Boats of the Desert Photo

Photographer’s Note

Jaisalmer is a poetry re-written on sandy deserts of “Sam”. Founded by Rawal Jaisal in 1156 A.D., Jaisalmer remained untouched from outside influences until it agreed to sign the Instrument of Agreement with the British.

Years back Jaisalmer was strategically located between India and Central Asia on the camel train routes making it rich and powerful. Then with the ongoing tensions & sealed border between India & Pakistan, the trade route dies out. Now Jaisalmer is more of a tourist destination....a place of rich legacy.

I always find silhouettes fascinating. Silhouettes do not have the third dimension & hence forces us imagine....and in my opinion, it's very poetic as well.

This small Camel Train led by grooms (people who look after and lead camels) is mainly used as tourist carriers. But once upon a time, when they were used for carrying people & commodities across the hostile sands, they were also known as "Boats of the desert". Captured the silhouette of the Camel Train as they headed towards the sunset with a 282 mm zoom.

Changed the Title from "Camel Train into the Sunset" after Antonio's suggestion.

Couple of Workshops

This is the Cropped & Reframed version to make a pano format, as per Caleb's critique.

This is the Black & White version, as suggested by Ricardo

riclopes, daddo, leo61, carper, dareco, edytungkal, emjleclercq, ChrisJ, papagolf21, pierrefonds, avene, PixelTerror, josepmarin, hispic, Henryk_Bilor, siolaw, danos, Felip, Jonas_Schmitt has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

aadilj (17950) 2008-09-11 1:42

There's nothing better in this world than a good image and the pleasure of sitting and admiring it! I love this painting that you have composed Angshu with such remarkable passion and deft use of colours and textures. The pov and perspective are absolutely superlative

scalerman (25787) 2008-09-11 2:16

A: it's a classic image - perhaps the frame/title is a little overbearing... c

kurtul (0) 2008-09-11 2:17

hi,

so hot must be the weather but the shot is so cool. an artistic impression, good use of light.

Kurtul

riclopes (33143) 2008-09-11 2:34

"Boats of the desert" - I like this name, Angshu. I think that silhouettes can fascinate any photographer and I´m sure I would use my zoom as well, if I was there. The composition is excellent and quite atractive, but I feel some lack of color and light. May be I would try some radical experiences in b&w to enhance the graphism. Don't get me wrong - I'm a color person and I enjoy the moment of these soft tones, but sometimes it's nice to experiment, even if I keep with the original one in the end ;-)
warm regards,
ricardo

mark_mk (246) 2008-09-11 3:28

Hi Angshu,
great composition with the camels to the right of the image, you`Re right, silhouettes are fascinating, your POV is nice and I also like the soft tones. Very nice!

Take care
Mark

ribeiroantonio (22058) 2008-09-11 3:29

I guess, "Boats of the desert" would make a great photo title. Your picture came out very well in composition and the very soft colours really enhance the mood of the sunset.
Antonio

Morac (21131) 2008-09-11 4:31

Hi Angshu,
Great composition with this camels into the sunset.
I love this "Chinese shadow" composition.
Regards
Marc

daddo (11647) 2008-09-11 4:32

Hi Angshuman. You have these boats and I just posted my ship of the desert- a close view. I do like the vastness of the desert and the sky and the scale you gave to the camels and the people. very evocative shot that conveys the idea of a journey most vividly. Regards. Klaudio.

leo61 (44112) 2008-09-11 5:50

Hi Angshu!
Great shot with the camels at the perfect position.I like the composition with these bushes in the foreground.
Regards,Leo

Yeoman (1015) 2008-09-11 6:06

Hi Angshuman

A magnificent gradient colors in the sky, a dynamic composition and very successful ... that more could you ask for ?

Well done !

Best regards,

Emmanuel

carper (66132) 2008-09-11 9:44

I like it Angshuman,
the ships of the desert is a very nice photo, very nice balance and a good atmosphere, a fine photojob here, have anice evening.
regard jaap

berek (29115) 2008-09-11 12:02

Hi Angshuman,
I like simplistic and beautiful light. well framed picture . congratulations. Best wishes
Burak

dareco (17104) 2008-09-11 16:00

This is so beautiful, filled with mood! I love the silhouettes! Interesting scenery and color. TFS and have a happy day!

edytungkal (4521) 2008-09-11 19:11

Maybe not on the best colours but i got the the point you want to share by those perfect shadow of 'camel train'. And have you seen the rainbow effect in sky Angshu ? Very interesting...thanks for your posts.

rgds
daniel

emjleclercq (14632) 2008-09-11 21:40

Excellent camels silouhettes in this muted sunset light. The slight touch of blue of one of the characters' cloths is a very good addition.

All the best,

Emmanuel

Graal (59126) 2008-09-12 0:17

Hi Angshuman,
very nice theme, place and composition. Fine effect of silhuettes on the desert. Simple and very pleasant, like painted image.
Gr., Aleksander

jafadabret (40651) 2008-09-12 0:21

Angshu bonjour.
J'aime beaucoup cette composition qui donne la plus grande place au ciel du soir d'où se détachent en silhouettes cette caravane de chameaux.
Un vrai régal !
Jacques

ChrisJ (70521) 2008-09-12 0:32

Hi Angshuman

I like the subtle sunset colors & superb silhouettes of the camels. Fantastic sharpness & well framed. Tfs!

papagolf21 (57015) 2008-09-12 2:52

Bonjour, cher Angshu,
Une réussite sans aucun doute ! l'ambiance du désert est parfaitement restituée à travers la composition.
La place que prend le ciel est bien mise en valeur.
Très belle photographie.
Amitiés.
Philippe

pierrefonds (26823) 2008-09-12 6:20

Hi Angshuman,

The camels and the people have an effect of scale compare to the size of the desert. The diagonal line of the horizon and the curve of the dunes are assets to the composition. The light of the sunset is putting the caravane in the shadow. Have a nice day.

Pierre

sanita (44) 2008-09-12 9:00

Hi Angshuman
This picture is worst a thousand words, but I only can get a few out, it astounds me. Thanks for yet another stunning picture
Susanita

avene (11242) 2008-09-12 9:35

hello Angshuman,

I have split feelings about this photo. on the one hand, I like a lot the strong silhouettes and the way you have placed them in the frame that gives a strong direction to the composition. I also like the pale purple sky that certainly adds to the dreamy mood of the photo.

on the other hand, I'd prefer much more panoramic format to emphasise the horizontal lines that symbolise harmony and peace. I don't like the foreground, it feels muddied (did you try to selectively lighten the bushes in the corners?). and I don't really like the few details in the silhouettes, since there isn't enough of them to properly show what everyone was wearing, but too much to distract from the perfect silhouettes.

I looked at your workshops, and I have to say that I'm still not convinced. the colour version still has the problem of the foreground and too much on top, while the B&W version looses the beautiful purple sky. if you don't mind, later in the evening I'll try my own version of WS.

just re-read what I've written - I really hope I don't sound too harsh, because that's not what I intended. you know I like your work, and this photo got me thinking :)

best,
Kristine

[workshop] [compare] +

PixelTerror (87195) 2008-09-12 9:54

Hi Angshuman
Nice image with plenty of free space resulting from this framing and a background that is very convenient for the silhouettes to contrast against, the whole delivers good 1001 nights impression.
Have a nice day JY

josepmarin (34269) 2008-09-12 12:38

Hi Angshuman,
I like this image, where you have created a few beautiful silhouettes of this Camel Train on a sky with the sunset light and a few soft and very attractive tones at sight.
It is a simple and very beautiful composition, in an excellent photographic work.
Friendly regards,
Josep

hispic (7399) 2008-09-12 20:21

Hi Angshuman,
Fantastic and poetic scenery! The silhouette of camel train in the beautiful twilight sky with rich tone is excellent indeed. Of course also splendid composition.
Have a nice weekend, Hisashi

Stepan (27175) 2008-09-12 22:37

The title had me open the thumbnail. Desert boat, that's an inspired idea...
And I see the typical mood and atmosphere of Sam Dunes. Cool (cold) light too.
Stéphane

jhm (83786) 2008-09-13 1:03

Hello Angshu,

This are of the most difficult pictures for take, but I like this subject with the camel train.
I find your second picture perhaps better than this, why; this picture is little bit closer.
Not all critiques are deservedly, but perhaps can we someting learn.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice weekend,
John.

Henryk_Bilor (20375) 2008-09-13 1:46

Hello
Nice composition with these dark silhouettes. Great light.
Regards

siolaw (25890) 2008-09-13 8:41

Hi Angshu,
I like silhouettes too, and these camels in the desert ones, even if they are tourists, have always appealed to my imagination... caravans, and so on...!
Good placement and framing to leave space in front of them...
Greetings
Laurent

danos (33730) 2008-09-14 0:07

hello Angshuman,
nice composition with the silhouettes of the camels and their grooms to cross the sandy desert.I like the pink background and the good placement of the Boats of the dessert in the frame.Well done.

Regards,danos

Felip (3905) 2008-09-14 8:38

Excellent composition of this caravan in the desert, perfectly silhouetted against the soft coloured sky...I've seen your WS's and I have to say that the one you have chosen is much better than the desaturated one, or even the pano formatted one (although I love this format).
Best regards

Felip

batalay (21416) 2008-09-14 20:44

Hello Mr. B,

I too like silhouettes, and when they are as exotic as a camel caravan, I especially like them. Pairs of riders of four camels, and one on the firth; four grooms walking alongside, with an intriguing spacing, but most of all, the asymmetric way you have pictured the group — all collaborate to make this a memorable shot.

Warm regards, Angshuman. It is 11:43 pm on Sunday night here, and I believe 9:43 am on Monday morning there.
Bulent

Jonas_Schmitt (3074) 2008-09-15 0:00

Hello Angshu!
Wow, this one is a really really good picture. You composed the image well with the camels "walking into the picture" and it is a good idea to show so much of the beautiful sky. You´re right, that silhouettes do look amazing, especially in such a beautiful scenery !
I also looked at the two other versions and it´s hard to say, which one I like best. But in my eyes it might even be the original that looks best because I like the Camel Train being positioned on top of the lower third.....that makes the composition so interesting (at least in my eyes). Well done !
Have a nice day and best regards,
Jonas

pablominto (41690) 2008-09-16 1:15

Hello Angshu,

Excellent minimalism, focusing our attention on the story told!
Why make things complex when simplicity looks so much better...

Greetings,
Pablo -

Bluejeans (33423) 2008-09-20 3:48

Ola amigo ,
Gosto muito deste tipo de fotos do deserto com os camelos e as pessoas as cores quentes ficaram muito bonitas , bom enquadramento da foto , só falta o sol a se pôr :) , parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo