007, 226 Posts, 4571 Comments
Comment posted by Lucy Aron on January 17, 2017 at 9:58 PM
Wonderful conposition esp with the receding perspective of the stark trees.
Registered on February 25, 2011, 189 Posts, 1160 Comments