Bicycling the Altiplano, a photo from Puno, Sud

Photographer's Note

The Altiplano is a high plateau between ranges of the Andes, covering parts of Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina at elevations around 3,500 - 4,000 meters (11,000 - 14,000 feet). It is dry, barren, stark and beautiful. Mostly it is grazing land, where inhabited, but here there is a little farmland.

This was shot from a train moving about 80 kph, hence the 1/800 shutter speed. The Altiplano is ideal for such shots, because there are never bushes or trees in the foreground to block the shot or to be blurred.

AnimeshRay, fayeulle, alainh, banyanman trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

Polonaise (5802) 2006-09-03 15:22

Yet another one, Ken.
The majestic mountains in the background are raisins in this delightful cake.
Kinda warm feeling vaporises from those fields. Is it a smell of freshy plowed soil, or vibe of summer days...?
Cozy and relaxing, and so peacefull.
g.

THAR (3877) 2006-09-03 15:24

Photo intéressante de ces "cyclistes" dans la plaine.Dommage que l'image soit un peu bruitée par les 800 ISO...

AnimeshRay (9089) 2006-09-04 0:34

It is indeed amazing that you grabbed this off a speeding train!! I was going to complement you on the sharpness, now I don't know what to say...yes, I see that the bicyclists are a bit unsharp and the foreground more so, but nothing that you wouldn't normally expect out of a long tele. THis means that this was not taken with a long tele...all the more reason for me to marvel at the imposing majesty of the mountain range.

lasscor (7640) 2006-09-04 15:05

Hi Ken,
Wonderful composition.
Great pov, natural colors and soft light.
Great calm atmosphere.
TFS,
Corinne

euryan (8442) 2006-09-04 19:54

I would have never guessed this was taken from a train. I love the great view of this stark landscape. The people on the bikes are essential, and the small building (house?) on the right is an interesting detail.

fayeulle (27827) 2006-09-12 1:22

Hi Ken
I like the way you framed this shot with the contrast between the cordillere and the high plateau in the foreground with such tyoical brown colors. The sky is very cloudy and mask a little bit the beauty of these peaks. A nice shot.
Cheers
JP

alainh (33209) 2006-09-12 13:03

hello Ken
astonishingh and beautiful capture you made here in this incredible country.
there is nobody else than you and these tree boys.
greta landscape and natural colours.
a pleasant composition
have a nice day
alain

sayat (2949) 2006-09-29 2:38

Very nice shot, I like the view of the mountains in the background and the contrasting colors of cyclers.
Regards,
Sayat

Flavia (10352) 2006-10-01 20:15

Hi Ken,

I have to say I envy this picture! I saw the same nice scene during my train trip, but just couldn't manage to have a nice shot as this one. They were all a little blurred. This one is perfect. The deph of field, the sharpeness and the composition. This trip is awsome isn't it?

Regards,

Flavia

kami1 (579) 2006-11-07 0:31