Circles of life Photo

Photographer’s Note

As my previous post has created some unexpected reaction, I thought I gonna post photo that will calm the stormy water.

This one was taken before sunset at Fairy Meadows camp, which is one of the most beautiful places I've been to. This photo is connected with funny story - I was wondering around the village and became the main object of attention of local boys. They have been following me everywhere I went. They watched me with great interest how I got to these strange positions to get the best picture from the best angle. At some point one of them wanted to become a photographer and I've borrowed him my camera. Suddenly I had many boys around me and when they thought that the picture is being taken I was kissed by several 6-13 years old boys. I thought it was really funny but had to find something that would take their attention away from trying to kiss me. As I had an idea to take photo with circles in the water, I tried to explain them that I need them to bring some medium size stones and to through them into the water. As they hardly spoke any English, I had to show them first. Luckily they thought it is great fun and went to find some stones. Once they came back, they started to throw stones into the water all at once, so I had to gently ask them, that I need only one stone at a time after the water got quite again. At the end, they all stood in the queue and all have been so happy to help me create wonderful photos.

The mountain in the picture is Nanga parbat (also known as Nangaparbat Peak or Diamir) is the 9th highest mountain on Earth and the 2nd highest in Pakistan. Nanga Parbat has tremendous vertical relief over local terrain in all directions. To the south, Nanga Parbat boasts what is often referred to as the highest mountain face in the world: the Rupal Face rises an incredible 4,600 m (15,000 feet) above its base. To the north, the complex, somewhat more gently sloped Rakhiot Flank rises 7,000 m (22,966 feet) from the Indus River valley to the summit in just 27 km, one of the 10 greatest elevation gains in so short a distance on Earth. Nanga Parbat is the fastest growing mountain on Earth and it is still growing about 7mm a year (but dont ask me how they measure it!)

zeca, happypoppeye, sleon, AdrianW, isabela_sor, pittdesign, asajernigan, lilimih33, chicken, sarju, Aliine, Bruno40, rcrick, jammer79, dlevy23, jonathan_hart, ralph, enedimd, Cretense, AiresSantos has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

kiks (6246) 2007-07-16 3:56

Hi Lucie,

an amazing reglexion image! The dark ang light variants on it make it very appealing. And of course i read your note and went to see your other photo. I'm glad you'll keep on sharing your experience with us.
THANKS
Kiks

barni (14587) 2007-07-16 4:05

Hello Lucie
Reflet magnifique!!!
L'idée des cercles est très bonne.
Regards
Christophe

sleon (9378) 2007-07-16 4:09

Hi Lucie
What a stunning landscape. The white snowy peaks stand out well against the clear blue sky, the reflections are magnificent and the pebble waves add a nice focal point and originality. Interesting note too.
Regards, Susanna

dkeus31 (26865) 2007-07-16 4:16

hello Lucie,
a nice composition with the Nanga Parbat reflecting in the foreground lake.
the light and contrasts are big here, with the show white and the foreground dark, just OK here.
regards
didier

cbrman (19377) 2007-07-16 4:17

Hello Lucie,

On croirait que ce décor a été peint pour l'occasion !
Les rond dans l'eau donnent une jolie dynamique au bas de l'image ! La partie centrale est un peu sous exposé mais cela compense avec les parties supérieures et inférieures qui sont splendides !
Bravo !

A+

Dominique

AdrianW (2249) 2007-07-16 4:18

Nice shot Lucie! Great idea to use a stone to add some ripples to the lake; the circular pattern really livens up the composition.

Uncertain as to whether I'd prefer the ripple directly under the peak though? Also not sure about the large band of darkness; it does contrast nicely with the snow, but maybe experiment with Shadow/Highlight and see whether you prefer it less dark?

I have to commend you; you've taken what might have been a clichéd image and really given it an edge with the pebble idea! Great job :D

isabela_sor (43224) 2007-07-16 4:37

Perfect timing to catch the waves and still the clear reflection!The best POV
Thanks for posting this image
Isabela

pittdesign (276) 2007-07-16 4:38

The story behind the photo is excellent.
Well done shot. A bit too dark in the middle.

flpanthers1 (390) 2007-07-16 4:45

Pretty cool here. I like what you did with what looks to be a rock or something you threw in to the lake. Nice job

asajernigan (14898) 2007-07-16 5:12

Lucie,
Great landscape photo! The reflection is great adding nice depth and balance to the shot. The contrast formed by the areas of bright sun and areas of darkness is very effective. The ripples add nice motion and life to the photo.
TFS,
Asa

lilimih33 (9884) 2007-07-16 6:26

Hello Lucie!
Great colours, reflexion and clarity in your composition!
Fantastic detail!
Really wonderful place!
Excellent done!
Lili

partha (13679) 2007-07-16 6:34

Hi Lucie,
Its simply amazing shot. the mountain, the reflection of the mountain at the water and the ripples in water all gives a good balance in it.
Regards.
partha

chicken (1781) 2007-07-16 7:33

I love the ripples, makes this image really special (even though it reminds a tad on these cheesy photoshoped reflections ;-) ). Another great element are the prominent, silhouetted pines in the left half.

Cormac (26461) 2007-07-16 8:02

It looks like I missed quite a little controversy (I was travelling to the Rocky Mountains for a few days and didn't see the previous posting, but after reading the note to this photo I went back and looked). This is certainly a great landscape shot, and a wonderful example of serene beauty. Normally I want to get a perfect reflection in a situation like this, but that circular ripple in the shot is pure genius. Superb work!

vero07 (1747) 2007-07-16 8:37

Hi Lucie,
Whant an amazing landscape you captured! Excellent effect over the water. I like very much this kind of shots.
Very well done and TFS!

crhieatt (5145) 2007-07-16 9:19

(Definitely no women in this picture)

Nice tale you weave in your note Lucie; I can just imagine them hurling everything hey could reach into that pool once they got the gist of it.
Great result too - once you got back to a single ripple - really adds a dynamic energy to this shot.
Regards
Colin

sarju (5308) 2007-07-16 10:03

Hi Lucie
what a story and great idea to divert their attention. My strategy in situations like these is usually to be very assertive (something that i have to inculcate when I go to places like these)
I must confess that your photos from Pakistan are making me consider to visit this area. Oh well I might travel on the Karakorm highway .. can you tell me if it is possible to cross overland into Pakistan from China on Karakorm highway or any other point (I have Canadian nationality)
Cheers ... sarju
PS: Interesting travel you did ... I will refrain from commenting about your previous post for the fear of being politically incorrect ;-)

Aliine (1905) 2007-07-16 10:28

Hello Lucie,
Beautiful place, story and view about the Nanga Parbat!
The circles on the water are just perfect ;)
Regards
Aline

traveller47 (588) 2007-07-16 10:59

Hi Lucie,
as usual a wonderful picture of a wonderful place.
The return from Fairy Meadows to the Raikot Bridge sometimes may be a little hard …
But if you have the help of a Prince all is easier.
Ciao, Aldo.

Zolive (1650) 2007-07-16 12:58

Hi Lucie
great landscape and the reflection wich disturb the flat water give life to your picture.
Congratulations.
Olivier

Bruno40 (6442) 2007-07-16 19:09

Lucie,
Fantastic photo, I love your patience and idea to drop stones in the water (how many shots did you take?).
I dont know the metering system of your camera, but it seems that the difference of exposure between snow part and wooden part of the bg is quite great. This is a typical photo for a HDR process.
The composition if fantastic.
TFS
Jorge

rcrick (346) 2007-07-16 19:45

Hi Lucie, This is a stunning image, very good DOF, its a pity about the lost detail in the trees, but this good be the effect your looking for, the reflection and ripples are very good really nicely done, excellent note as well TFS Rick

luisafonso (858) 2007-07-17 0:46

Blue, green, white and black. Always a magical combination. Love the swirling reflection. I am almost sure that you provoke the swirl and that's a great detail. A perfect reflection would also be good, but that swirl is showing a bit more of creativity and I like that. Colors and light is amazing. (...) just finished to read the note (...) Well, never thought the swirl was your own answer to a kiss! :)))))))) Great photo Lucie!

rbcy1974 (20748) 2007-07-17 1:19

Hello Lucie
Very beautiful ripple effect. Light is wonderful also. Beautiful blue tones.
Nicely done
Regards
Daniel
PS you going to provence thats only 4 hours from were I live. However I am leaving for indonesia on Friday.

jammer79 (2666) 2007-07-17 2:09

PErfect shot! The black might be too black and whote too white, though the powerfull reflections makes this shot!
Nicely done again.
R.

eev99 (1198) 2007-07-17 3:32

Funny how one would rarely associate this scene to Pakistan. My first impression was here at home in the Rockies; yet here it is. Wonderfully composed Lucie with sparkling light and outstanding sharpness.

baba_flies (8495) 2007-07-17 4:32

Hello Lucie! I love your title going so well with the picture and the other way around :) I especially like the kissing part in your story and how the circle of life made its way to become this master shot. Take care, Barbara.

dlevy23 (2018) 2007-07-17 6:12

Excellent photo. Nice reflection in the water, and I like how the water is not still. Good contrast between the blue sky and the snow in the mountain. I like your POV and the composition.
Good job.

Daniel

jonathan_hart (22926) 2007-07-17 6:58

it's a wonderful landscape very well composed
it's surely not the first of that kind of photos with circles but it's the first i see
and it's very nice, well done
jo

poulinp (4466) 2007-07-17 17:58

Splendid reflexion. The part the top is superb. I also love the circles in the part of bottom. Really very beautiful.

happypoppeye (4064) 2007-07-17 18:06

Great shot Lucie. The colors are really good and the composition excellent. The ripples in the water really add an interesting touch to the photo. Great idea instead of going for the smooth reflection. A real original reflection shot. Great note also.

Nice work.
John

zeca (20026) 2007-07-17 19:12

Hello Lucie!
The landscape is great! The difficult lights are very well equalized and the circle is a good idea to make this composition original. Well done!
Regards,
Zeca

Mistral (13872) 2007-07-18 11:55

Hi Lucie,
another masterpiece of incredible eye impact!
Excellent management of the light and powerful (and successfull) framing.
Brava!
Luca

IgorDeleze (98) 2007-07-19 3:07

HEllo,
It's difficult to comment your two last post one after one ....
This one is really nice but I'm still thinking about the previous one.
Here the exposure is very well managed. In this kind of picture I like these very dark part, that make the snow more wite and flashing.
The circles add the final touch.
Greetings.
Igor

enedimd (1528) 2007-07-21 7:29

Hi Lucie,
Wonderful panorama with excellent reflections and colors. Very nice and beautiful composition.
TFS,
Have a nice weekend.
Emir Nedim

Cretense (58913) 2007-07-21 7:58

Hi Lucie!

Your ability in landscape photography in beyond any discussion and so is your special "eye". This extremely balanced and well studied composition is for the textbook and should be taught in photographic seminars. The light managment is simply perfect and those circle on the water a great "bonus". Congratulations!

Best regards,
Hercules

AandK (1818) 2007-07-24 5:20

Hey Lucie,
I just read all the critiques to your previous post and was reminded of a very comparable situtation I experienced at TE some months ago. That's why I decided against posting pictures of people after all... It was my first post with a human being as topic and it failed badly!

This image is in my opinion one of your top 3. Even the frame suits it perfectly. You travelled through more than sixty countries and you still have an eye for the really impressive stuff. I expected that this would change after seeing the entire world:)
Your gallery is one of the bests I found at TE so far! Waiting for the next shot, hopefully featuring mountains again!!
Brilliant image, 10pts.!
Andreas

blow (672) 2007-07-24 6:42

congratulation for your great book...

AiresSantos (44510) 2007-07-27 4:07

Hi Lucie,
Wonderful reflections in this very gorgeous composition. Excellent colours and sharpness.
Have a nice weekend
Aires

Hellas (5180) 2007-08-01 1:31

Hello Lucie,
I am impressed with your image! This is wonderful with vivid colours and clarity. The snowy Nanga Parbat is a great mountain and adds brilliance to the scene. Thank you very mach for sharing.
Best wishes,
Athanasios.

waseemkhan (1070) 2007-08-02 10:33

Durakers (543) 2007-08-03 5:57

hola Lucie,
PRECIOSA foto con un reflejo fascinante unos colores conseguidos buenisimos y un contraste de luz y sombras genial con muy buena definición. Gran trabajo.
Un gran saludo!

dvlazar (6492) 2007-08-19 4:23

So it sounds like a great group/portrait photography opportunity as well - with many willing subjects!
Nice work with the circular pattern.
And to answer your question - the Philippines felt safe when i was there, the only time I felt like pick pockets or other criminal acts could take place was when I was out late wandering through quieter streets in Manila. But all the small towns and islands were so peaceful and friendly. The exception is Mindanao in the south of course, where travel is not recommended.

Cheers,
Dave

VincentFavre (148) 2007-08-28 11:36