Silence on the mountain Photo

Photographer’s Note

I took this shot with my trusty D70 while on a one-month whirlwind trip around China with my Mum, Uncle and girlfriend.

Yangdang shan (mountain) is an impressive collection of natural wonders situated in Zhejiang province, close to the city of Wenzhou.

This was my third visit to the area (previous shots include Jump! and Big Dragon Waterfall) and it was nice to be able to act as a guide to those with me.

This shot was taken shortly after getting off a heavily-used cable-car to reach the summit of a sort-of adjoining mountain. The attraction here is obviously the incredible lengths the monks (I assume) went in order to build this small hut on an outcrop of rock.

As a visitor to the area you can walk right through the hut, to the other side of the mountain where there is a massive steel/wood bridge spanning an impressive gorge. I'd recommend a trip for anybody in the area, but if you're not a big fan of Chinese food, I'd suggest a packed lunch!

Any comments/feedback welcome.

Hellas, lilimih33, Clairedelune, erdna, realife, Emiel_Skyfreak has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

stiginthedump (1823) 2007-06-11 8:03

This is an impressive photo Lewis. There's some gorgeous black and white tones and some good detail and a nice bit of hazr thrown in for good measure. Gonna go in my favorites for sure!

nex (2686) 2007-06-11 8:11 [Comment]

Show Comment +

Hellas (5113) 2007-06-11 8:31

Hi Lewis,
this is really a wonderful image. Taken from a very good point of view we can see a great part of the landscape. The choice of B&W makes the photo an old one and changes the sunlight into fog. Very well done. Thanks for sharing. Best wishes,
Athanasios.

clnaef (6289) 2007-06-11 8:32

Bonjour,
Impressionnante vue de ce vertigineux endroits.
Bonne journée.
clnaef

vagabondtravels (6103) 2007-06-11 9:21

Hi Lewis

Great pov. Nice vertical comp and good perspective. Really nice feel to this in b&w. Well done.
Ben

illusion108 (95) 2007-06-11 9:24

oh my God, how they can build smth like this?!

flpanthers1 (390) 2007-06-11 9:35

What a shot!!! That little house is amazing. Do they use elevators?

Haymotion (1793) 2007-06-11 10:17

Magnifique composition !!
Noir et blanc fabuleux...
Angle de vue et impression de vide incroyable...
Bien vue
Bravo
Vince

cbrman (18790) 2007-06-11 11:55

Hello Lewis,

Quelle incroyable vue ! La profondeur de ton image est véritablement excellente !
J'aime bien ce premier plan avec cette maison perdue dans les rochers.
Je me demande à quoi pensaient ces gens en construisant des maisons dans des endroits pareils !
Bravo !

A+

Dominique

happypoppeye (4060) 2007-06-11 18:20

GREAT photo. Composition is excellent. The background is, to say the least, astounding. Color and contrast are both excellent. Great work. A really interesting photo.

lilimih33 (9872) 2007-06-11 19:16

Hello Lewis!
Nice black & white composition!
Incredible place!
Lovely atmosphere here!
Very good point of view!
Excellent done!
Lili

designsoul (21394) 2007-06-11 20:28

Astonishing view, Lewis. I have a real weakness for contrasts and the tiny hut the monks have built clearly provides an incredible perspective on the surroundings... it reminds me of Meteora in Greece. A house built on a rock... this is surely the case here. Gorgeous bw all the way, love the scenery of course, the winding road waaaaaaaaaaay below...
take care,
sasa

Clairedelune (4885) 2007-06-12 21:49

What a view! During a period in my life, I was fascinated by China. I could never go there, but when I had images in my head, it was that kind of views. How on earth (!) did they achieve to build this hut? The whiter meandering road at the bottom add an interesting element in the composition.
I think this photo could be improve with a stronger contrast. I did try it, but I can't post it since I have already posted two workshops photos today. Anyway, I guess you know how to make this photo more contrasting. :)
Claire

bend1k (910) 2007-06-12 23:05

photos like these make trekearth worth visiting :)

mphotographies (1976) 2007-06-13 2:22

Hey Lewis,

One can but stay silent...make us wonder...WOW I like the B&W, thus making us focus on details, from shapes and layers of the horizon...Amazing POV!

All the best!

Jom

SebastianSeng (346) 2007-06-13 7:03

HI Lewis,

congrats on capturing a real gem here. Excellent composition with the main subject well balanced by the road and houses below. Perhaps a slight tweak in contrast might give this already beautiful image more impact?

Regards,
Sebastian.

erdna (5348) 2007-06-14 13:30

Amazing shot and point of view! Just an impressive picture. I cannot take my eyes off it.

Thank you for your comment on my photo, "Pyramid of Khufu". I appreciate it.

Andre'

Polonaise (5634) 2007-06-16 19:08

Some may say: It's one of those 'sensational' photos
"Look guys, what i have found !!!!!".
But it is not...
The way you presented it...It's a PHOTOGRAPHY...
Thrilling yet true PHOTOGRAOHY..

Stay cool, man

George

yso (3183) 2007-06-22 7:06

Hi Lewis,
What an incredible photo with so much perspective and details !
Regards,
Yves

cozy (966) 2007-06-25 15:14

Hi Lewis,
Excellent POV as well as composition with the massive mountain, little hut (or, it looks little) and the winding roads down below! Nice that you included some of the base of the mountain and all the things going on down there, it gives good perspective as to how high this actually is, VERY high! Those monks went to great trouble!
Regads,
Costa.

Emiel_Skyfreak (2976) 2007-07-11 9:33

What a majestic view!
This hut build so high..magnificent view those monks must have from there..you should sure find inner peace there. The POV Is great, the scene below is kinda charming, although less detailed and less contrasty..was it a hazy day? Over the valley it seems more hazy than in the foreground. Good sharpness and contrast there. All in all for the composition, with the off center placement of the hut and the good detail there, very charming! Lovely work.

BrianGraney (1734) 2007-08-04 4:44

Hi Lewis,

Great composition showing the scale and impressive construction.
The road presents a good balance to the white hut, and there's great depth to this scene.
Nice one.
Cheers
Brian

noborders (14199) 2007-08-29 1:31

You have plenty of interesting photos, this one stroke me for the fantastic POV, so impressive - splendid, the view is as good below as above, congratulations !
Cath.

rbcy1974 (20742) 2007-08-29 16:35

Hello LEwis
Wow
this is really breathtaking. Great caputre of all the details from foreground to background, one of the best landscapes I have seen here
Regards
Daniel