|
|
|
Namib dunes
 |
| Photo Information |
Copyright: Peter Thomas (FunkyMunky)
![Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 33 W: 0 N: 25]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/s-n-s.gif) (116) |
| Genre: Landscapes |
| Medium: Color |
| Date Taken: 2006-05-13 |
| Categories: Desert |
| Camera: Canon Digital EOS 350D |
| Exposure: f/9.0, 1/125 seconds |
| More Photo Info: [view] |
| Photo Version: Original Version |
| Date Submitted: 2008-04-28 5:39 |
| Viewed: 669 |
| Points: 6 |
|
| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
The dunes of the Namib desert in Namibia are a photographer's dream. At different times of the day a scne can change dramatically as the sun casts shadows from different angles. This photo was taken in the morning at Sossusvlei.
The Namib Desert is a desert in Namibia and southwest Angola which forms part of the Namib-Naukluft National Park, Africa's second largest. The name "Namib" is of Nama origin. The desert occupies an area of around 50 000 kmē, stretching about 1000 miles (1,600 km) along the Atlantic Ocean coast of Namibia, which is named after this desert. Its east-west width varies from 30 to 100 miles (50-160 km). The Namib Desert also reaches into southwest Angola. It is one of the 500 distinct physiographic provinces of the South African Platform physiographic division.
The area is considered one of the oldest deserts in the world, having endured arid or semi-arid conditions for at least 55 million years[1] after the Atacama Desert. Its aridity is caused by the descent of dry air of the Hadley Cell, cooled by the cold Benguela current along the coast. It has less than 10 mm (0.4 inches) of rain annually and is almost completely barren.
A number of unusual species of plants and animals are found only in this desert. One of these is Welwitschia mirabilis, one of the most unusual species. Welwitschia is a shrub-like plant, but grows just two long, strap-shaped leaves continuously throughout its lifetime. These leaves may be several meters long, gnarled and twisted from the desert winds. The taproot of the plant develops into a flat, concave disc in age. Welwitschia is notable for its survival in the extremely arid conditions in the Namib, sometimes deriving moisture from the coastal sea fogs.
Although the desert is largely unpopulated and inaccessible, there are year-round settlements at Sesriem, close to the famous Sossusvlei and a huge group of sand dunes, which at up to 340 meters high are among the tallest sand dunes in the world. The complexity and regularity of dune patterns in its dune sea have attracted the attention of geologists for decades; however, they remain poorly understood.
The interaction between the water-laden air coming from the sea via southerly winds, some of the strongest of any coastal desert, and the dry air of the desert causes immense fogs and strong currents, causing sailors to lose their way. Along with the Skeleton Coast further north, it is notorious as the site of many shipwrecks. Some of these wrecked ships can be found as much as 50 metres inland, as the desert is slowly creeping westwards into the sea, reclaiming land over a period of many years.
The Namib is an important location for the mining of tungsten, salt and diamonds.
Access is by light aircraft from Windhoek (the capital of Namibia, about 480 km east of the centre of the desert), Swakopmund and Walvis Bay at the north end of the desert, or overland on gravel roads. |
loot, vanderschelden has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes. |
|
|
| Discussions |
| None | | You must be logged in to start a discussion. |
|
- jesst
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 371 W: 0 N: 164]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(2244) - [2008-04-28 5:48]
-
Fantastic picture!
I like combination of light and shadows on dunes.
-
- loot
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5747 W: 606 N: 3501]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(9397) - [2008-04-28 16:15]
- [3]
Hi Peter
I would give what to be able to spend a couple of months in the Namib and visit places like the Dead Vlei, the Naukluft Park, or Swakopmund just to photograph one after the other of these magnificent dunes and then perhaps also a visit to the Richtersveld here in South Africa. For now it will have to remain a dream, but one never knows what might happen in the future.
Anyway, this is a great shot of the dunes and I like how you made use of the 1/5 rule to subdivide the horizontal plane by including some desert flowers in the lower 1/5 of the foreground, the grasses and some other vegetation in the next 1/5 zone, the dunes in the middle 1/5 horizontal area, and the clouded sky in the top 2/5's of the BG. The clouds present a promise of rain which actually seldom gets to become a reality. The colours are rich and well saturated and the details are nice and sharp throughout the range of the entire image which was brought about by a well chosen aperture setting. The exposure was well managed ensuring excellent lighting throughout the image with just the right levels of contrast between the highlight and shadow areas.
Good work and TFS.
Regards
Loot
Hello Peter,
Oh..Namibia; definitely on my wish list. You photographed the Namib desert very well; showing a little bit more than most images I viewed. Interesting to see the different foreground levels with their specific flora.
Must be great to experience the changing lighting conditions and take photographs.
I see this xeric area is actually larger than Kruger.
Well done
TFS
Annick
