Split, a photo from Eastern, East

Photographer's Note

Just outside the borders of Tsavo West National Park and surrounded by volcanic peaks and cones lie the Shetani Lava Flows. This alien landscape is harsh and almost completely without vegetation. Cracks craze through the brittle clinker-like crust confirming that this area is still prone to the shifting of the tectonic plates which formed the Rift Valley. The black flow is of 8 km long, 1.6 km wide and 5 meters deep, is the remains of volcanic eruptions which were the subject of tales among local communities who named the flow "shetani" meaning evil or devil in Kiswahili after it spewed from the earth just 240 years old.

See the WS for a wider view of the landscape.

This photograph is copyright of Rosemary Walden - © Rosemary Walden 2013. All rights reserved. Any redistribution or reproduction of the image in any form is prohibited. You may not, except with my express written permission, copy, reproduce, download, distribute or exploit the content. Nor may you transmit it or store it in any other website or other form of electronic retrieval system

lousat, Kofman, timecapturer, siudzi, Hansaphotos, ChrisJ, worldcitizen, PaulVDV, ikeharel, tyro, tyro, jjcordier, abmdsudi, Didi, delpeoples has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

lousat (57510) 2013-03-04 4:19

Hi Rosemary,a great choice of the point of view to show us so in this neverending perspective! Great and interesting phenomenon and spectacular details and colors,nice WS too,i like it!Have a nice week and thanks,Luciano

timecapturer (30190) 2013-03-04 4:53

Hi Rosemary
amazing shot this. Your POV and creative composition really works. The sharpness and detailing are superb and this is so original and fascinating. A powerful image and presentation. Like it a lot!

Have a great week - regards Brian.

Sergiom (39078) 2013-03-04 5:06

Bonjour Rosemary,

Le cadrage vertical allonge encore plus la déchirure dans la terre. C'est presque une faille qui se prolonge jusqu'à l'horizon. Ta position devait être un peu inconfortable.

Amicalement

Serge

siudzi (23831) 2013-03-04 5:25

Hi Rosemary,
This place looks very lonely as well as mysterious. Like the way you used the black crack to build the perspective of the shot. The visual effect is great and makes the view interesting. Well done!

Best,
Gosia

JFS (32027) 2013-03-04 5:34

Impressive pic Rosemary! And you took it on the same edge! Risky work....but you got a great image. Thanks!
Cheers,
Juan

Hansaphotos (5417) 2013-03-04 5:53

Hello Rosemary

Imposing nature scene. I`ve seen a similar phenomenon on Iceland. Your very low point of view here give us an almost neverending impression of this natural created gap. The few green bushes creates a nice contrast in the barren landscape. Very nice work, and informative note:) TFS. Have a good week.

Best regards, Erling

ChrisJ (86766) 2013-03-04 6:53

Hi Rosemary,

A good illustration of the powerful tectonic forces beneath our feet. The Great African rift valley is steadily widening and eventually will be filled with seawater similar to the red sea. Ive read that this will spell the end of the Serengeti :-( But that's about 50 to 100 million years in the future. Good colour, sharpness and framing. Tfs!

carlo62 (12434) 2013-03-04 9:04

Ciao Rosemary
un'immagine molto impressionante, da quasi i brividi.
Bello il pov scelto, con la linea che attraversa tutta la foto in senso verticale.
Saluti
Carlo

PaulVDV (15017) 2013-03-04 9:14

Hello Rosemary,
Definitely not a place to go walking in the dark :)
The vertical format provides a wonderful presentation of this remarkable nature phenomenon.
Best regards, Paul

ikeharel (37190) 2013-03-04 10:06

Good evening Rosemary,
That's what I like on TE, seeing such phenomenon that is unique and yet explainable: Vulcanic flow cracked with time and temp. differentials between daytime heat and night's cold.
A fantastic clear view from POV taken.
Regards,
Ike

Noel_Byrne (7209) 2013-03-04 11:49

Hi Rosemary,
I can see why this was named as such, it does look dark and scary n there, and it's easy to picture this as a gateway to a darker hotter place.
When I see this, and think of that poor guy who died in the sinkhole in his own house, I can't help but shudder. You have a great perspective on ths rather spooky place.
All the best
Noel

ACL1978 (5689) 2013-03-04 13:35

Ah, the Rift Valley... now we're getting close to one of my dream destinations, Ethiopia. But Kenya will have to do :)

I like this presentation a lot, with the widening crack threatening to suck us all in. Nice long view as well, out to the mountains beyond, led by the rift itself - a vast area, well captured.

Thanks!
Andrew

tyro (13009) 2013-03-04 16:44

Hello Rosemary,

What a fascinating note and what a spendid photograph with which to illustrate it! I do hope that you were standing on something safe when you took this shot and were not about to disappear towards the centre of the Earth if you lost your footing!

This reminds me of a work of art in the Tate Modern recently - but your picture is far grander and more impressive. Your low viewpoint and use of a very wide lens has really given superb impact to this shot - that fissure seems to go on forever - at least as far as the distant vegetation and perhaps even to the farthest mountains.

Striking composition, perfect exposure, lovely colours and stunning detail and sharpness.

Fabulous!

Kind Regards,

John.

ifege (9408) 2013-03-04 19:51

Hi Rosemary - an interesting photo geologically with a good point of view. I hope no one tries to blame this crack on global warming.
cheers
Ian

jjcordier (62280) 2013-03-04 22:00

Rosemary
Très bonne photo de cette faille quand même très impressionnante et un peu angoissante. Tu as trouvé le POV idéal et choisi un format vertical bien adapté.
Amicalement.
JJ

mesutilgim (67856) 2013-03-05 5:03

Hello Rosemary,
Interesting capture with many interesting notes.
This is how the famous waterway of İstanbul "Bosphorus" started some million years ago !
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

Nicou (97509) 2013-03-05 5:56

Hello

quelle vue de cette faille fantastique la terre se coupe en deux, quel rendu sur la roche superbe captage et image une merveille.
Bravo et amitié

Nicou

emka (57992) 2013-03-05 13:11

Hi, This lava landscape reminds me Lanzarote that is covered with lava and also has not (and for long will have not) any vegetation. Such landscape has something fascinating although it is difficult to imagine something more unfriendly. Interesting shot. Fantastic colours and sharpness.
WArm regrads

Malgo

abmdsudi (26199) 2013-03-05 22:50

Hi Rosemary
Thanks to the narratvies, wow this looks extremely rugged arid land not without even a blade of grass is visible and the heat is totally unbearable, buit the deep cracks look even look more frightening, never seen before. This is fine infor shot, in fact daily I learn something new, an awe insprirng shot and you so close to the foreground sweeping the views stunningly into the distance in such great dof. This is the best effect that I love and creit to your fine photo works, Congrats.
Kind regards

sevy (13265) 2013-03-06 0:46

Hello Rosemary,

Impressive view with a perfect point of view, a wide angle and a full deep of field.
It is really showing the straigh line of lava crack and the strong perspective effect drawn gives a good depth feeling, reinforced by the far mountains in background.

Yves.

Bournazel (6072) 2013-03-06 2:09

rosemary
it's just like if you were across the african rift !
Nice shot
Vincent

dkmurphys (36709) 2013-03-06 22:57

Hi Rosemary,
Very fine capture with this black line of mysterious space. Well taken, enjoy the day.

Daniel

mjw364 (3612) 2013-03-07 4:20

Well Rosemary I think you have finally cracked it with this one (excuse the pun)!

Probably the most original and creative leading line in an image on here for a long time!

I like the way you have used this to lead us into the horizon line which cuts this line dead two thirds of the way up the composition, almost like it's saying that's far enough.

TFs

Mike

Didi (48872) 2013-03-11 17:32

Hi Rosemary
Interesting perspective of the black flow
Very nice wild place
Just take care about the horizon tilt :)
Warm regards

delpeoples (44888) 2013-03-16 0:36

Hello dear Rosemary

This reminds me of a nightmare sequence where no matter where you run, the earth opens up and splits before you very eyes. Nice choice the vertical frame, emphasising the vertical lines already your subject. Fantastic stark colours and great use of light and shade. An impressive - and unusual - photo

Hugs, stay well
Lisa