Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Landscape & Nature Photography => Topic started by: shadowblade on April 18, 2012, 08:31:25 pm

Title: Shape of Sand - Gobi Desert, Mongolia
Post by: shadowblade on April 18, 2012, 08:31:25 pm: Sand dunes at sunset at Khongorin Els, in Mongolia's Gobi Desert.

Taken with Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM and Canon EF 1.4x II teleconverter at 280mm.
Title: Re: Shape of Sand - Gobi Desert, Mongolia
Post by: Tony Jay on April 18, 2012, 08:33:34 pm: Great study of light.

Regards

Tony Jay
Title: Re: Shape of Sand - Gobi Desert, Mongolia
Post by: Dale Villeponteaux on April 18, 2012, 09:48:04 pm: I'm beginning to wonder if shadowblade is a pseudonym for John Paul Caponigro.
Title: Re: Shape of Sand - Gobi Desert, Mongolia
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on April 19, 2012, 12:16:46 am: Quote from: Dale Villeponteaux on April 18, 2012, 09:48:04 pm
I'm beginning to wonder if shadowblade is a pseudonym for John Paul Caponigro.
They both do fantastic stuff with colors.
Title: Re: Shape of Sand - Gobi Desert, Mongolia
Post by: EduPerez on April 19, 2012, 03:08:14 am: As all the images that you have posted here... wonderful!
Title: Re: Shape of Sand - Gobi Desert, Mongolia
Post by: brandtb on April 19, 2012, 05:18:43 am: Great image
Title: Re: Shape of Sand - Gobi Desert, Mongolia
Post by: francois on April 19, 2012, 06:44:47 am: Absolutely spectacular! You got not only a nice shape but also a wonderful light.

Bravo!!!
Title: Re: Shape of Sand - Gobi Desert, Mongolia
Post by: John R Smith on April 19, 2012, 02:15:48 pm: Stunning, of course.

But just why is it so good? First, we have a perfect and beautifully balanced composition. The eye is led through the frame on a classic 'S' curve, bottom left to top right. Notice how the curve itself, formed by the peak of the dune, enters and exits from the corners of the frame, always good but often hard to do. This 'S' curve on its own would be placed too far across the frame, but it has been expertly balanced by the intersecting dune flank which anchors it to the left border. Then there is the distribution of light - brightest at the extreme right, reducing in receding planes across the image towards the left. The top left of the picture is left to darkness, as it should be, with no attempt to lift the shadows. This increases the drama of the image. Lastly there is the richness of colour and texture on the brightly lit right-hand flank, reminding us of molten bronze or gold.

This is a pretty damn good dune picture, Mr or Ms shadowblade. I bet you didn't need us to tell you that, did you?

John
Title: Re: Shape of Sand - Gobi Desert, Mongolia
Post by: louoates on April 19, 2012, 02:34:55 pm: + to the nth power.
Title: Re: Shape of Sand - Gobi Desert, Mongolia
Post by: shadowblade on April 26, 2012, 08:40:48 am: Quote from: Dale Villeponteaux on April 18, 2012, 09:48:04 pm
I'm beginning to wonder if shadowblade is a pseudonym for John Paul Caponigro.

He's not (primarily) a landscape photographer, though, is he?
Title: Re: Shape of Sand - Gobi Desert, Mongolia
Post by: MTGFender on April 27, 2012, 12:09:14 pm: A piece of art! Light is just amazing.
Pramote