Love and the Shahara, a photo from Er Rachidia, South

Photographer's Note

To those who left me a comment and critique on my last post, “Pot O Kitties” I apology if I have not respond to you, because it was removed by a moderator due to violation of TOS, which I understand.

We arrived in Merzouga just before sunset, so we head out quickly to the Erg Chebbi dunes hoping to catch sunset light on the dune and it was an amazing view, all is quiet accept the wind and sand blasting on my skin at times. We were expecting to see many more tourists on camel rides, but there were none that day or we were too late. Then in the distance I saw the couple tourist on the camel going for a sunset safari. The sky is turning purple and pink from the sunset, the mood seems romantic, I would have love to stay till the stars comes out but we had to find our way back to the hotel before it got dark.

We later saw the couple on the camel having dinner at hour hotels. It seemed like they were on their honeymoon, hence the title Love and the Shahara.

patdeph, annjackman, ktanska, RhodieIke, Wanda1, timecapturer, timecapturer, Bluejeans, Cricri, abmdsudi, Crispilandia, janusz2054, Ricx, shevchenko, delpeoples, maloutim, ikeharel ha contrassegnato questa nota come utile

Critiques | Translate

Jeppo (17645) 2011-07-07 11:48

I felt in love with merzouga at new year's eve 2005/2006....and be happy to come back some 4 years later

the "empty wide"..that's how I call the feeling I felt and breathed while I was over there....

ciao
jeppo

JFS (32459) 2011-07-07 11:52

Hi Way!
Delighful shot, so many hues, shadows, colors...the light is unique and the human presence is essential in your composition. Well captured!

Cheers,
Juan

zanzi (13690) 2011-07-07 12:07

Bonsoir Way
I am impressed by the purity in the warm colors and by the lovely lines in the sand. Not to mention the sky...
A great one you must be proud of.
Bravo
Chris

patdeph (35750) 2011-07-07 12:08

hello Way
a splendid and large view on the desert,where the 3 camels seem very small to give this sensaton of infinity.The light is wonderful,and I love the high quality showing the small waves of the sand.Magnificent!
Regards
Pascale

annjackman (23019) 2011-07-07 12:31

Hello Way,
Congratulations for this superb photograph. The colours are beautiful and I love the way that the wind has sculptured the sand into tiny ripples giving a lovely play of light and shade. The camels are well placed in the composition and the red and blue clothes stand out very well.
Excellent!
Regards, Ann

yquem46 (38752) 2011-07-07 12:36

Hi Way
So there you are in the dunes in Merzouga. No need to ask if you liked it !
Nice classic shot of a camel ride in this beautiful scenery. The sky is almost pinkish
Nice use of the riddles and littles bushes at the FG
Best regards
patrick

siudzi (34141) 2011-07-07 13:02

Hi Way,
Extremely good shot with elegant composition and perfect quality. Very attractive sight of the desert. Bravo!
Cheers, Malgorzata

jemaflor (146412) 2011-07-07 13:03

Hi Way,
Perfect composition with the human and camels presence on a focal point of the shot, great effect on the fg.

ktanska (44492) 2011-07-07 13:04

Hi Way,
Lovely light here, shadows getting longer, landscape more contrasty and sky more colourful tones. Good wide angle revealing also smaller details on the foreground. Camels on a desert is a timeless scene, photo wise it makes no difference whether they carry tourists or nomads.
Kari

williewhistler (16606) 2011-07-07 13:08

Hello Way,the exquisite colours combined with the patterns across the sand evoke a feeling of calm and solitude,a lovely shot.
Regards Les.

Ilducabianco (940) 2011-07-07 13:28

Hi Way,

the allure of great desert is well represented by the reddish hue permeating everything in this image, romantic and poetic.The empty space in the FG creates a great depth wherein the distant -and small- figures look as if lost in that vastness.The ripples' details of sand are wonderful.

TFS

Alessio

lakshmip1949 (19081) 2011-07-07 13:36

Hello Way,

A spectacular shot of this great desert. I like the reddish color of the sand with ripples. The image shows us a great depth with those people with the camel.Superb quality with colors.

Lakshmi

bema (26591) 2011-07-07 13:51

Hello Way,

think i have seen this somewhere else..?? but nevertheless a real fine picture with a lot of open space, great colors and perfect sharpness..

thanks for sharing, see you around, cheers Bernd

emka (157292) 2011-07-07 15:53

Hi Way,
it is a pity that this lovely photo of yours with kittens was removed. It was an artistic one. I liked it but TOS is the most important thing. No exceptions! I like deserts, such like here, with sand, dunes, with delicate wrinkles. And of course, camels should be there. Have you lso been in camelback? It is fun, I was in India on the desert near Jaisalmer. Romantic picture.

Warm regards

Maggie

npecanhuk (79329) 2011-07-07 19:39

Hi Way!
Magnificent picture of such a unique desertland!
Top photo quality!
One of your best images!
TFS - congrats,
Cheers,
Neyvan

SnapRJW (31631) 2011-07-07 22:47

Hello Way - Isn't it amazing how the greens, blues and reds leap out from the sandy colours adding super bursts of colour to your lovely desert shot? I love the textural FG, the ripples and tufts of grass are beautifully detailed. As always a studied composition and clean presentation. Best regards Rosemary
PS. Your kittens were so cute!

Robert1969 (7160) 2011-07-07 23:41

Hello Way,

Beautiful view, because the plants in the foreground make for a nice depth to the picture.
The space that you use in the picture, creates a quiet and panoramic photo.
The great light make the picture complete.

Friendly regards,
Robert

RhodieIke (11752) 2011-07-07 23:53

Hi Way ni, Super photo here of this fantastic scene,Great colour's, Well done, TFS, Cheers Iain.

sevy (58) 2011-07-08 0:45

Hello Way,

I never went in this part of Marocco, but it is a well known place for people liking nice desertscape.
I like the way you composed this one. At first look we could better think about a panoramic crop, but the foreground is really participating to the balance of the shot and in the sharing of this smooth end of day atmosphere.

Yves.

Wanda1 (15142) 2011-07-08 3:36

Hi Way,
The textured ripples on the sand is what I love a lot about deserts, and here you have captured a lot of fine ripples. I like the few tufts of grass sticking out here and there, and of course the people on the camels together with their berber leader adds that spot of life to the vast ongoing desert sands.
Regards
Wanda

timecapturer (49288) 2011-07-08 3:51

Hello Way
a beautifully detailed shot and composition. I love all the ripples which are so sharp and eye-catching. The light is amazing as is the atmosphere that you have captured so perfectly. A high class image and imaginative presentation. Excellent work!

Have a great weekend - Brian

Bluejeans (64251) 2011-07-08 5:19

Ola Way ,
Um belo quadro esta imagem no deserto com os turistas nos camelos , gostei muito da textura da areia no primeiro plano , boas cores, parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

Bom fim de semana

eversmile (11636) 2011-07-08 10:07

Hi Way!

I love the light and the delicate hues, here. It is warm but soft, and it has a romantic appeal. There is a lot of nostalgia too... "An english patient" is behind the dunes, maybe?!... :)
Simply enchanting!
Congratulations!
regards
Marine

Cricri (176) 2011-07-08 10:14

Hi Way
Splendide couleur du désert, j'aime la texture du sable, les montagnes a l'horizon, les promeneurs complète joliment cette composition qui est très jolie
Belle soirée
cricri

abmdsudi (95869) 2011-07-08 23:56

Sabaidee Waylim
Stunning! This certainly gives an idea of isolation and sense of wide open space, but has a breath-taking beauty. A truly remarkable desert landscape captured in fine clarity. An extraordinary landscape, hard to believe its real and you have really captured the feeling of the desert, a real treat for the eye. A simple composition yet with lots of impact and great depth to this image. Love the layered feel to the tonal ranges of colours and textures. Those specks of vivid and stunning red and blue on those camels really make the picture and offset each other so well by the vastness. Fascinating place and well shot my friend. Congrats, TFS
Best regards

ManuMay (36447) 2011-07-09 0:35

Hi Way!

Wonderful one!

The kind of capture I dream to do...may be some day...

Excellent composition and colours, very beautiful place and very good subject placement, very good textures indeed!!

Have a nice week end...

Best regards...

Manu

Atousa (7131) 2011-07-09 0:36

Salam Way,

A very nice view.. the soft curves are really fascinating n I like the texture of dunes in the FG.. great warm colors.. well captured.. tfs
Best regards, Atousa

holmertz (102104) 2011-07-09 7:20

Hello Way,
This is a classic composition, the ultimate romantic view of the desert. I have travelled across the Sahara on top of a truck, and although I enjoyed the views occasionaly, what I mainly remember is the intense heat of the days, the bitter cold of the nights and the dirt creeping through my clothes and deep into my skin. Disregarding the elements of nature, the desert is lovely, and with colours like these, and a view of a honeymoon couple on camels, it is breathtaking.
Kind regards,
Gert

Crispilandia (846) 2011-07-09 15:39

Hi Way,

Wow! I love this picture. You get to convey the warmth of the sand, with those colors, textures and shadows. A superb composition with the background figures and that contrast sand and sky. A great shot!

Have a nice week end!
Cris

Nard (6972) 2011-07-10 8:19

hi Way
Splendid golden, warm and quiet picture. I like the framing with the distant POV, the position of the camel which seems lost somewhere and how the blue stands out the sand. Excellent sharnpess with this nice foreground;
regards
bernard

janusz2054 (2) 2011-07-11 10:50

Hi Way,

This is really a beautiful composition with a good light management.
That's really nice view of the desert and dunes in Merzouga
Location of the camels is perfect.Very well done.
Best regards
Janusz

Ricx (13495) 2011-07-12 10:03

Hi Way, an amazing image of the Sahara-- well spotted with the camel train coming through.. again an amazing imgage for an amazing gallery well done Rich

mkamionka (73560) 2011-07-13 2:04

Hi Way,
very good idea to capture these people on camels. They add a lot of interest and the feeling of space to this desert composition.

I remember tha cats. So the moderators make no exceptions at all. Hmm?
I wonder though: the cats are a characteristic feature of this region.

In any case, the camels seem to be more acceptable than the cats :)

Very original composition,
Nice work,
M

shevchenko (20560) 2011-07-13 3:13

Hi Way,
Good frame to show the wide landscape, it is a good experience that not only able to look at the desert with real eyes, and also able to feel it while the sand falling onto the skin, informative note, distinct image, well done.
Ally

Angshu (56760) 2011-07-13 21:35

Sabaidie Way
Crisp shot from the desert....the details, even the small ripples are clear. Light is beautiful here...mellow & pastel, especially on the sand & the quite romantic pinkish sky. The tufts of grasses definitely add to the compotion. Fine shot as always!
Best Regards
Angshu

cornejo (61504) 2011-07-19 5:13

Wayne greetings. A beautiful picture very well taken of this wonderful landscape, a good shot and excellent work, congratulation. Have a good afternoon and a happy week, thanks for sharing.

Best regards, Angel.

delpeoples (60342) 2011-08-24 3:51

Hi Way

You send us to such exotic and varied places. The 2 camels in that stark landscape look so isolated and alone. I love the colours and textures of the sand, the soft colours on the horizon are magical. A really beautiful and balanced shot.

Thanks for sharing, have a lovely day
Lisa

maloutim (13617) 2011-11-13 19:42

Hi way,
Another one of your great Sahara shots ! I really love these undulating dunes and their ripples, just as if it was a sea of sand, but more spectacular !
Here, the colours of the sunset add some fascination, with the presence of the travellers in the background giving some life and colour to the scene.
TFS.
Marie-Louise.
I am sorry I missed your kittens. I love these pets so much. Did you state THEY WERE NOT YOUR PETS ! Sometimes it works ! Unfortunately, I know some moderator has develeoped a hatred towards cats and dogs on TE :-((
I admire vasa (Branko) for having his untouched; I suppose he has knack to present them, so they cannot possibly be removed .
Kindest regards.
Marie-louise.

ACL1978 (7511) 2012-07-04 21:06

Way, I love the emptiness of this shot; you handle huge spaces amazingly well. The travelers are really well framed and the lighting and detail on the sand is stunning.

Andrew

ikeharel (112565) 2014-04-28 9:39

Good evening Way,
Thanks for your note.
An impressive sight on the desert dunes, in dark brown on the FG and lighter over the far side.
The wind rippled the smooth surface, created a marvelous texture.
Smal caravn of man and camels, "breaking" the pettern, but gave scale to the vast landscape.
Composed superbly the landscape photo.
regards,
Ike