Karakoram Highway Photo

Photographer’s Note

The Karakorum Highway is the highest highway on earth. It connects China with Pakistan and you have to make high passes of about 5000 meters.

The picture I took was near de Karakol Lake (3700 m) where I did spend the night. Early in the morning I was walking with my guide in the direction of the Muztagh Ata when I heard quick footsteps of a donkey. The man and his car was running on the Highway and he was there completely alone. I did not hesitate one moment and started to run to the highway, meanwhile trying to get my camera out of my bag. It was almost 100 meter and on that altitude is was very tiring.
I came at last at the very last moment where I could take a picture, the donkey was running pretty fast.
Thanks to the Image Stabelizer I could take the one and only picture :-)))))

flory, Flavia, MiguelP, pisces, BennyV, leo61, avene, Floydian, patdeph, IgorDeleze trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

Flavia (10202) 2009-03-23 8:10

Hi Reggy,

Amazing beautiful picture! The composition is perfect, the route leading the eyes to the man and to the white mountains on the bg. This one is a real treaty to the eyes. Perfectly sharp and exposed.

Regards,

Flavia

MiguelP (14336) 2009-03-23 8:16

Hi Reggy... This wide shot gives to the photo an epic dimension that I can compare with David Lean´s films. Splendid composition. Emotion within the frame.

Miguel

pisces (770) 2009-03-23 8:24

Hi Reggy!
Perfect composition here and sharpness too - good thing you used the stabelizer! All very well balanced with the mountains in the background and the road leading out of the frame!
TFS
Maria

npecanhuk (14492) 2009-03-23 8:32

Hi Reggy!
Amazing picture! An outstanding composition, a superb pov, excellent sharpness, correct exposure and very good depth of field!
I like the whole image... that truly pleases me... but I'd like to point out the detail of the man with his "car" and those mountains in the right background!
TFS - Congratulations!
Warmest regards and greetings from Brazil,
Neyvan

Wanda1 (11015) 2009-03-23 8:56

Hallo Reggy,
That is a great shot! The two differnet types of mountains in the background one with snow one without are lovely, and of course the lonely man, his donkey and their shadow on the empty road gives a real sense of remoteness.
Groetjes
Wanda

smarcell (14541) 2009-03-23 10:17

I love this corner of our earth, which I wish to visit sooner or later.
I like this wide spaces, the dry landscape and the road going to nowhere.
Regards Stefano

BennyV (4867) 2009-03-23 10:31

Hello Reggy,

What a pleasure it is to see you've posted another picture of Xinjiang. And it's another real beauty. I'm always surprised at the quality of the roads in those remote parts of China. I wonder if you've met those poor guys who have to sweep the road and keep it clean?

(Just a thought: it might be a good idea to include the month the picture was taken. That kind of info can be handy for those planning a trip.)

Prachtig!

Benny

Cloud__Warrior (291) 2009-03-23 12:34

Hi Reggy

Simply a stunning backdrop and a beautiful image,

Regards
Andy

leo61 (43610) 2009-03-23 12:39

Hi Reggy!
What a great POV,timing and image.Amazing depth with this sharp triangle of gravel and the mountains and clouds in the distance.
The overall sharpness is perfect and the polarizer did a good job here.
Regards,Leo

scalerman (25783) 2009-03-23 14:06

Reggy: it's a crystal clear image. Great perspective and background complement your theme. Were you using the sports mode of continual focus? best, c

avene (11084) 2009-03-23 15:59

hi Reggy,
I'd say the result is well worth running for :) I like a lot the feeling of wide-open space and almost endless road that disappears in the distance. the man and his car look tiny against the snow-capped mountains, it certainly adds to the "end of the world" feeling. great shot, I like it a lot.

best,
Kristine

CycleEyes (598) 2009-03-23 23:18

Hello Reggy, very beautiful scene caputred. Nice perspective of road with great landscape in background. I like this framing with subject in center, and exposure with nice tones.
Congratulations

George

vincz (19043) 2009-03-24 0:30

Quality is top, this is amazing when we read that you have been running to get it! Compo is excellent with this loopong road getting us through the picture towards thiese beautiful snowy mountains in the back.

Floydian (30970) 2009-03-24 7:58

Die ws is natuurlijk verschrikkelijk, want kijk eens hoe mooi het origineel is. Heb hem tig keer gezien, maar hij blijft boeiend in dit desolate landschap. Gekke is, ezel met kar, maar wel een super moderne snelweg die er in topconditie uitziet....en dat op zo'n hoogte..!!!

Henk

boa (1400) 2009-03-24 15:37

Hi Reggy,
what a very interesting place to visit ! Great capture of the man with his donkey and the amazing landscape. Very sharp and clear with natural colors. I wonder what he has done, not a house as far as one can see.. Thanks for sharing!
Best regards
Boa

adores (15713) 2009-03-24 17:29

Hi Reggy!
This one really reminds me that I need to visit China again:)! I like the scene, with the lonely man travelling on his cart. No living soul around (except you probably:)) and those fabulous mountains in background. Well captured!

patdeph (18244) 2009-03-25 6:14

hello Reggy
congratulations to have a so sharp picture in these conditions!I remember I have run one time in high altitude with my back-bag,and it took about 2 hours to be OK again!There is an exceptional clarity in this photo,maybe due to the purity of the air,I don't know!The light and the colours are splendid!I like the contrast between the sunny part and the snowy mounntain in the mist and the cloud!Great photo!
Regards
Pascale

everlasting (10938) 2009-03-26 7:52

All that highway for the donkey:) I would say that this was worth the run for you. Super depth and clear colours.

E2DY (141) 2009-03-26 14:27

Belle perspective, beau contraste autant dans la lumière que dans la situation, une route neuve pour une vielle charrette. Et que dire du panorama.
Merci du partage et félicitation pour la composition.
E2dy

tomescuc (2837) 2009-04-03 16:34

Superb perspective, pretty well maintained road (I expected more of a dirt road), and the man in the cart add the local touch. Definitely a fascinating place.
tfs,
Cristian

flory (4804) 2009-04-03 22:35

is the best transportation that i've see recently,Reggy!in generally,the donkeys are afraid by..things,so don't have any doubts that start to run:)bravo for this one!
Flori:)

Filiberke (44) 2009-04-20 6:46

Hi there,
Very nice POV. The road seems to lead to some magical place between the hill and the white mountains. The man and his donkey are very well placed in the centre of the pic. Beautiful colors and very sharp. Great shot! Picture makes me dreaming...

IgorDeleze (9247) 2009-05-05 5:23

Hello Reggy,
A great landscape !
I realy the "great wide open" feeling.
Greetings.
Igor