The Parched Earth, a photo from Gujarat, West

Photographer's Note

Rann of Kutch is an unusual marshland spanning an area of approximately 10,000 sq. km and separating Gujarat from the Sind region in Pakistan. The dry season is extreme as it dries out the marshland leaving isolated salt islands on a vast plain. The monsoon is no different in extremity, as it floods the marshland and the whole area is transformed into a vast inland sea. The salt plains are caused by flooding of the Rann by sea, river and rainwater. It is punctuated by highlands called bets, which have scrub flora and grassland vegetation offering refuge to wildlife. It is located northwest of Gujarat in the Thar Desert. The Rann of Kutch is divided into the Greater Rann Of Kutch and the Little Rann Of Kutch. The Little Rann Of Kutch occupies 4,953 sq. kms and is spread out in the districts of Surendranagar, Banasakantha, Patan, Kutch and Rajkot in Gujarat.

The Little Rann (literally, desert) is flat, featureless and brown. There are those clumps of bushes, OK. But other than that, it is one vast expanse of dry, cracking mud. Several times, I jumped off the jeep and looked around for some object, any object, that I could put in the foreground of a photograph of the scene. Something that would emphasize the enormous sense of open space you get there. Each time, I found none. I didn't get my dramatic photograph, but maybe that told the story in itself. So I ended up taking our jeep as a FG object for this picture. You see, this is a place for claustrophobics. This is a place for moles from the big city, used to streets so congested it's hard to walk on them and they still have cars and trucks barreling through. This is a place for people who think sweaty armpits and frayed tempers on the 8:56 local fast train to work are all that constitute life.

This is a place, let there be no doubt, for those who think places this empty of people cannot exist in India. I was one.

Let there be no doubt, too, about something else. There is little about the Rann that is beautiful, picture-postcard scenic. Thousands of square miles of baked mud can not, does not, aspire to routine beauty. But you can let your imagination fill the gaps: between the clear air, the dazzling night sky, the sheer space, the silence that actually chirps and buzzes and squeaks at you constantly.

besnard, BluSimo, carper, yeln, williewhistler, pierrefonds, bukitgolfb301, vasilpro, holmertz, subhendu_bagchi, josepmarin, emjleclercq, pajaran, dip, nilotpal_patra, pablominto, danos, siolaw, Didi has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

besnard (49031) 2010-04-17 1:36

Bonjour Angshuman
Un bon cliché de cette terre aride et desséchée. Un bon angle de prise de vue et la présence du véhicule rompt la monotonie du paysage.
Merci pour le partage et bon week-end.
Nicole

BluSimo (9392) 2010-04-17 1:46

Hi Angshuman
a very interesting image in which the repetition of the leaks create nearly an obsessing effecty. The positioning of the jeep to the extreme right is clever. optimal job and interesting notes also.
have a nice week end
ciao
Simonetta

carper (96) 2010-04-17 1:49

hello Angshu,
a fantastic one here, well composed, good sharpness and very original photo job here,good balance, good photo art, have a good weekend.
regard jaap

yquem46 (32835) 2010-04-17 1:54

Namaste Angshu
Nice shot composed in a very suggestive and explicit way!
But you know perfectly that I'll not agree with you as concerns the lack of interest of this place. Not at all! You've been one of the few fools to get there but as you know I was another one!!
What about the salt pans, the wild donkeys, the antilops, the pounds full of flamingoes and other birds....
When are we going back there together Angshu !!???
Best regards
Patrick

yeln (11502) 2010-04-17 1:58

hello Angshuman

google
my english is very bad, so I use google. sorry
for this photo can only say that it is wonderful
Great work. beautiful colors and sharpness.
sincere congratulations
Regards
Vojko

williewhistler (7595) 2010-04-17 2:00

Hello Angshuman, I admire the way you have managed to present what could have been a drab image into an interesting and informative one.
Using the vehicle as a focal point works very well for me.Well done.
Have a good week Les

abmdsudi (27118) 2010-04-17 2:17

dear angshu
superb shot, great detail and POV. description of the subject is very informative
thsk for sharing
rgds

Bluejeans (64241) 2010-04-17 3:32

Ola Angshuman ,
Que fantástica a textura deste chão de deserto tem um grafismo magnifico , bom destaque dado ao chão , gostei de ver o carro no canto superior da foto , boa profundidade de foto , parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

Bom fim de semana

Ricx (13453) 2010-04-17 4:50

Hi Angshu, congrats on an excellent image- great detail and dood depth.. Your note is fascinating- it makes me realise that UK is far from being a desert and how lucky we are to have so much water. congrats . well done

pierrefonds (48675) 2010-04-17 5:31

Hi Angshuman,

The point of view is taking my eyes toward the horizon which is giving depth to the composition. It is also showing the details and colors of the cracked earth. The presence of the jeep with the people is adding a bit of life to the scenery. The morning light is enhancing the colors. Have a nice day.

Pierre

npecanhuk (54221) 2010-04-17 6:46

Hello Angshuman!
That's a very interesting picture!
Great impact caused by the situation of that soil... so dry!
Superb composition with low pov and that green jeep on the top right corner of this image!
Sharpness, exposure, dof, colors and black&white borders are excellent as well!
I really like it a lot!
TFS - congratulations!
Best regards,
Neyvan

ThierryA (6578) 2010-04-17 8:48

Hello,

No water here !
Good photo of this desert, good framing and good idea to keep the 4X4 to the picture, well done !
Have a nice day,

Thierry

cherryripe (21015) 2010-04-17 10:14

Hi Anshu
I love the details of the dry earth. So well contrasted too. Nice high horizon. The vehicule is a bit too tightly cropped in my opinion.
Regards
Nikki

jasmis (57596) 2010-04-17 12:01

An impressive and sad presentation.
Regards my dear friend.

bukitgolfb301 (30401) 2010-04-17 13:21

Hi my dear Prof. Angshuman

Great shot ! Unuusal as you but od course great.
Deep exposure F11 is quite effective in this case.
Perfect and well considered stable composition / framework, light control, sharp/clear description in the detail as usual. Tastefulh color is marlvelous too.
You did a great job again indeed!
Thanks for sharing and have a good Sunday !
Best regards,
Takero

vasilpro (40233) 2010-04-17 16:44

Hello Angshu,
Wonderful composition, very good low POV and very good perspective, beautiful the dry soil pattern, very good sharpness and lovely colors.
Have a nice Sunday, Vasilis.

berek (31959) 2010-04-17 21:35

A very interesting picture. I like a wide empty space. Thanks for the note.
burak

emka (59010) 2010-04-17 23:48

Hi Angshu,

it is an impressive photo! Interesting desert area, baked mud :). It looks hard that the jeep can go over it.

Warm regards

Malgorzata

holmertz (27216) 2010-04-18 3:03

Hello Angshuman,
The cracked earth looks frightening and beuatiful at the same time, but it's the jeep that makes the composition. I find deserts fascinating areas. In this part of India I have only been as far as Bhuj, which wasn't really in the desert.
Kind regards,
Gert

magalik (6097) 2010-04-18 7:51

Beautiful shot. I would like to have it in my gallery.
You very well exploited this desertic place by a nice play with your wide lens. The ground occupies the 4/5 of the image and it's very nice thus. I think it was the best way to get a good shot.
Well seen, well done.

Magali

subhendu_bagchi (16652) 2010-04-18 13:51

Dada,
aro ekta osadharon chhobi. Great depth and sharpness. Exposer is perfect. Very well composition with the jeep which is placed perfectly in frame. Great detailling of the draught affected cracked land. Very well captured. Tfs.
Have a nice week.
Best regard..
Subhendu

Graal (89434) 2010-04-18 23:24

Hi Angshuman,
unusual place. Good informations in note. Amazing pattern, nice presentation. Photojob is very good. I like it.
Have a nice day.
Aleksander

John_F_Kennedy (41368) 2010-04-18 23:42

hello Angshuman,
Very interesting composition of this endless desert. Excellent POV, colours, light and sharpness
have a nice day,
Achim

Longroute (19390) 2010-04-19 0:10

I like the graphics of this cracked mud and the sense of infinite vastness that this photo conveys. You had a good idea of including the jeep to emphasize this sense of space. And I can fully understand you when you talk about feeling claustrophobics, I'm one even if the city I live in is not so crammed like Bombay...
also the way of composing the photo, i.e. the high horizon, is often a choice of mine. I guess the birds in the far distance are flamingos?

Best regards,
Donato

(By the way, I shot a similar picture - but I could not find any focal point like your jeep! - if you like you can see it:
Here)

josepmarin (55209) 2010-04-19 9:00

Namaste Angshuman,
The dry and cracked mud produces a strong sensation of heat and drought, in a desert landscape in which the jeep is an element that gives us a good reference of the immensity of this enormous marshland.
It is a realized-well photo, with a very effective composition.
Best regards,
Josep

Fis2 (73646) 2010-04-19 12:34

Witaj Angshu!
Curious place.
A very interesting frame.
Super light and sharpness.
Very impressive picture!
Regards
Krzysztof

leo61 (0) 2010-04-19 12:42

Hi Angshu!
A strong image!!!!!
Great ,this endless desert and very well composed with this 4wd in the upper right corner.
Regards,Leo

emjleclercq (15778) 2010-04-19 14:12

Not really a place to take a walk! But you managed to give a great rendition of the broken soil, and there is an excellent depth (slghtly increased by the curvature of the lense).

All the best,

Emmanuel

pajaran (36906) 2010-04-20 1:50

Pozdrav, kod nas od sinoc neprestano pada kisa.
Sve je manje vode a pustinje polako osvajaju prostor.
Mesto koje plasi svojim izgledom, dobar uvodni tekst i fotografija, cestitam na realnom prikazu ovog stravicnog mesta.
Cuvajmo prirodu buducnost brzo stize, Paja.

Google.

Hi, here the night constantly falling rain.
There is less water and slowly conquering the desert area.
Place fear its appearance, a good introductory text and photos, congratulations on the real view of this terrible place.
Cuvajmo nature of the future is coming quickly, Paja.

dip (21961) 2010-04-20 5:41

Hi Angshu,
interesting photo,very good capture of the drought of the place,the inclusion of the car balance very well the composition,
I like the POV and the framing,
well composed!

batalay (32930) 2010-04-20 8:07

Hello Mr. B. ,

What a dry and hellish piece of land, with the deep clefts in the ground attesting to the dearth of living creatures. The drama in the photo is precisely that. I see you shot the photo at the end of the year. Was it dry heat or dry cold?

Incidentally, this is your 600th photo at TE, precisely double the number of mine. Yet you've sustained the quality while also offering quantity.

Warm regards, Angshuman,

Bulent

Leconte (5795) 2010-04-20 11:10

hello Angshuman,

an impressive image in the contrasts of light and crisp, which gives a measure of the arid land, a world deserted well illustrated by the picture, this excellent POV and the great depth of field, beautiful composition,

best regards,
Valerie.

Waylim (22467) 2010-04-20 18:53

Hi Angshu,
This may one of the best shot of the dry earth image I have seen. The texture of the soil is so well defined with great sharpness and details. Good low POV and good depth. It is a great idea to include the Jeep at the top corner for a sence of scale as well as enhancing the composition. I actually would have like it to be a 1/2 inch more to the left, where it's touching the boarder, but that is being very picky of me.
Way

nilotpal_patra (1684) 2010-04-20 20:25

Namaskar Angshuman Chatterjee,
Excellent Picture. Beautiful colour and contrast. Nice POV.
TFS.
REgards.
Nilotpal Patra.

pablominto (53744) 2010-04-20 23:18

Hello Angshu,

The image illustrates well that draught is a terrible thing, reducing the possibility for life to an absolute minimum!
But a fine photo opportunity, as the situation offers interesting patterns and textures...
Inclusion of the car is a nice touch..!

Greetings,
Pablo -

danos (74518) 2010-04-21 0:31

Hi Angshu,
very nice presentation of this arid part of the Little Rann,with the parking car, the photographers and you of course, to be the only life on the desert.I like the well presentation of the car in the frame,the fantastic texture of the arid ground, as your informative and noticeable note.Well done.

Regards,Danos

mkamionka (24808) 2010-04-21 2:26

Hi Angshuman,
this is the best photo I have seen today.
I love this dried earth surface. I have seen a similar one in Death Valley, California. Very impressive. Also you have presented it very skillfully. We can admire details in the foreground and thanks to excellent DOF we can see the vastness of this area. The car left in the corner of the frame adds a good point of reference and helps to imagine the scale.
Fantastic place, I like very much your work,
M

Elaine_Blath (8509) 2010-04-21 3:27

Hello Angshuman,

amazing low POV of this dried out earth, superb placement of the car in the upper corner - well done!

Have a nice day, Ivana

siolaw (37626) 2010-04-22 19:39

Hi Angshu
Strong graphism is provided by this baked ground, framed with only little sky. Light is perfectly managed and makes the details stronger.
Not a pleasant place to stay for long, i suppose!
Laurent

Didi (49158) 2010-04-23 9:52

Hi Angshu
Great composition with a nice and deep foreground.
Interesting presence of the van on the high right.
Best regards

ciakgiak (30337) 2010-04-25 14:00

Hello dear Angshuman,
this is a fabulous image! The effect of the ground, thanks to your perfect POV, is absolutely gorgeous, The jeep add a superb note of life!
Congratulations, TFS.
Best regards
Giorgio

sacavem (18586) 2010-05-07 9:32

Olá Angshuman,

You have chosen an excellently working POV on this very "nice place". Beautiful colors,light ant texture.

Um abraço,
Filipe

rajiv_077 (1412) 2010-05-19 6:20

Hi Angshu

What a superb picture of this supernatural place's. Nice low POV and great depth of field, i think there in background, something water ? . The most impressive part of this picture is cracked mad, how you felt when you walk on this. Great share indeed.

regards

rajiv

Bournazel (6076) 2010-05-23 12:04

Hello Angshuman
i like this kind of landscape very much !
it helps us to understand the chance to have water every day
Perfect perspective, very fine details and the interest of the car for the scale
THanks*Vincent

jafadabret (56497) 2010-07-13 7:12

Bonjour Angshu,
Cette photo est très belle et pourrait faire une affiche sur la sècheresse qui progresse un peu partout dans le monde.
Amicalement
Jacques

arpitaroyagasty (75) 2010-07-16 2:16

Hi Angshu,
Eta just FATAFATI.

abulafia (4900) 2010-07-29 5:50

Ho Angshuman

This is good, i like the dried and cracked dirt, but also your chosen point of view, which works very well.

Harry

Mistral (15396) 2011-03-08 9:41

Namaskar Angshuman,
excellent quality and a perfect framing for your image of the Kutchh desert.
Your notes, as usual, are in the perfect spirit of TE.
I am browsing the world in searching for next travel destination for this year.
I added you as a friend here and on Flickr, as I will like to keep in touch with you.
A smile
Luca

adidas5nb (1682) 2013-04-10 4:43

great pov. i really like the low angle you have shot this frame in.love the graphism.and really i love where you have placed the vehicle in the frame.the pic is attractive to me for that reason.
regards
dwaipayan