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Thread: Dead Vlei

  1. #1
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Default Dead Vlei

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    Hi all, I just returned from my trip to Namibia and South Africa. Plenty of landscape opportunities in Namibia. This was taken early morning in Dead Vlei.

    Canon 7D
    70-200 II @ 70mm
    1/160
    f13.0
    ISO 100
    HH, Levels, curves, LCE and a Hougaard Malan action applied in CS5.

    C&C welcome and appreciated. Thanks,

    Rachel

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    I never tire of seeing images from this iconic place...and can you believe I was last here as a boy? Need to make some plans...

    I like that the trees are "far away" in this one, and I like the FG cracks leading me in. Classical scene, classically shot, nicely presented.
    Morkel Erasmus

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  3. #3
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Thanks Morkel, you should definitely head back there. Only frustrating part of shooting from a distance there is either waiting for people to move out of the scene or having to clone them out. In this one it was the former rather than the latter.

    Thanks again,
    Rachel

  4. #4
    Ken Watkins
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    Rachel,

    It looks like I am in for a good time if you have more of these

    Not been there for 10 years, silly me, probably the best landscapes in the world.

    The colours may look unreal but they are not, the best way to see it is by a plane trip to the coast and back (no good for photos though)

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    Lifetime Member Markus Jais's Avatar
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    Wonderful shot with fantastic light and colors. I like the placement of the trees.

    Markus

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Thanks Ken and Markus, much appreciated.

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    BPN Member Steve Uffman's Avatar
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    Really fine shot....always enjoy your work....plus I need to go there....

  8. #8
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Thanks very much Steve.

  9. #9
    Robert Amoruso
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    Hi Rachel,

    I have a different perspective on your image. To me the strongest element is the sand dune. The trees act as supporting characters giving scale to the largeness of the dune. Graphically, the light colored sand, red due and blue sky act to divide the frame into strong geometric shapes.

    The FG is too busy with the high degree of texture in the sand. I suggest cropping that out - a smaller strip is needed to frame the dune as a base. More sky would need to included to strengthen its support of framing the dune.

    I have posted my version here. I added canvas on top, selected blue sky and paintbucketed the blue sky and added canvas to even out the color.

    I much prefer the graduation of color in the blue, but was really just looking to demonstrate my cropping idea

  10. #10
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Thanks Robert, a good alternative presentation and I think both work.

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    I really like Robert's interpretation which takes it a bit beyond the normal scene we see of Dead Vlei. Really like the foreground minimalised, but I tend to like that look anyway, and the strong, vibrant colours are magnificent.

  12. #12
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hilary, thanks very much

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    Hi Rachel,
    After seeing some friends photo's of them visiting Sossusvlei this weekend, they live in Windhoek, it is refreshing to see your image. I like your image, but prefer Robert's repost as those dunes are absolutely amazing. As for the trees, i would need to isolate them more, so the way they are presented in Robert's repost appeals to me.
    TFS and best wishes,
    Mark.
    Last edited by Mark Wiseman; 08-27-2012 at 02:53 PM.

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Both posts work well!
    Morkel Erasmus

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    BPN Member Anette Mossbacher's Avatar
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    Hi Rachel,

    both images work quite well.
    For me, I might would leave the FG out like Robert suggested. But this is just me.
    Heading there myself end of the month. I am just wondering how to get the people out, before spending to much time on cloning or with the healing brush.
    My idea would be a Big Stopper ND filter. I guess I give it a try when there. Maybe I am lucky and no one will be there, which I doubt. But it is on my wish list for this trip

    Ciao
    Anette

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Anette - thanks very much. I've found in my images where someone did sneak in, they are generally very small in the frame and the spot healing brush works well. My guide suggested heading straight in to Dead Vlei rather than climbing any of the dunes that way at least you were in before the people who did climb. It worked to some extent.

    Thanks again,
    Rachel

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  18. #17
    BPN Member Anette Mossbacher's Avatar
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    Thanks a lot for the tip Rachel, I will take it for sure.
    I do all myself, probably sleeping at the gate in the car, engine running to rase in when the gate opens, to leave all others in the dust.
    Running in, throwing my tripod on the dot, hoping it opens by itself fast, like a pop up tent, and shoot away


    Ciao
    Anette

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Anette - I had a head start staying at a Wilderness Safari property. They have their own gate about half-way in. I understand the light is best at Dead Vlei after the sun is a little higher in the sky so don't hesitate to stop at least a couple times on the drive in. The light was really special on the dunes along the road on the drive in and not as good when we left. I also wish I had swapped my lenses on my cameras. I shot my 16-35 on my 5DIII on the tripod and handheld my 70-200 on my 7D. I much prefer my shots with the 70-200 and wish I had put that on the ff camera. There was much too much sand blowing around to even attempt to swap lenses so I kept it as I had set it up.

    Rachel

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  21. #19
    BPN Member Anette Mossbacher's Avatar
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    Hi Rachel,
    thanks a lot for the tips, as well with the lenses to swap. Always handy to know beforehand what to expect.
    I don't know yet where I will stay there, yet. But for sure will stop a few times on the way in to get that light you are talking about
    I am not in a hurry there. I also can stay another day or stop by on my way back to Windhoek, which I might do, when I get other ideas in my head. Usually happens when I am gone.
    Many thanks Rachel for all the good tips.
    Have you been at Skeleton Coast with the Fur seals as well ?

    Ciao
    Anette

  22. #20
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Anette, good to see you girls are exchanging thoughts, ideas and experiences. No Milka bars though
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    We stopped at the Cape Cross Fur Seal Colony for about 30 minutes. It's a huge colony but you have to stay on the elevated walkway so it's difficult to get low pov shots.

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    I am very late on this one Rachell. Super image, always love those sand red dunes. Robert version has improved the comp IMO. Hope to see more.

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Thanks Vivaldo, much appreciated.

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    Rachel , the crop is very interesting but the repost is great. I must disagree with the statement of the light being better when the sun is up. This light and coloration is perfect and rich but some early moring pre dawn light is nothing but spectacular :) The run from th ecar park is not pleasant to get in prior to the masses but well worth it :) Maybe next time hey :) !!

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  30. #25
    BPN Member Andre van As's Avatar
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    Hi Rachel
    I love your original portrayal as it represents one of the few places where you can get a trichrome depiction of the landscape. I have many pictures (Ektachrome prof 200 ASA slides) of this very vlei when we visited there in mid 1970s. It is disturbing to read about the crowding of this venue. When we visited you had to obtain a permit weeks in advance and then go and fetch a key from a nearby farm to get into this "forbidden" area. Once in you locked the gate and essentially owned the area as no one else got in. We camped there for three nights and had an incredible time. Perhaps I should scan our pictures and create a gallery to show how it used to be before the wildlife tourist explosion. BTW this vlei is far from dead - after a rainfall it springs into life. The Afrikaans word vlei actually means a wet or marshy area.

    Kind regards

    Andre

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  32. #26
    Lifetime Member Loukie Viljoen's Avatar
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    Groete Andre van Loukie

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