Fish River Canyon, a photo from Karas, South

Photographer's Note

As anyone who has visited Namibia knows, the sharp daylight can have the effect of leaching colours and detail from the landscape. In an attempt to get some decent shots of the impressive Fish River Canyon we set off before the sun had risen arriving at the canyon just after sun up. The wind whipped across the barren landscape and the air was full of dust.
Photographically speaking, I found it very difficult to capture a real feel for the canyon as there is almost no vegetation to give a sense of scale and there are few reference points in the landscape.
After two up-stream waterfalls, which are only active during the rainy season, the Fish River plunges into its canyon which is up to 549 m deep, and on its way to the south at the end of the gorge at Ai-Ais covers a total distance of 90 km. At its widest point it measures 27 km. The Fish River itself has its source east of the Naukluft Mountains and to its confluence with the Orange River covers a distance of about 650 km. In the dry season the Fish River only consists of isolated water pools and under the present climatic conditions only flows intensively during the rainy seasons.The Fish River Canyon is purportedly second only in size and grandeur only to the Grand Canyon of the Colorado in Arizona (USA), it is a national monument, as well as one of the most popular tourist attractions in southern Namibia.

Please see the WS for alternate views

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

Romano46, siudzi, mjw364, Graal, jjcordier, abmdsudi, annjackman, timecapturer, COSTANTINO, marabu61, krzychu30 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Romano46 (4764) 2013-02-23 9:21

Ciao Rosemary
Wow!un paesaggio splendente che incanta anche se desertico e inospitale.
Bellissima questa serie di rocce rosse in primo piano che il sole illumina dando riflessi dorati.
La composizione è perfetta, così come la nitidezza e la luminosità. Ottima la gestione del colore.
Tutto concorre ad un risultato di grande qualità.
Complimenti per la foto e per le note.
Ciao e buon fine settimana
Romano

siudzi (23837) 2013-02-23 9:24

Hi Rosemary,
Looking at your picture I can imagine that this place with a fantastic rock formation is a very popular tourist attraction. Well seen and photographed from your selected POV. Perfectly executed light and sharpness make it very nice landscape post. Thanks for sharing.

Best,
Gosia

mesutilgim (67888) 2013-02-23 9:55

Hello Rosemary,
We are continuing to learn the beauties of Soouth Africa through your beautiful entries.
This one is also very nice.
Enriched with many interesting notes.
TFS and have a nice weekend
MESUT ILGIM

mjw364 (3612) 2013-02-23 10:00

Hello Rosemary

You have certainly captured the warm glowing tones here which contrast well with the blue sky. Such a sharp warm well exposed panorama was well worth getting up early for.

Great image. Tfs.

Mike

Kamilutka (3207) 2013-02-23 11:30

Hello Rosemary,
fantastic colors make this photo really outstanding. Great light management and very well chosen POV to bring up the beauty of this quite sparse landscape.
Well done and have a good evening
Kamila

Graal (88808) 2013-02-23 12:12

Hi Rosemary,
very nice 3 photos. Amazing wild nature here. Good POV and presentation this canyon. Photos I like a lot.
Have a nice evening.
Aleksander

Gerrit (43735) 2013-02-23 12:22

Hi Rosemary,
wonderful glowing light on those barren rocks in this ultimate dry landscape.
Fine composition.
regards, Gerrit

jjcordier (62280) 2013-02-23 23:16

Rosemary
Un paysage spectaculaire auquel la lumière donne d'étonnantes couleurs. J'aime aussi beaucoup la vue du WS avec le beau méandre.
Amicalement
JJ

JFS (32053) 2013-02-23 23:24

Your impecable shots of Namibia always fascinate me, it is like another planet. Thanks again Rosemary!
Cheers,
Juan

abmdsudi (26215) 2013-02-23 23:30

Hi Rosemary
What a view in such great expansive capture and the fantastic terrain really shows the grandeur of the region packed full of detail right the way through. Fantastic shot - the rocks in the f/g provide a great contrast with the red of the canyon and the sky, what a view!! I love the details, natural colours and the interplay of light and shadow. Indeed the majesty of nature wonder is painstakingly taken, a thoughtful work and a seamless result. Simply fabulous, Congrats
Kind regards

emka (58024) 2013-02-23 23:40

Hi Rosemary,

beautiful view of the the canyon, I like the golden grasses, the rocks are very beautifully shown. Beautiful morning light. On the other hand, it is difficult to imagine that it is second in the world after American Grand Canyon. The Workshop photos better show its grandeur. One of it is very similar to my post. I was there at sunset and the light was not as good.

Warm regrads

MAlgo

annjackman (13177) 2013-02-23 23:49

Hello Rosemary,
We didn't get to Fish River Canyon on our trip so it is still on the 'to do' list! Well done for taking this at the right time of day for good light - but then I think that you always do. The colours on the FG rocks are lovely and I like the bits of dried up vegetation clinging to them. The rocky outcrop makes a strong centre of interest for the eye and the best way to appreciate the magnificent canyon in the BG. Amazingly sharp and well exposed - love it.
Kind Regards, Ann

sevy (13267) 2013-02-24 1:54

Hello Rosemary,

Since I saw pictures of this Canyon in a newspaper, I dream to go and visit it. But it is not so easy and cheap to organize.
My taste of composition are more going to the second WS you posted (wider view and more view on the below river), even if on this WS the sky is too cyan color. I feel you should play more in Photoshop with the color balance tool.

Yves.

Noel_Byrne (7259) 2013-02-24 2:56

Hi Rosemary
I can see why this place is so popular, it's an we some natural sight. The lack of vegetation is strange to me, and does make scale somewhat hard, so thanks for your note that explains the vastness of this place. I would love to see those waterfalls you mentioned!
All the best
Noel

timecapturer (30226) 2013-02-24 3:11

Hi Rosemary
Namibia is a land of contrasts and your wonderful imagery demonstrates this to us in so many ways. This is a stunning vista and your flawless execution and composition make this so beautiful. The detailing is pin sharp and the light subtle but flattering. Exquisite!

Enjoy your Sunday - regards Brian.

COSTANTINO (42744) 2013-02-24 3:15

Hello
space moments,space capture welldone and wellseen
but your useful notes describe the reality and
existance of all those fantastic rock formations
the colors are also fantastic,original version
indeed,
have a nice Sunday
regards
Costantino

marabu61 (3869) 2013-02-24 5:25

Hello Rosemary
Gorgeous colors in an amazing light in this one. Even without the vegetation or any reference points there is a sense of scale and grandeur here.
Your mentioning of the Orange river brings back a lot of fond memories to me, as we where living and working on the shores of that river in South Africa in the 80ties.
have a good sunday
Daniel

Sergiom (39122) 2013-02-24 6:15

Bonjour Rosemary,

J'aime beaucoup ce point de vue derrière les rochers qui apporte beaucoup de profondeur à ce paysage aride, presque lunaire du désert namibien.

Amicalement

Serge

Nicou (97543) 2013-02-24 6:18

Hello

Grandiose vue et image quel cadrage recherché avec cla belle roche et ces tons le vue au loin avec ces pentes et la barre à l'infini superbe.

Bravo et amitié

Nicou

dkmurphys (36727) 2013-02-24 9:58

Hi Rosemary,
Very attractive natural composition. I like the colors and textures in a high quality image.
Have a fine new week.

Daniel

fabbs99 (5334) 2013-02-24 13:16

Amazing shot Rosemary.
Nice lights and exposure and great texture of the rocks Very well done.
All the best for a Happy week ahead.
Farhat

krzychu30 (8797) 2013-02-25 4:15

Hello Rosemary,
fascinating and undeniably beautiful place.Morning light brings out the most beautiful colors we can imagine-they look so warm and help definitely to create unique and lovely mood of this scene.Also the color contrast between blue sky and these rocks is magnificent.

Have a nice day
Krzysztof

Cricri (86327) 2013-02-26 10:35

Hi Rosemary
Un paysage sauvage très différents du désert mais tout aussi magnifique a voir, belle lumière, couleurs et profondeur
Belle soirée
cricri

barni (15745) 2013-03-04 12:21

Hello Rosemary
Belle lumière et jolie couleur rouge de la roche. Un endroit qui semble superbe à visiter.
Regards
Christophe