Beginning to Believe, a photo from Anhui, Central

Photographer's Note

You might think I’m being somewhat creative with this title but actually not. This place is called Beginning to Believe Peak. It is one of the must see and most impressive spot in Huangshan in my personal opinion.

There are always dilemmas for me to take a sunrise photo. I’m not a morning person, I don’t like cold. You have to find out what time is the sunrise, will there even be a sunrise depending on the weather. Is it worth dragging my skinny behind out of the warm bed for? Because of the limited space on the viewing area I had to pick a spot. Where do I set my tripod? There were hundreds of other people wanting to take a picture of themselves in front of the scenery. Once you take a spot, and you have to be quick or the front spot will be taken quickly. The question is where will the sun come up? Well here I picked a not too bad of a spot, the sun rise just a little over to the left of the mountain, but it didn’t really matter much, because it was too cloudy anyway, but the sky put on fantastic show with the clouds illuminated by the rising sun.

Huangshan, translated Yellow Mountain is a mountain range in southern Anhui province in eastern China. The area is well known for its peculiarly-shaped granite peaks and pine trees. Frequently shrouded in mist, the many peaks appear to float above the clouds. The development of walking tracks and cable cars makes this landscape accessible to all active travelers. Thousands of stairs to walk up and down, my knees hurt just thinking about it.

Kielia, janusz2054, Suppiluliuma, ciakgiak, rlrad, s_lush, shevchenko, timecapturer, Cricri, romanaa, pauloog, Angshu, adores, hardyuno, jhm, paololg, magalik, BennyV, mkamionka, siolaw has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Jeppo (17623) 2011-01-06 9:16

title and peak name definitely work!
you can really begin to believe

happy new 2011!
jeppo

Kielia (20467) 2011-01-06 9:17

Hello Way,
what a spectacular view! This amazing impression was worth all your efforts. Outstanding photo work and a very beautiful composition with a fantastic atmosphere. The sky is wonderful! My compliments, also for the nice note.
I wish you a happy New Year 2011!
Warm regards
Harriet

bema (25936) 2011-01-06 9:23

Hello Way,

another beautiful light situation in your famous gallery.. i like this picture a lot, it has perfect sharpness, lovely colors, and, that´s the most important for me: "mood" !

thanks for sharing, see you around, Bernd

janusz2054 (306) 2011-01-06 9:24

Hello Way,
Great landscape and very interesting pov for this mountains view and for this lovely light in the sky.
Great shot.
Best regards
Janusz

dta (51480) 2011-01-06 9:40

Hello Way ,
It seems to be one of the most impressive and mysterious mountain landscapes in the world ; This sunrise capture is splendid , with just a little touch of colors , in those blue grey tonalities . For sure , the sky was with you .
Regards

Suppiluliuma (3843) 2011-01-06 9:58

Beautiful place, extra-nice texture of clouds, a nice touch of yellow and orange to the overall blue of the composition.

The note complements the composiiton with fine details of the shooting.

TFS.

Erdem

Bluejeans (64239) 2011-01-06 10:07

Ola Way ,
Que lugar fantástico parece tirado do filme Avatar , estas montanhas com estas árvores nos topos , achei lindo o momento o nascer do dia , magnifico céu , parabéns!!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

J_Burke (1283) 2011-01-06 10:11

Hi Way,

Great sunrise picture, you have an excellent point of view here and your image is really well balanced giving priority to the very impressive sky. Great colours and I really like the depth too. TFS

Regards,
James

weetrees (599) 2011-01-06 10:15

Exceptional depth here in this image

the colours are balanced just right muted and subtle
the clouds are just terrific

the darkness on the right hand side bottom seems a wee bit dark and lacking definition here...

Maybe just my monitor which was just calibrated low to ensure my images are brighter

superb anyway and a once in a lifetime shot

Regards

John

ciakgiak (30331) 2011-01-06 10:19

Hello Way,
splendid image, superb scenery with an incredible sky!
The colors and the atmosphere are splendid, the quality is excellent.
Congratulations and TFS.
Best regards.
Giorgio

rlrad (1845) 2011-01-06 10:21

That's what I call being the right place at the right time with the right tools. Worth all the discomfort.

Well seen, Way. Happy New Year!

Reed

HimalAnda (5630) 2011-01-06 10:47

Hello Wayne,

The colors in the sky are great and the soft light gives a real mood to your picture.
I like this picture.

Stéphane

jemaflor (69011) 2011-01-06 12:18

Hi Way,
Impressive landscape with these peaks, great result with this light well captured, congratulations, tfs.

korbee (6301) 2011-01-06 12:20

For me you are one of the big surprisese of TE,prefect landscape and light Way.like the classic Chinese painting.

All the best for the coming year.

jan

david_P (512) 2011-01-06 15:28

Hello Way

Very beautifull landscape, colors are sweet, this is a very peacefull photography ! Great work ;)
TFS
David

humayun (2909) 2011-01-06 20:29

HI DEAR............
VERY NICE AFTER SUNSET...........
GOOD COMPO.........
POV IS VERY NICE ..............
WELDON.........
tFS........

s_lush (15592) 2011-01-07 0:04

Hello Way,
This sunset scene is highly attractive, beautiful and aesthetic. The composition, point of view, moment of capturing, light, colors, air perspective, sky, and photographic qualities are absolutely perfect here. Great job!
Best regards,
Sergiy

shevchenko (18243) 2011-01-07 0:51

Hi Way,
Attractive colourful sky at the morning, nice thick clouds to add patterns on the sky, good frame to all these peaks, clear to show unique geographical features at high sea level, distinct photo, well done.
Ally

npecanhuk (53913) 2011-01-07 4:14

Hi Way!
By what I can see, that landscape is certainly gorgeous and you did a great photo job here! Although that wonderful sky was highlighted (and I think that was done because of the name of the place too), the lower half of this picture is no less interesting or beautiful! Thus, I truly enjoyed this composition! Of course, management of light, chosen pov, colors, pp, contrasts and level of sharpness are all excellent here too!
TFS - congrats,
Cheers,
Neyvan

timecapturer (30342) 2011-01-07 8:42

Hi Way
a classy image! Love everything about it. Wonderful POV, composure DOF and of course the stunning sky. Excellently seen and executed, congratulations!!

Regards
Brian D.

leo61 (0) 2011-01-07 10:26

HI Way!
What an excellent POV and view!!!!
I like a lot bthe sillhouettes of the trees and the palete of colors at this nice,partly clouded sky.
All the best for 2011,
Leo

Cricri (86501) 2011-01-07 11:24

Hi Way
Un paysage impressionnant avec le haut des montagnes sous un ciel splendide, fantastique que l'on contemple avec bonheur
Bonne et heureuse année 2011
cricri

chawax (14906) 2011-01-07 14:22

Hi Way,
It was worth it to wake up early to have such a wonderful sky ! Good POV and very nice atmosphere with the mist in the valley.
Regards,
Olivier

romanaa (7372) 2011-01-08 0:35

Hello Way,

I am fascinated by this splendid view (as usual it is a flawless photo work) as well as by the number of countries you have travelled all over the world. Thinking of the dangerous beginning of your travels... amazing what you have been able to achieve in your life.

Best regards

Romana

quillo (11840) 2011-01-08 3:24

Hi Mr. Lim .............

Encantadora imagen del paisaje en Shuangshan ...
los tonos el cielo son hermosos y las siluetas
de las montañas rematan un cuadro lindo,
me gusta mucho el encuadre con el fuego del sol
a un lado de la foto.

Congratulations my friend ........ best regards.

holmertz (26980) 2011-01-08 8:01

Hello Way,
A classic view, wonderful colours, marvellous clouds and an amusing note. Once again you show us the beauty that a photographer's hardship can produce.
Warm regards,
Gert

pauloog (11735) 2011-01-09 5:59

Hello Way,
Your early rise and efforts were rewarded by a dreamy photoin which I like the soft colours only countered by the bright yellow part of the horizon;
Regards,
Paul

plimrn (21344) 2011-01-09 14:25

Hi Way,
The photo is more perfectly composed than a painting with the the three mountains below, the sweep of clouds above and the golden accent of the rising sun. You captured amazing detail in both the shadowed and bright areas.

Most of all, the title speaks to me.
HLJ, Pat

zanzi (12608) 2011-01-10 12:55

Bonsoir Way
What a beauty !
You got up early to find the right spot. I admire you (as well as the end result) for being able to getting up early despite all the uncertainties you mention.
Both the sky and the mountains were worth the effort.
Bravo
Chris

Angshu (51174) 2011-01-10 19:56

Sabaidie Way
I commented on this picture before...a dream one for me as I look into it more & more! My sister just came back from HK & was mentioing about Chinese brush paintings, when I mentioned it to her "Just see this picture posted by my friend" & showed her this...she was awed & said the paintings being sold depict a very similar scenery! Everything is fantastic here...the clouds, the rising sun & most of all the trees in silhouette & semi-silhouette on top of the rocks!
Best Regards
Angshu

adores (28236) 2011-01-11 5:49

Hi Way!
This is surely one of the greatest places in China and you captured a very good moment. The sky is perfect and the atmosphere also. Seems it was worth the effort, Way:)! How I understand you:))!!

jhm (122474) 2011-01-12 5:22

Hello Way,

Soft landscape picture, outstanding photo work and a very beautiful composition with a fantastic atmosphere.
Good depth and perfect perspective image.
Very well taken, excellent sharpness and clarity.
Nice and well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John

paololg (31442) 2011-01-12 14:49

Ciao dear Way,
really impressive the depth of this photo and its suggestion. Really it is worth dragging your skin behind out of the warm bed for to capture this beauty of the nature. :-) Congratulations!
Ciao, have a nice day!
Paolo

kloppenborg (975) 2011-01-12 23:38

Hi Way,
That's one of the best shots I've seen from Huangshan. A great composition and DOF with this spectacular sunrise hovering over it.
Regards, Henrik.

hardyuno (4646) 2011-01-13 3:16

Hello Way,
this special formation of the clouds gives a great depth to your picture. Really an eyecatcher;-) it leads the eye deep into the mountains, so you get an imagination of the hugeness of this countryside.
I think it was worth the early wake and running up the steps ;-)) TFS
Happy new year
Hartmut

magalik (6095) 2011-01-13 13:29

Hello my friend Way who speaks very well french !
This beautiful view reminds me the landscapes of a movie I saw lastly : The Painted Veil if you know. Splendid images like this one.
Your notes are always as interesting and enriching. I admire you for the time and the care you take to describe us the moment when you took your shots, I have never this courage.
It's true the title is very nice with this place. Incredible to think it's a spot for tourists. We have the feeling you did a big trek to arrive there.
Splendid shot, very pleasant to look at.
What I find strange is to see a line in the background as if there was sea on the background.
I wish a good end of week dear Way.
kiss kiss

Magali

BennyV (12787) 2011-01-17 4:40

Hello Way,

I was beginning to wonder where your Anhui shots were staying :) it seems like I have some catching up to do now! This is a terrific one, really worth the sore knees, mate! Perfect timing, lovely colour variations, the works! Congratulations.

Benny

PS: You might want to correct the spelling error in the location. This is Huangshan, right?

kiasari (2631) 2011-01-20 23:41

Hello Way,

The warm tones of this shot make it so fantastic. I like your idea to do such a framing and light management. Well done!

Regards,
Abbas

mkamionka (24559) 2011-01-22 2:54

Hi Way,
your photos are excellent but what I enjoy even more are the notes which help me to imagine the circumstances the shot was taken. Also they give so many ideas of what to do planning a trip there.
And they are honest and funny. I have exactly same thoughts regarding waking up for the sunrise. Now the days are much shorter so early waking may be rather easy yet still getting in the cold waiting for an opportunity which may or may not come is not always encouraging to take the risk.

Here you were surely well rewarded. The view is jaw-dropping. The sun came in a good place and the sky is extraordinary. The palette of colors could not be better. And the landscape not very well know -seems like from Avatar movie, on another planet.

Have a good weekend,
M

siolaw (37568) 2011-01-26 19:55

Hi Wai
You gave the right space to this dreamy sky, even though you have some stunning piece of landscape down there and that worked very well. Good low light management and fine colours too.
Greetings
Laurent.

Ninello52 (7065) 2011-03-01 5:08

Ciao Lim!
Immagine strepitosa! Luce fantastica, grande composizione! Cielo straordinario!!
Saluti, Nino.

Vague (301) 2012-04-30 13:12

Hello Way,
What a place! Of course it was not given the name accidentally! And I am sure it was worth the waking up early...

What I like very much is the "balance" between earth and sky in the photo, i.e. the cadre is really ideal! And the colours and light are so purifying in a way. Beginning to believe indeed...