The Dead Trees of Deadvlei

kdog · July 15, 2015

I got to check off a long-standing bucket list item of mine the other day, shooting the dead trees of Deadvlei, in the red sand dunes of the Namibian desert of Africa. So much fun!
We got up early the first morning to beat the crowds, a plan that ultimately backfired on us because we had no idea where the dead trees were. So we wandered around aimlessly and took a few shots in the dunes.

Driving out of the dunes, we saw where everyone else had parked, and then noticed all the foot prints heading over the dunes to what must be Deadvlei. After a mile hike in deep sand, we found it. Of course being late morning, the light was less than ideal. But still pretty cool!

Next morning, we headed straight there. The light changes very quickly and you get nicer shots before the sun reaches the ground.

Not the easiest place to get to, but shooting Deadvlei was a terrific experience.

Thanks for looking and feedback is always welcome.

-joel

Cornflake · July 15, 2015

Wow. Joel, these are simply fabulous.

Stumblebum · July 15, 2015

Wonderful set Bro! Nice layers and nicely framed! I take it you had to be there around noon?
Great experience I am sure!

dlplumer · July 15, 2015

Love em all, Joel, and I would personally hang that last one

clap

kdog · July 15, 2015

Cornflake wrote: »

Wow. Joel, these are simply fabulous.

Thank you, Don! They were a lot of fun to shoot.

Stumblebum wrote: »

I like this second time as well! ;o)

Thanks, man!

dlplumer wrote: »

Love em all, Joel, and I would personally hang that last one clap

Thanks, Dan! That's my wife's favorite too and will most likely be hanging soon.

Thelensspot · July 15, 2015

Just....WOW!!! Awesome pics. With minimal shadows on the trees it does look as if the sun is directly overhead. Absolutely gorgeous!

Richard · July 15, 2015

Great set Joel. The last three just blow me away.

Thelensspot · July 15, 2015

Joel, simply fantastic! Just incredible shots here.

clap

Cornflake · July 15, 2015

The second photo isn't what you were after but it's terrific, and would work well in black and white. I'd consider cropping it just above the bush that's near the center at the bottom.

Thelensspot · July 15, 2015

Cornflake wrote: »

The second photo isn't what you were after but it's terrific, and would work well in black and white. I'd consider cropping it just above the bush that's near the center at the bottom.

I love the second shot!

Seefutlung · July 15, 2015

Wonderful, absolutely wonderful.

Earache · July 15, 2015

Yup... awesome compositions, color, light, etc. WOW, Joel!!
Last one is completely fantastic!!! I'd buy it... and I never buy photographs!
I second the motion for some B&W too!

You proly know, but, lots of sensor dust in several.

Travel · July 16, 2015

Great shots! Tell us about getting there!

David_S85 · July 16, 2015

Blown away by these. Joel, this is a delicious set of dead trees! I never tire from viewing that area of Namibia. Very happy for you that you could see and take shots of this area before it is gone. There is also a "Show us your dead trees" thread in here somewhere.

DougMartinVisuals · July 16, 2015

Simply incredible.

kdog · July 16, 2015

Stumblebum wrote: »

Wonderful set Bro! Nice layers and nicely framed! I take it you had to be there around noon?
Great experience I am sure!

Thanks, man. I explained that in narrative, but here's a summary. This was two separate shoots. The first one with the bright ground was late morning. The second one with the darker ground was shortly after dawn.

Richard wrote: »

Great set Joel. The last three just blow me away.

Thanks, Richard. Those are the early morning shots, which I agree are the best.

Cornflake wrote: »

The second photo isn't what you were after but it's terrific, and would work well in black and white. I'd consider cropping it just above the bush that's near the center at the bottom.

Hey Don, thanks for the input. I'll try your suggestion!

Thelensspot wrote: »

Joel, simply fantastic! Just incredible shots here. clap

Thelensspot wrote: »

I love the second shot!

Thelensspot wrote: »

Just....WOW!!! Awesome pics. With minimal shadows on the trees it does look as if the sun is directly overhead. Absolutely gorgeous!

Thanks, Wayne. Sorry about the duplicate thread and I've merged both of your comments here. I appreciate your kind and thoughtful comments.

Seefutlung wrote: »

Wonderful, absolutely wonderful.

Thanks, Gary!

DougMartinVisuals wrote: »

Simply incredible.

Thanks, Doug!

kdog · July 16, 2015

Earache wrote: »

Yup... awesome compositions, color, light, etc. WOW, Joel!!
Last one is completely fantastic!!! I'd buy it... and I never buy photographs!
I second the motion for some B&W too!

You proly know, but, lots of sensor dust in several.

Thanks very much, Eric! As I mentioned to Taz, I do intend to print that last one. It's my wife's favorite too.

Dust is everywhere in Africa and it gets into everything.. These were all processed quickly on the road on my laptop and frankly I punted on fixing up a lot of the spots.

Travel wrote: »

Great shots! Tell us about getting there!

Thanks, Travel! This particular destination was near the end of a four week road trip through Botswana and Namibia. So our route to get there was crazy. If one wanted to go straight there, they would fly into Windhoek, the capital, and drive pretty much a full-day on dirt roads to Sossusvlei (although Google maps puts it at just 5 1/2 hours.) If you stay inside the park, you can be in the dunes pretty much at dawn. It's an hour's drive to the dunes if you stay at the Sesriem campground just inside the park. You will need advanced reservations.

David_S85 wrote: »

Blown away by these. Joel, this is a delicious set of dead trees! I never tire from viewing that area of Namibia. Very happy for you that you could see and take shots of this area before it is gone. There is also a "Show us your dead trees" thread in here somewhere.

Thanks, David. This was definitely a bucket list opportunity for me which really panned out. I did think about reviving the dead-tree thread with a shot or two.

roaddog52 · July 16, 2015

A great set of images. I particularly like the 1st image from your second morning.

I understand how there can be many factors that are involved in how we compose an image, but I really like this one for the fact that you got the complete trees in the composition with out having to chop some off of the tops. A really stunning image

thumb

Phil

black mamba · July 16, 2015

Outstanding work, Joel. I've got to think that several of these images would be highly marketable.

clap

Take care,

Tom

jerryr · July 16, 2015

very nice - I like the sunrise one !

bristlecone · July 17, 2015

Simply WOW! Last one is my fav but all are great. Now I'm jealous - I've always wanted to visit this place.
-Len

kdog · July 17, 2015

black mamba wrote: »

Outstanding work, Joel. I've got to think that several of these images would be highly marketable. clap

Thanks Tom! Good to have you checking in here and thanks for the very generous words. I've long toyed with the idea of going on the local wine and art festival tour in my old age. And if I do, I'll be sure and bring a couple of these along.

kdog · July 17, 2015

jerryr wrote: »

very nice - I like the sunrise one !

Thanks, Jerry. I like the sunrise shots the best as well.

kdog · July 17, 2015

bristlecone wrote: »

Simply WOW! Last one is my fav but all are great. Now I'm jealous - I've always wanted to visit this place.
-Len

Thanks, Len! You too, eh? It didn't disappoint! You should go for sure.

kdog · July 17, 2015

roaddog52 wrote: »

A great set of images. I particularly like the 1st image from your second morning.

I understand how there can be many factors that are involved in how we compose an image, but I really like this one for the fact that you got the complete trees in the composition with out having to chop some off of the tops. A really stunning image thumb

Phil

Thanks for the feedback, Phil! Here are a few more along those lines just for you!

And one more with a clipped tree, just because i like it.

Stumblebum · July 17, 2015

Bro the glow in this newest 4 shots is PERFECT!

lust

Especially #2 and #3 of this sequence!

toferbaseball · July 24, 2015

Great shots!

The Dead Trees of Deadvlei

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