Stormy Desert

Critiques [Translate]

•  
• sevy (6916)
• [2008-08-07 23:22]

Hello Paul,

Strong ambiance here, it makes a big part of the interest of your photo and illustrate well your note.
Moreover, the composition is nice with the vegetation in entry point and many lines of the ground driving the look to the mountains in background.
It makes me thinking about the Iceland landscape I saw recently.

Yves.

•  
• robertosalguero (17471)
• [2008-08-07 23:23]

Hi Paul,

I thought I was looking at giant porcupines! Nice landscape with excellent colours and details. The view convey solitude very well and the contrast of colours works fine. Nice framing of this wild landscape. Thanks Paul.

Roberto

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• MLINES (9299)
• [2008-08-07 23:49]
• [+]

Hi Paul, I like this very much, i think part of the road up there is called the Desert Road isn't it? Good use of subject in the foreground, exactly as Ron Yue the National Geographic photographer (look him up on google) who spoke at the Sony do here a while ago. Good colours. TFS. Murray.

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• devimeuxbe (48659)
• [2008-08-07 23:52]

Hi Paul
Strange grass in this ureal landscape.
You create a very interesting athmosphere
Well done
Bertrand

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• wishlist (4075)
• [2008-08-08 0:08]

Good morning Paul,
for sure this is a stunning atmospheric landscape; the dramatic sky have divided the compo in 2 sessions where the colour of the earth really stands out. The vegetation in the fg is important to add depth and leading the eye through the compo. Colours are beautiful as well as the excellent quality you delivered here. Thanks for sharing it.
Regards,

Igor

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• siolaw (23015)
• [2008-08-08 0:13]

Hi Paul, A good use of the hedgehoglike bush for s strong lead in to the image, it has great texture... The color tones also look fine and natural.
Nice framing with just enough of the stormy sky...
Greetings
Laurent

•  
• ktanska (12951)
• [2008-08-08 0:18]

Hi Paul,
It's amazing desert landscape. That half spherical bush is well placed foreground detail.
I remember this region from my own journey to NZ. We drove around the volcanoes but never saw them due to clouds. I don't think it's not too cold for plants. It must be the soil that makes these desert conditions. Maybe it can't keep moisture, or is chemically unsuitable for richer vegetation.
Kari

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• pastadog (10967)
• [2008-08-08 0:45]

Hi Paul - desert and heavy sky, a winning combination that you exploit very nicely in this one, congratulations, Daniel

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• ribeiroantonio (16294)
• [2008-08-08 0:48]

To me, it happened exactly the opposite. By Lake Taupo was a glorious day and when we went up to Mount Ruapehu it was raining and miserably. The sky is very dramatic and beautiful at the same time. The arid landscape really cries for some good water. Well done.
Antonio

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• pcp (3087)
• [2008-08-08 1:23]

Hello Paul,

Wonderful composition and really great colors to see..Good quality nice weather shot.welldone.

TFS

Senthil

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• gracious (14211)
• [2008-08-08 1:33]
• [+]

Hello Paul,
How are you and the weather down there!
Yes, this is the typical scenery along the Desert Road and you had captured well with good depth in good colour and superb details! I loved the colour contrast a lot!
well done and have a great weekend!
p/s thinking paying Ruapehu a visit in the next two weeks, how is the photographing opportunity?
Tony

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• Hellas (4284)
• [2008-08-08 1:38]

Hi Paul,
thank you for this post indicating the lonely life of plants and the sparse coverage of this alpine terrain. Very good horizon and furthermore a beautiful cloudy sky!
Very clear and sharp image!

Have a nice weekend,
Athanasios.

•  
• AiresSantos (27320)
• [2008-08-08 2:42]

Hi Paul
amazing sky in this fine composition. Well showed the atmosphere of the storm...Excellent POV and details on foreground. Good informatice note.
Have a nice weekend
Aires

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• papagolf21 (49403)
• [2008-08-08 2:48]

Bonjour, mon ami Paul,
J'imagine cette photographie prise au moment où l'homme n'avait pas encore mis un pied sur terre.
Excellente ambiance reproduite dans cette composition.
Félicitations pour la qualité photographique et le sujet.
Amitiés.
Philippe

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• dareco (12015)
• [2008-08-08 3:40]

A beautiful scene! I love the sky, and the lighting and colors are wonderful!! Very nice work! TFS and have a great day!

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• wolf38 (7936)
• [2008-08-08 3:54]

Hello Paul. An interesting and dramatically working landscape. Outstanding composes, wonderful colors. Very beautifully. Best regards, Wolfgang. Best regards, Wolfgang.

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• MarcT (15842)
• [2008-08-08 8:30]

Hi Paul,
Superb interaction between the sky and the ground. The lighter vegetation makes a good entry point to your picture.
Cheers
Marc

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• danyy (54226)
• [2008-08-08 15:28]

Bonjour Paul,
un magnifique ciel tourmenté, il me fascine et me séduit.
Nul besoin de le forcer pour qu'il montre son caractère.
Une photo remplie de profondeur et de netteté, elle rend toute l'ambiance du moment.
Excllent week-end.
Daniel.

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• adores (13227)
• [2008-08-08 17:54]

Hi Paul!
What a landscape! These plants are really nice and different. Very good colours and light. The sky is great with those dark clouds.

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• testmaniac (9978)
• [2008-08-08 20:46]

Hi Paul,good composed photo and special atmosphere of this land. Nice colors and photo quality!

TFS

Phil

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• alainh (32257)
• [2008-08-08 23:35]

hello Paul
excellent !!!
the wind, the metelic and impressive cloud, the desert and the rare grass; a very good composition.
friendly regards Paul
alain

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• Graal (44865)
• [2008-08-08 23:47]

Hi Paul,
unusual scenery, like from unknown planete. Fine composition and two dominante colours. Good work.
Gr., Aleksander

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• ChrisJ (57432)
• [2008-08-09 1:59]

Hi Paul

Whatever explosion created Lake Taupo, must have affected the world climate globally for years. Good sharpness & composition on this desolate volcanic landscape. Tfs!

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• pablominto (31713)
• [2008-08-09 2:00]

Hello Paul,

I notice the furry heaps scattered all over the landscape!
Otherwise a hostile appearance, with sparse vegetation and very exposed to wind...
A fine composition with a good division sky/land, and the heap in front is an eye-catcher!

Greetings,
Pablo -

•  
• Giorgio (6836)
• [2008-08-09 2:22]

- Another superb typical view on your wonderful country, the feeling of loneliness and of rougher of the place is impressive, beautiful but extremely wild, anyway, bravo and TFS!
Have a good weekend also.
giorgio

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• josepmarin (27222)
• [2008-08-09 4:23]

Hi Paul,
There is a great depth of image in this composition, The desert landscape has a strong contrast with the cloudy and threatening sky, and this vegetation that splashes the ground is very interesting graphically.
I like the result of the whole set.
Great shot.
Best regards,
Josep

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• Dyerco (5762)
• [2008-08-09 6:34]

It's great to see some of your country Paul. I have wanted to travel there for a long time. I really like the layers of land and sky and the slight diagonal slopes in this image. The grasses make for an interesting FG.
Phil

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• jmdias (9546)
• [2008-08-09 8:18]

paul

beautiful image, the shapes of the plant and the shapes of the clouds produced a nice view here despite the bad weather. This landscape make me remember the highfields from Bolivia but in that ones the weather is ever dry

hugs

jorge

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• axiotea (12612)
• [2008-08-09 8:43]

Hello Paul
A picturesque desert scenery with its dry vegetation looking a bit like a hedgehog, the mountains and the dramatic sky providing a nice BG. Fine colors and texture too!
Cheers
Marilyn

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• leo61 (33742)
• [2008-08-09 22:57]

Hi Paul!
Great low POV and good composition with these bushes in the foreground.Great depth and very nice brown tones which contrast very well with the sky.
Regards,Leo

•  
• carper (55938)
• [2008-08-10 0:36]

it's a beauty Paul,
marvelous landscape, good atmosphere, fine balance, good low pov, fantastic photo I like it my compliments for it, have a nice day.
gr, jaap

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• ryno (3748)
• [2008-08-10 1:51]

Hi Paul, this is not the kind of scenery I would normally associate with NZ, but perhaps rather Patagonia. Thanks for showing us another side of the country. Windswept and barren, a moody image, well-composed.
Regards,
Ryno

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• cunejo200 (6538)
• [2008-08-10 6:54]

Hi Paul,
The brown grasses in the f/g beautifully adorns the atmospheric vista. Sharp and well exposed. Greetings! Danilo

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• robiuk (10366)
• [2008-08-10 10:09]

Hi Paul,
what I really like here is that almost strange combo
of natural light - overcast with low clouds in the FG and
sunny down on the horizon.
Not much of a land, quite bare... but with a good compo
and placement of elements of interest in the foreground,
you created a very good landscape. In a way it reminds me
of our local NY Moors.
Cheers,
Robi

•  
• feather (41686)
• [2008-08-10 11:37]

Those storm clouds look menacing, yet the foreground light seems fine with plenty of contrast. Your low POV works well on this strange-looking grass plant. Nice colour tones.
Kath

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• Scharan (12314)
• [2008-08-10 14:47]

Olá Paul

Uma exótica paisagem dividindo em duas cores o cenário. Bonita composição, meus parabéns.
GA
Vera

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• plimrn (16610)
• [2008-08-10 16:21]

Hi Paul,
Wonderful detail and light management, the golden plant and the cloud detail mitigate the greyness of the day. Well done!!

The soil and the plants remind me a lot of the top of Haleakala, a Maui volcano; although Haleakala is the tallest mountain in the area.
HLJ, Pat

•  
• jimkilgallon (1785)
• [2008-08-10 16:44]

Well done Paul
Excellent mood, colours and sharpness and I like the low looming clouds. Looks like a massive hegdehog that stuff in the fg.
Well captured
Regards
Jim

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• Janice (4349)
• [2008-08-10 17:25]

Hi Paul, I do enjoy driving the Desert Road and seeing all the strange vegetation on the sides of the mountains and ranges. I particularly like this hedgehog-like bush.
Good natural colours too,
TFS
Janice

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• Docarmo (7475)
• [2008-08-10 18:45]

Hi Paul,
Very impressive picture, the depth is remarkable, this kind of vegetation in several layers help a lot for the DOF, the range of mountais in background as well.
Amazing clouds!
Regards,
MCV

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• Clementi (25110)
• [2008-08-10 22:40]

Ciao Paul,
nice shot,Nice landscape with excellent colours and details unbelievable and dramatic atmosphere you have captured. the special light contributes in this. very beautiful the clouds full of rain .
Giorgio

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• John_F_Kennedy (22141)
• [2008-08-10 23:55]

Nice sky and nice colours. I like the composition with the grass in the Foreground. Well done.
Best wishes,
Achim

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• kiks (4336)
• [2008-08-11 0:48]

Something special about this image! I think that the colors and diferent textures make it so intersting. Goog example of a well done composition using a good low pov and including the plant at the fg for a bigger depth.
TFS
Kiks

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• luisafonso (13426)
• [2008-08-11 2:34]
• [+]

Hi Paul! Nice light here and great stormy cloud formation in the distant sky. This turf background is nice. I would just had shifted a little to the left to avoid that clipping between the two objects in the right. That half green plant should be entirely visible or not visible at all. Try to scan your frame for clipping objects before clicking the button. ;) Nice one.

•  
• Gerrit (26795)
• [2008-08-11 5:34]

Hi Paul,
remarkable vegetation and valley. It sure looks chilly.
Regards, Gerrit

•  
• jafadabret (29080)
• [2008-08-11 9:35]

Paul bonjour.
Ce désert recèle de belles choses comme ces herbes qui font penser à des moutons. J'aime les couleurs et bien sûr ce ciel d'orage.
Jacques

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• Waylim (4185)
• [2008-08-11 10:31]

Paul,
I love how intense the colors are after the rain, The whole lanscape is well saturated. You got just enough light coming through for a great clarity shot of the otherwise arid landscape, the rain made this one special. the sky is drammatic with the low clouds still moving through. Great composition and really good quality technically. Thanks
Way

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• zeca (18572)
• [2008-08-11 21:06]

Very nice DOF, Paul! I like the low perspective and the textures on the ground are nice!
Regards,
Zeca

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• UnTrained (0)
• [2008-08-12 0:39]

Hi Paul,
a nice "V" of light between cloud and ground. The impressing textures of that desert are a good opposite to the cloudy sky, looks a bit like a moon picture.
Lieben Gruss, Ulf

•  
• pelin (2278)
• [2008-08-12 3:03]

Hello Paul, this is a crazy shot. Looks like UFO land ;-)
I like color balance here and highlights over the cloudy sky.
Perfect.
Thanks,
~pelin

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• trekks (9774)
• [2008-08-12 8:05]

hi Paul

The strange looking grass really stands out in this desert landscape to make a feature with its bushy style and golden yellow tone. You showed it well in this presentation.

tfs, bill

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• Didi (30062)
• [2008-08-12 10:01]

Hi Paul
Looks like a giant hedgehog; very nice foreground with this stormy sky.
Well done
Best regards

•  
• Bluejeans (20784)
• [2008-08-13 5:14]

Ola Paul ,
Que belo momento com estas tempestade atravessar o deserto o primeiro plano ficou magnifico com estas plantas parecem uns ouriços , bom contraste de cores, bom enquadramento da foto , parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

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• Photo65Net (34559)
• [2008-08-13 9:44]

Paul,
A great compo for sure.
I like a lot the little vegetation on the FG, and the depth of your image.
Nice job,
Regards,
JB.

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• skippy007 (3199)
• [2008-08-13 23:50]

Hello Paul, The type of scenery one does not associate with the green lush fields of New Zealand.
Excellent colour & detail, it does look isolated & deserted & easy to see where it gets it's name from.
Nice desert like scene.
Thanks
Santo

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• Sanderson-Brown (1683)
• [2008-08-13 23:55]
• [+]

Hi Paul,
i cant work out if this is shot from a low pov or is that large furry thing quite large?? Great scenery, the cloud line gives a nice isolated horizin line. Well captured.
tfs
regards
paul

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• jhm (69562)
• [2008-08-14 3:39]

Hello Paul,

The composition is nice, with the vegetation in entry point and many lines, also the mountains in background care for a very nice picture.
The typical long desert grass, dry and nice in a ball make this image very nice. TFS.

Very well done,
John.

•  
• daddo (8473)
• [2008-08-14 3:44]

Hi Paul. a somewhat unearthly scene- as if some strange hairy creatures inhabit an inhospitable planet.I do like the palette of colours, particularly the shades of violet and brown. Regards. Klaudio.

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• dvlazar (4765)
• [2008-08-14 4:15]

Interesting vegetation. Well framed like that in the right third of the shot. Very clear and sharp - good lanscape.
Dave

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• blankar (785)
• [2008-08-14 11:21]

Hi Paul,
What a strange place... Almost like a different planet. Grasses look like creatures more than plants. I specially enjoy the colors of your photo, it has subtle beauty. You were lucky to catch the sky in such a dramatic moment. I wonder if trimming a bit of the top of your photo would help the composition... Hmmm, not sure but perhaps...

•  
• Pascale (8263)
• [2008-08-14 11:25]

Bonsoir Paul
Avec la vignette ,j'ai cru à de gros hérissons!Superbe paysage avec une excellente composition ,ce ciel donne une ambiance très particulière .J'aime beaucoup le gros plan sur cette touffe d'herbe pour entrer dans la photo.Excellent
Amitiés
Pascale

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• toto (15044)
• [2008-08-14 14:14]

Bonsoir,
belle photo de cette étendue désertique, bel effet donné par ces espèce de buissons qui forment des espèce de hérissons très doux.
Jolies couleurs et bon partage.

Amitiés Thomas

•  
• SteveH (2402)
• [2008-08-14 18:18]

Hi Paul, A find shot for sure. Showing the interesting clump of grass and the difficult landscape it lives in. Exposure, colur and sharpness all good. Composition is good too with the clump well placed in the frame. chees, Steve

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• salvator (17435)
• [2008-08-15 2:54]

Hi Paul,
Nice sharpness and low pov with the yellow vegetation in the foreground.
Nice sense of depth.
Best regards. Salvator.

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• Cricri (31005)
• [2008-08-16 23:57]

Hi Paul,
Superbe il plane une atmosphére particuliére dans cet endroit, trés désertique et qui me plaît beaucoup trés belle copo
Good sunday for you
cricri

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• izler (3031)
• [2008-08-17 14:38]

hello paul
wonderful landscape photo
i like composition, POV, light, colours and sharpness
TFS
regards
izler

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• riclopes (28452)
• [2008-08-19 3:18]

Olá Paul, I learned that if there's a strong FG, there's usually a good photograph result and I see that here. This golden spiny bush is amazing. Quite an inospit landscape under a stormy weather. Love it.
Cheers,
ricardo

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• Silversnow (1426)
• [2008-08-19 7:06]

Very interesting landscape and well exposed considering the overcast.
Very special grass sprouts, and it sure is rare to have an alpine desert under the rain ;)

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• erdna (4941)
• [2008-08-19 8:45]

An impressive photograph of a unique terrain. I like your composition of a nice foreground that comes together with the dramatic background. Very well done.

Andre'

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• Angshu (26140)
• [2008-08-19 20:45]

Hello Paul
The bush in the FG looks like a giant hedgehog! Like how you used the ample FG in the frame to lead us to the Kiamanawa Ranges in the BG. The storm front adds to the mood here. Good work!
Regards
Angshu

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• Henryk_Bilor (19336)
• [2008-08-23 14:46]

Hi Paul
Lovely capture of the way with these hedgehogs ;). Good light a this feeling of the wind :).
Regards

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• giorgimer (12407)
• [2008-08-23 15:16]

Hi Paul,

very nice view, impressive sky. Good composition with the bushes in the FG.

TFS

Gio

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• stego (16307)
• [2008-08-24 12:26]

Hi Paul,
What a difference from your last post! The landscape is as beautiful as it is stark. I don't know if all of us would notice that, but those grasses look very photogenic here and you surely made a a great compo with them. The sky enhances the dramatic atmosphere. It's intriguing how that bush on the centre manages to keep green.
Regards, José.

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• PaulVDV (2237)
• [2008-08-25 4:06]

Hello Paul,
The vegetation is sparse and this plant gives the image of a desolate landscape an extra dramatic accent. The sky that announces a storm is fantastic. I like the colours of this dark moment in a desert surrounding.
Best regards, Paul

•  
• danos (20886)
• [2008-08-26 2:24]

Hello Paul,
i like this deserted area of New Zealand with the sparse vegetation,and the wild beauty.I like the tints of the earth as the anhydrous plants that at least the first one looks like as hedgehog.Well done.

Regards,Danos

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• Greg1949 (6110)
• [2008-08-29 4:52]

The more I see of NZ the more I think I should come on a very long visit. It seems as varied in geography as the US and in some ways much more human friendly than your neighbor, Oz. This one looks like the pictures of Peru and Ecuador that I have seen. Great capture.

Greg

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• Glint (1995)
• [2008-08-31 0:47]

hello Paul,
dramatic landscape with excellent foreground interest as well as the mountains beyond.I like the way a summery blue sky with white clouds peeps out of the brooding heavy cloud.
regards
Bev

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• Benedict (6490)
• [2008-09-09 5:37]
• [+]

hi paul,
the place, tho deserted doesn't look arrid at this point in time. very well mamanged lighting and clearness despite the gloomy BG. i am used to seeing tumbleweeds in such places but this one looks different, what is the grass called?
regards,
Benedict

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• pboehringer (19592)
• [2008-09-13 19:43]

Paul,
I love deserts. Something that I learned to appreciate since I live in California. The arid environment with its light provides an uniqness in photographic possibilities that always fascinates me. You seem to have some interesting samples in New Zealand too. Something surprising for my stereotypic understanding of Kiwilandia. Absolutely wonderful plant in the foreground, although it bothers me a little bit that it obliterates the viwe of the green bush in the background.
Peter

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• jaywalker (10353)
• [2008-09-15 13:09]

Hi Paul, The low POV looking across the arid landscape looks brilliant, the whole scene works well together with the barren colours & stormy sky, wonderfully composed, kind regards Wilson.

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• zmey (5398)
• [2008-09-17 9:20]

hello paul!

i like the mood in this one, and that 'furry thing' in the foreground... looks like an animal sleeping: a wise DOF anchor choice!

regards,
kristaps

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• marietom (22357)
• [2008-09-26 2:56]

hello paul,

j'avais manqué celle ci, qu'est-ce qu'elle est belle, cette image !
Quand la nature imite les hérissons... Belle réussite !
Bonne journée
Marie

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• bebbetto (1537)
• [2008-09-26 10:41]

Hi Paul. I ever thought NZ had desert areas like this !
Strange bushes in foreground. Excellent POV.
Great shot. Congratulations

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• calexica (1227)
• [2008-10-13 8:17]

Hey Paul,
An amazing shot of this bizarre looking landscape. The dark clouds create a moody atmosphere. Excellent colors & contrast, perfect sharpness. Congratulations!!!
Greetings,
Natasha

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• jmcl (12224)
• [2008-10-26 13:55]

Hi Paul.

Wonderful place .. wonderful emptiness .. you can feel the cold .. love the wild combination of lines between the clouds and land horizon ... great sense of dimension .. stark and beautiful meditation .. very nice. take care, John