Leaving Las Vegas Photo

Photographer’s Note

As the plane ascended out of Las Vegas with unusually clear skies, the views of the eastern Mojave Desert were dramatic. This area of Nevada receives less than 10 inches (25cm) of rainfall per year. Check out this precipitation map.

When it does rain, the water cascades down the dry hills, cutting deep gorges and arroyos very evident in this late afternoon photo taken through the window. The setting sun really helped define the shadows.

You can tell the man-made structure on the ground. Engineers have made the highway cut a straight diagonal through the inhospitable topography.

Always ask for a window seat. Always bring a camera.

I debated cropping the part of the wing, but decided I liked the splash of colour and the perspective it added. Pilots out there - what is that fin called?

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Histogram adjustments.

leonorkuhn, pamastro, snuggleaphagus, kwazireal has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

leonorkuhn (14379) 2005-06-12 13:47

Wow! Nice shot. Good contrast and sharp. Greetings.
Leonor

Zepi (22848) 2005-06-12 13:47

Hello,
Magnfique vue,suberbes couleurs!
Incroyable!
J'adore!
Amicalement
Sébastien

naxius (16679) 2005-06-12 13:52

hi Peter,
Could be a photograph published within the french magawine called Geo!!
Very nice with superb colors. I like this ground.
The texture is really nice and well catched.
Bravo!!
Alex

rajhema (1867) 2005-06-12 14:35

Without the wing, it would be a fantastic one. But no one would believe it is taken from a plan. Very sharp. Unbelievable landscape.

natlo (209) 2005-06-12 14:45

Nice shot. It was incredibly clear that day.
Thanks

toni_al (15476) 2005-06-12 18:28

H Peter
Superbe paysage, incroyable c'est vraiment dessertique.
Amities Toni

pamastro (7215) 2005-06-13 0:24

Everytime I see a shot like this I wonder,"Why don't I ever get this lucky?" It's always extremely hazy and/or cloudy when I fly.

this is really great. The topography of the land is amazing. It's like a crinkled up paper bag and like some giant did that to the earth. The road looks like someone took a knife and gouged out a line across the land. I like the airplane also as part of the perspective and as a point to survey from. Nice work Peter.

snuggleaphagus (4140) 2005-06-13 0:29

I alos like to take photos from the plane window. The part od the wing gives it a splash of color and an intresting dramatic flare.
The composition is magnificent and the details are glorious specially taken from the plane window.. I have several plane shots and I never achieved this clarity. Well done

No smiles for a while

cgrindahl (6109) 2005-06-13 1:32

This is delightful Peter and I'm certainly glad you left that bright red piece trailing the wing in the composition. As interesting as the land forms below are, the splash of red distinguishes this image. You were remarkably successful shooting through the airplane's window, which in my experience are not the cleanest pieces of plastic in the world. Well done.

green (1007) 2005-06-13 5:31

Beautiful colours, the low sun light does really emphasize the rugged landsacpe. The red piece of airplane wing does work nicely in the picture.

yannick (1469) 2005-06-17 14:49

It is difficult to choose one picture to make comments on it in your gallery. I'll have to come back for the other ones...
I like the texture of the ground in this picture. With the reflection on it, it looks metallic. You were lucky, it must have been a nice flight!
Yannick

janstec (33) 2006-12-20 0:24

Incredible picture. The desert looks very detailed. The red portion of the wing really does add a lot of color to the image, I'm really glad you used it for your picture.

I asked my dad once about that part of the wing, and if I'm not mistaken, it houses the engine mechanism of the flaps.

One of the best pics I've seen around here...

Cheers Pete, good work!

Angshu (34243) 2006-12-20 3:41

Hello Peter
You were lucky to get a clean window, for you've shown us a marvellous piece of landscape..the details & the textures of nature's artwork is simply amazing to look at..and then the highway which cuts across the frame. I wholeheartedly support your idea of keeping that red tip of the plane's wing in the frame...cloning it off would be faking..& as you rightly said it does add a splash of colour here.
With Regards from India
Angshu

kwazireal (179) 2007-10-09 11:01

Excellent rendition of the texture and detail of this rugged terrain.

The part of the aircraft visible in the frame is technically called the "flap jackscrew fairing", and is sometimes referred to as the "canoe fairing" because of its shape. It covers a large screw device that rotates in either direction to lower and raise the flaps before and after takeoff and landing. The flaps extend out aft of the wings to increase lift at lower airspeeds and very altitude.

haybelg (631) 2007-10-09 11:06

No problem with the red wing part. It gives the feeling of being in an airplane.
But you surely were lucky to have such nice weather AND very clean windows.
Anyway I love to have an window seat too.
Marc

Svillegas (1165) 2008-03-26 6:16