Solitaire Squared, a photo from Hardap, South

Photographer's Note

The first time I saw Solitaire, some 30 years ago; it was nothing more than a small dusty settlement with a petrol pump and a small general dealer’s shop. Few visitors made the trip to Sossusvlei and at that time the area was off the beaten track. Today Solitaire is ‘bustling’. It currently features the only petrol station, post office, and general dealer between the dunes at Sossusvlei, and the coast at Walvis Bay. Virtually all tour groups and visitors stop here for fuel and a slice of 'Moose McGregor’s’ world famous apple strudel.
Old cars, tractors and motorbikes have been used to ‘decorate’ the landscape and I suspect that almost every visitor to these parts takes a photograph of them.

The area was named Solitaire by the wife of the original homesteader, Willem Christoffel van Coller, who purchased the farm in 1948. The name was chosen because solitaire can mean a single set diamond and solitude or loneliness. Combined, these two meanings create the definition of being unique, or a one-of-a-kind and a precious, but solitary place.

This photograph is copyright of Rosemary Walden - © Rosemary Walden 2012. 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.

Suppiluliuma, emilbo, notrap, williewhistler, krzychu30, papagolf21, PecoBud, PecoBud, carlo62, joso, RhodieIke, pajaran, jusninasirun, golus, timecapturer, annjackman, Noel_Byrne, Cricri, BennyV, delpeoples, dawekato, tyro, tyro, csabagaba, faubry, chanteuse, adores, Angshu, serp2000 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Suppiluliuma (3851) 2012-05-18 11:24

Excellent story, magnificently saturated colors, nice still pose. :-)

I wonder what happened to your pictures for you to put this claimer...

TFS.

Erdem

emilbo (20928) 2012-05-18 11:25

Allô Rosemary!
Ces vieilles voitures ont sûrement eu des plus beaux jours avant de se retrouver au cimetière. Tout n'est pas perdu, aujourd'hui elles peuvent faire le bonheur des photographes. Un scène bien captée dans un bel éclairage et avec de splendides couleurs.
Bravo!... et bonne fin de semaine,
Emilius

notrap (4728) 2012-05-18 11:46

Hello Rosemary,
maybe it is a strange thought, that these wrecks are "decoration", but the picture looks very good! And I know a member of a photo-club in my home town, who goes miles and miles for places like this, and meanwhile he has collected a great number of pictures of rusty cars, and most of them are highly appreciated by the photo-club-members.
Kind regards,
Elvira

Gigidusud (8332) 2012-05-18 12:15

Hello Rosemary,
Amazing shot with these old cars!Good idea,i like it!
Kind regards,
Ghislaine

williewhistler (7595) 2012-05-18 12:30

Hello Rosemary,
I really enjoy the low POV that emphasises the twisted shapes of the old wrecks and of course all that rust adds a nice touch.
This might convert well to BW especially with that lovely sky!
Best regards Les.

krzychu30 (9399) 2012-05-18 12:56

Hello Rosemary,
amazing how these abandoned wrecks of cars can be so picturesque.This is probably associated with excellent framing of this scene and marvelous,vivid colors,which animate the whole scene.Beautiful picture and very interesting note.
Have a nice weekend
Krzysztof

yquem46 (32835) 2012-05-18 13:15

Hello Rosemary
Makes me think of the ghost towns in western USA given away at the end of the gold rush !
Nice colors of the sky, of the rust on the wrecked cars
A good testimony of the past
have a nice We
Patrick

Gerrit (43745) 2012-05-18 13:38

Hi Rosemary,
what a fantastic composition of these wrecks that are bleached by sun and wind and fit perfectly in this desert landscape.
Great colours.
regards, Gerrit

papagolf21 (76995) 2012-05-18 13:51

Bonsoir, chère Rosemary,
La note d'accompagnement résume fort bien cette composition.
Ce cimetière particulier laisse songeur ! et malgré cela, la photo est belle et bien structurée à tous les niveaux.
Une très bonne réalisation.
Amitiés.
Philippe

chawax (15082) 2012-05-18 13:53

Hi Rosemary,
I love the POV and the wide angle effect that adds depth to the composition. Excellent sharpness, excellent depth of field. Nice colours, in particular the polarized sky.
Have a nice week end,
Olivier

PecoBud (3778) 2012-05-18 14:03

Excellent POV Rosemary and presented masterfully. Lovely colors and perfect light management combined with superb clarity has brought life again to these aging vehicles. Stunning job!!

TFS..........Your Friend from California.........Buddy

dta (52250) 2012-05-18 14:18

Hello Rosemary ,
This old cars cemetery is a great opportunity fot thr photographer , especailly under the superb namibian light . Effetcive POV and framing , superb colors , contrast sand sky .
Regards

carlo62 (13544) 2012-05-18 15:30

Ciao Rosemary
bella nota e bella fotografia, mi piace la luce.
Un bellissimo cielo con le nuvole bianchissime contrasta con deserto e le vecchie auto che si stanno mimetizzando.
Saluti
Carlo

jjcordier (63074) 2012-05-18 22:57

Rosemary
Très bonne exploitation photographique de ces épaves abandonnées. Le cadrage et la lumière sont excellents et la saturation des couleurs idéale pour ce type d'image.
Amicalement
JJ

RhodieIke (9207) 2012-05-18 23:31

Hi Rosemary, Splendid Pov, on these old scrap cars, you have captured these very skilfully, love the blue sky through the right cars rear window, Sorry to read you are having problems of copyright, a hazard on these open sites, Regards Iain.

pajaran (36906) 2012-05-18 23:57

Dobar dan.
Vrlo interesantan i dobar tekst sa datim podacima ...
Lep pogled na stare sasije automobila i plavo nebo sa belim oblacima, dobra kompozicija.
Dobra ostrina snimka, kontrast i prikaz lepim bojama.
Mnogo je ljudi i sve vise otpada.
Imajte lep dan za odmor, sve najbolje za vikend.
Srecno.
Paja.

Google.

Good afternoon.
Very interesting and good text with a given data ...
Nice view of the old car chassis and blue sky with white clouds, a good composition.
Good image sharpness, contrast and display of beautiful colors.
A lot of people and more and more waste.
Have a nice day of rest, all the best for the weekend.
Good luck.
Paja.

jusninasirun (17144) 2012-05-18 23:57

Hello Rosemary.
I like rust and this is amazing and an instant favorite against the beautiful sky. Lovely wide glass with tone and details beautifully registered in the frame.
Thanks and have a nice day.
Jusni

JFS (32429) 2012-05-19 0:05

Perfectly observed, stunning shot, it seems an old american film...Clever composition, perfect sharpness. Thanks Rosemary and have a good Saturday!

All the bets!
Juan

golus (2893) 2012-05-19 1:08

Hello Rosemary,

I had been seriously inclined to think that these kind of scenes are only possible in Hollywood movies, I must say you have disappointed me with this lovely shot. A marvellous composition from an excellent perspective. The sharpness and clarity of this shot cannot be beaten. The magnificent bright sky enhances the visual quality of the shot as well. A great work as usual, many thanks. Have a great WE.

Suleyman

timecapturer (31278) 2012-05-19 3:25

Hi Rosemary
a sad yet compelling image this. Strange how newly dumped man made items look so unattractive and yet after time it takes on a strange and captivating persona. In these surroundings it becomes artistic and fascinating. Captured suberbly, with a striking POV and a powerful presentation.

Enjoy the weekend - Brian.

abmdsudi (27118) 2012-05-19 3:37

Hi Rosemary
I am a bit saddened by old abandoned cars in the wide places rusting away surrounded by a dry harsh looking environment and arid landscape. Once upon a time! these must have been loved and cared for by the owners. Well seen and taken picture with a lot of history attached, the colors are very good and vivid so well composed. Great capture, Congrats
Warm regards

Sergiom (40169) 2012-05-19 4:22

Bonjour Rosemary

J'aime beaucoup la rugosité de cette image.C'est dur et réaliste tout en étant nostalgique. Un très beau cadrage serré avec un ciel spectaculaire.

Amicalement

Serge

lgir (6215) 2012-05-19 6:36

Hello Rosemary,

old rusted cars in the wild is not very aesthetic, but see it that way, with beautiful color contrasts that makes the happiness of the photographer.
Beautiful setting the stage for a successful composition.
Good work
Regards
Laurent

annjackman (13463) 2012-05-19 6:42

Hi Rosemary,
Yes, anyone who has been to this part of Namibia seems to have been to Solataire and eaten the apple strudel. Your POV and composition are superb giving real character to these old cars. Love the rust colours against the sand and blue sky.
Best wishes, Ann

Noel_Byrne (8073) 2012-05-19 8:28

Hi Rosemary,
What an unusual and innovative way to decorate the landscape. There is something tragic and moving in seeing old vehicles like these rusting away in the desert, but they make for such fascinating subject matter. I really love your capture of these two, and your POV which adds great depth to the image. The car on the left looks like a really nice car, although I suspect it would cost quite a lot to get back on the road :)
Best wishes
Noel

Cricri (87288) 2012-05-20 0:11

Hi Rosemary
Comme quoi ces vielles voitures en fait une superbe photo, excellent cadrage, détails et rendu des couleurs, la lumière et le ciel s'y ajoute a merveille
Belle journée
cricri

mini-psig (55) 2012-05-20 1:23

Qui a dit que les épaves de voitures n'étaient pas photogénique? Beau ciel ainsi qu'une belle lumière a suffit pour faire revivre ces engins. Bravo

BennyV (12859) 2012-05-20 1:28

Hello Rosemary

Intriguing title & great note.
Perfect TE picture, tfs!

Benny

dkmurphys (37419) 2012-05-20 13:28

HI Rosemary,
Very beautiful capture of those rusty abandoned cars. Lovely artistic work, have a nice week.

Daniel

delpeoples (45717) 2012-05-21 0:39

Hello dear Rosemary

Such evocative subjects, it's really quite fascinating to see what the elements and time have done to these characteristic old cars. Beautiful use of the wide-angle lens and the low POV. The colours are superbly rendered with an exquisite management of the light conditions.

Thanks for sharing, have a beautiful day
Lisa

Nicou (98775) 2012-05-21 1:38

Hello

quelle vue sur ces vielles voiture sueprbe toute rouillées dans le déserte de belles épaves qui finissent leur vie au soeleil et la chaleur, sueprbe.

bravo et amitié

Nicou

mesutilgim (68620) 2012-05-21 4:26

Hello Rosemary,
Not only the capture but also the title is perfect !
A perfect evidence for the fact, that a good photographers eye can be quite creative if it not only looks at, but also can see.
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

chrisvek (5675) 2012-05-21 4:37

Hello Rosemary

Superb photo with great contrast.Very nice colors and tones.Excellent composition and very wonderful background.Very good saturation and clarity!Well done.

Have a nice day
Chris

dawekato (2269) 2012-05-21 9:22

Really shoiows the desolation of the place. But you have captured a great composition with the wide angle and reverse "V" formation. Well saturated colourls make it pop. Excellent!

lpi (4432) 2012-05-21 10:07

Bonjour Rosemary,
La composition est excellente!
J'aime les couleurs et ce ciel magnifique!
Joli cadrage!
Amicalement,
Lpi

tyro (13585) 2012-05-22 0:00

Hello Rosemary,

We've been away for a few days so I'm just catching up with the critiques now.

An interesting note and a superb photograph with which to illustrate it.

An excellent composition with lots of impact and making best use of that wide angle lens. The rusty hulks of the cars, especially the one in the right foreground, are just a little distorted by the wide lens but that, I think, adds to the drama. The contrasts are wonderful on account of the strong light, the colours are wonderfully vibrant and the detail and sharpness exquisite. And all beneath a glorious sky.

Fabulous!

Kind Regards,

John.

csabagaba (6435) 2012-05-23 7:38

Really interesting photo. I can not imagine how these wrecks were in the desert. It's like a star the post-war area.
Very good camera angles and excellent contrast and colors. Good job.
Have a nice day.
Csaba

macjake (39998) 2012-05-23 10:02

Hi Rosemary
this is a subject thats true to my heart...love old adandoned cars and trucks, they make for wonderful subjects.
looking at the composition, you placed yourself perfectly with the clouds. love the fact that there is a clear fg and bg car too.
great shot
cheers
craig

faubry (35335) 2012-05-23 17:38

hello Rosemary, amazing photo, i like these old cars, original decorations! super details and warm colors
i like it
congratulations
francine

adores (28552) 2012-05-25 5:40

Hi Rosemary!
A really good photo of these abandoned cars! They are really well placed and the quality of the photo is excellent: composition, colours, sharpness... and a beautiful blue sky! Great work!

Angshu (51432) 2012-05-29 21:26

Hello Rosemary!
A superb picture using the width of the wide lens. Its a view which spells desolation & 'left to the elements'...so much so its quite eerie. Have seen a few pictures of a ghost town in US...Bodie I think its called...oft photographed & oft represented in TE as well

Best Regards
Angshu

I read with concern your thread with Erdem. How did you know that your pictures have been copied & that too the number of times? Actually this is the problem about posting pictures on the web...Some sites do not allow right click on the picture to download (including Pf & flickr) but that is hardly foolproof. Even watermarks can be erased! Those who wish to download & copy will certainly find ways to do so...at least I do not know any panacea for this...sadly!

serp2000 (29632) 2012-05-29 21:44

Hi, Rosemary,
It reminds me a dinosaurus cemetery. Excellent picturesque compositrion. Fine low POV, superb saturation and interesting note.
Best regards,
Serghei

jmdias (46240) 2012-06-12 7:28

rosemary
despite being a sad scenery the image is perfect and fabulous. I liked the perfect light, framing and sharpness, the colors are fantastic. beautiful compo, full of meaning.

hugs

jorge

adidas5nb (1682) 2012-07-27 22:39

BEAUTIFUL COMPOSITION. sharp and a very good tonal quality.
regards DWAIPAYAN

speedymanu (3148) 2012-07-30 5:14

Hello Rosemary,

Much has already been said about this photo and rightfully so. Its stunning perspective, the incredible sky, the rusted textures are superb. Congrats,

Emmanuel