Deep White, a photo from Takhar, East

Photographer's Note

This photo was taken as I crossed the Taloqan river in northern Afghanistan. I wasn't really considering taking photos at that time but as I turned my head, my eyes got caught by this bird standing on the top of this small isolated tree. I just got time for a snap before the bird flew away. I like the hazy effect and the mountains in the background. For this part of Afghanistan (the irrigated plain of Taloqan) snow cover provides hope to farmers for the next spring and summer time, when snow-melt rivers provide the precious irrigation water that turns the plain into the "grain basket" of Afghanistan.

lucero, triptych2003, amstel, pasternak, tobourge, Anna--, rajju, tico_tic, Docarmo, rtome, marine-coeur, negative has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

jdwyer264 (1084) 2006-10-04 5:31

Good shot, great contrast. You could I think maybe crop the bottom blackness off to leave the image white with just the bird as the standout. TFS
*Welcome.

RGatward (20108) 2006-10-04 5:34

Welcome to TE Vincent. THis is a very stirking first post. Very carefully constructed compo, and a good choice of format. Looking forward to future postings.

jcdurka1 (1950) 2006-10-04 5:37

I'm agree with jdwyer264 to crop the bottom of the picture. This will improve the image, as a very minimalist one.
Nice picture,
Regards,
Jean-Claude

triptych2003 (1534) 2006-10-04 6:02

welcome to TE vincent.. i'd agree with the crop but the photo is fine as it is. great positioning of the bird and tree. well done.

andeweg (139) 2006-10-04 7:50

Hello Vincent, I agree with all of the above ...

Nothing to add, just beautifull....

Keep it up..

KevRyan (22956) 2006-10-06 4:52

I think I may have cut out the black at the bottom too - just my choice - although I can see the attraction of grounding the image in it. A beautiful shot - the balance again is just so well caught in this minimalistic image - belated welcomes to TE by the way!

bw KEv

hadi1121 (0) 2006-10-06 6:31

Nothing else to say but...

Simply Amazing!

Kirych (2716) 2006-10-08 7:49

Amazing work, Vincent!
Wonderful composition with lonely tree and bird contrast eith white background. I like white mountains waves too.
Best regards. Tanya.

kajspice (4542) 2006-10-08 19:07

You been talking about me????? How do you like your eggs then?? I prefer a runny yolk :) Thank you for such a lovely critique...I enjoyed reading it...Only to be pleasantly surprised to follow through to your small but beautiful gallery. It is perhaps the most exciting set I have seen for some time on here!

I personally prefer that you have retained the detail on the bottom. I think the tree would look a little lost without it and the bottom frame is lined nicely with it.

I am sorry - I am not spending much time critiquing at the moment, but I will try to check in with you...

A belated welcome!

bluebeatif (164) 2006-10-09 4:32

Hi great composition. Reminds me a bit of Michael Kenna. As others have suggested, I would crop away the bottom to remove the patches of dark colors and the rough-textured snow, but that is just me. In any case, great photograph.

vincz (19113) 2006-10-10 4:46

Very beautiful composition with the tree and the bird so small in this infinite white landscape. The mountains up in the sky are very fascinating. I like this picture a lot. Good work!

amstel (2388) 2006-10-10 5:35

Absolutely great shot, perfectly composed. The middle part of the picture which is hardly sketched evokes the sense of desolation, the bird is very thought provoking as it seems it's been contemplating the mountains in the distance. Great shot. Nothing less.

cheers

pasternak (15185) 2006-10-12 5:05

A belated welcome on TE, Vincent, it is a pleasure to discover your gallery. What an excellent first post. This crow (?) on the bare tree is gorgeous, and I don't think you had to crop anything here. This pure mid-frame white effectively divides the picture in two, so the fore- and background form two different entities, an interesting effect!

Cheers
Alexander

Vincelavisse (454) 2006-10-14 11:11

Bonjour Vincent

Thhis is really one of the best shot that I've seen on trekearth. I'll add this one to my favorites. The compo is very great. The white balance is great.

Congratulations,

Vincent

tobourge (971) 2006-10-20 4:56

Bonjour Vincent

Image incroyable de cette montagne en transparence!

Je ne pense pas qu'il soit indispensable de couper le bas de l'image. Le contraste fonctionne tr鑣 bien!

Bravo et merci

Tony

Lynette (1615) 2006-10-21 4:32

Hi Vincent, quite striking indeed. and the title is quite appropriate. a stunning image which is clean, pure and simple. the pov and perpective is great. the note is always most welcome. glad to have discovered your gallery and another : ) to add to your quest to reach your hopefull target 16000 and more ; ) 'A unique style indeed'.
As always keep in touch : )
warm regards
Lynette

Anna-- (7801) 2006-10-21 15:46

Ciao Vincent,
la composition est simplement excellente (mais vraiment!)
Les profils des montagnes qui 閙ergent par ce blanc sont d'une beaut� incroyable et l'arbre d閜ouill� avec sa "vedette" ce sont une addition merveilleuse.
Anna
PS: Ta introduction m'a beaucoup amus�, et je m'excuse avec le plusieurs fois cit�...

Manamo (3710) 2006-10-22 12:32

Hello Vincent,
wooo, this is sooo good! Very impressive and inspirational! I've never such a landscape and you even added that sweet touch with the tree...and a bird!!!Too good, really! The white in the middle is kind of weird but I like it. Nothing to add, nothing to crop, just good as it is! It took me a whole before noticing the people on the horizon...
Too bad for the dust right to the tree.
Have a nice day!
Marc

brevbrev14 (140) 2006-11-02 5:40

Wow!
VIncent!
you have really a great eye!
i am visiting your gallery and this shot is just PERFECT!the compo and tones are superb!
IN MY FAV.!!
Ciao!
Valeria

tico_tic (395) 2006-11-05 21:32 [Comment]

Show Comment

farzadini (53) 2006-12-02 15:17

if only i was that bird .!..what a deep silence which bird is waiting for it !

scalerman (26900) 2006-12-14 22:18

Vincent: superbly minimalist and clean. This is a top-droor picture in all regards, cheers, c

cloverstar (0) 2007-01-21 12:26

Excellent composition. Nice to see the mountains in the distance.

sheepyak (180) 2007-01-21 12:28

Hi Vincent,

I'm actually going to disagree with what most others have said...I really enjoy the black at the bottom. Being an architecture student, it reminds me of a section cut; it looks like you are cutting through the ground, and see the snow on top, and the soil underground. I don't know what all you cut out, but if it is more black, I'd actually like to see you post a WS with that. The black also helps to ground the photo. TFS,

Chelsea

nicoz (1979) 2007-03-12 11:01

Hi again,
You have a interesting gallery! I don't usually comment on landscapes, because I usually find them a bit boring, but this one is so subtle... I couldn't let it go. It's almost soft and poetic ;-)
Well done!
Nicolas

AdrienneClaire (722) 2007-07-03 20:14

Amazing subtle mountains in the distance. Like a painting!

Docarmo (9767) 2007-07-13 20:16

Hi Vincent,
What a picture! It is really stunning how the perspective is so good with almost everything white!
The title is in perfect accord with the image.
Excellent!
Congratulations,
Maria do Carmo

marine-coeur (1072) 2008-03-01 7:37

One of the excellent photograph,amazing lights and graphic,great details vincent do it again.

Nordavind (539) 2008-03-19 14:46

stupenda!! le montagne sullo sfondo la rendono geniale!!

nbj (2097) 2010-04-12 8:53

very impressive shot!

negative (420) 2010-11-17 22:40

Vincent,
this photo is super!!!!!!!
good composition,structure,colors and of course the bird standing there is all you need.
All the best

caritoantologia (53) 2013-09-05 13:11

This photo is absolutely beautiful.
you captured in a perfect way the moment. Lucky the bird stayed there to give you time to take at least one shot.
well done!!

tulipan7 (804) 2014-03-22 8:28

I'd say with so much white no one can make a decent photo but you managed not only decent but fantasic one. Simple but strong...
I like the workshop as well and can't decide which one I prefer, both are great...