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A Very Famous Road


A Very Famous Road
Photo Information
Copyright: Jonathan Wilson (jbweasle) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1366 W: 81 N: 1808] (9236)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-08-16
Categories: Transportation
Camera: Nikon D70, 18-70 1:3.5-4.5 DX
Exposure: f/9.0, 1/320 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Travelogue: Afghanistan and Pakistan
Date Submitted: 2005-10-12 14:25
Viewed: 2569
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 23
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is the famous (or infamous) Khyber Pass on the Pakistani side. The picture is taken from the most scenic spot with the road curving and twisting it's way down to Peshawar. I'm on my way up, over the top and into Afghanistan.

To travel across (or even just up) the Khyber Pass it is necessary to obtain a permit. It's also compusory to take an armed Pakistani policeman as a guard. This is potential smuggler and bandit territory, although the situation now is more stable than in the past.

I have to say that I wasn't as impressed with the pass as I'd expected. For a place that is steeped in history and evokes thoughts of a wild and remote border in the mountains, it just didn't deliver. Maybe I'd set my expectations too high, but the things that disappointed me were:
* The pass is actually not that high, only 1070m at the summit
* It's not remote, with lots of traffic and settlements along the way
* The border is not at the top! It's after the road has dropped down to the Afghan side.

In any case the scenery is still very attractive and the thrill of crossing into Afghanistan is enough excitement on its own.
Zanni, Cormac, chaity, rabani, Guntram, fadingstar78, waqas, markogts, alexgost has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • lukie Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 847 W: 33 N: 1439] (11091)
  • [2005-10-12 15:35]

Hello Jonathan,

good view on this long "snake"road. It must be dangerous driving it, I see they take the middle of the road...

regards,

Luc.

Hi John!
nice view of this famous road, going down in the vally to PAkistan (is it right?)
great view of this strange snake..
bye

loic

  • Great 
  • Cormac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3245 W: 56 N: 5986] (25032)
  • [2005-10-12 16:01]

Hi Jonathan - the pass might have been a disappointment, but the photo sure isn't! You found the perfect point of view on this, with the road snaking around and off into the distance. It really emphasizes the ruggedness of the terrain. This is a beauty!

  • Great 
  • chaity Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 436 W: 16 N: 332] (1534)
  • [2005-10-12 20:51]

Hai Jonathan, I like the POV of this photo. The road is just winding down and best can see those turns one after another.

  • Great 
  • rabani Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1333 W: 1 N: 3182] (9238)
  • [2005-10-12 22:49]

Hie Jonathan...guess you don't need me to tell you what you already knew about this photo.Except maybe what you feel about this place.For most of the times, how you feel about a place, says a lot how you shoot it.

Hi Jonathan,

You must try KKH (karakuram Highway). It has worlds highest boder crossing(khujrab pass) between China and pakistan.

Hi Jonathan,
What a great view of this valley and the interesting and dangerous road. Beside all the perils, this road looks to be heavily used.
Regards,
Ricardo

Hi Jonathan, This is an impressive winding road. Good PoV. You have well captured the entire valley get into the path. Nice to see the busy traffic going through the path. A well taken picture with nice contrast and depth. It is interesting to see that the cars are driving on the left hand side of the road there.

  • Great 
  • Cricri Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4526 W: 229 N: 6217] (29811)
  • [2005-10-13 16:11]

Bonjour Jonathan, trés joli POV, une route qui n'en fini pas, aussi bien dans les tournants, que dans sa longueur, belle compo.

Amitié
cricri

  • Great 
  • coco Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4186 W: 145 N: 4971] (23466)
  • [2005-10-14 18:23]

Hi Jonathan.
I didn't know this place, but looks good. Also is well captured and has a nice composition.
Regards.

nice pic and note!

your note made me smile, perhaps if you want to experience the dangers you will have to travel back in time and cross over with the early invaders :)

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