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African Dawn


African Dawn
Photo Information
Copyright: Callie de Wet (Callie) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1132 W: 104 N: 2609] (7531)
Genre: Landscapes
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2003-12
Categories: Bushveld
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): 40-49 Points (Chapter 2), Landscapes [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-01-16 5:46
Viewed: 2497
Favorites: 2 [view]
Points: 46
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I am NOT a morning person, mornings should be spend in bed until at least 11h00. Nevertheless, if you want to see the wakening of a new day, you have to be out and about before the sun gets up. So, having a hobby like photography is hard on a night person. And somehow, the lure of a possible nice view or photograph always win against the desire to sleep a bit more. This picture is one of my favourites - just the amazing morning light transforming the black night into a glorious colour palette; no enhancements or filters used here.

We have been to Kruger National Park for the last eleven days of 2003. Being December, it is supposed to be the upper twenties to mid thirties in Degrees Celsius. However, we had clouds to such an extent that there were only two sunrises and no real sunsets. We also had an electric storm with thunder and lightning and 83 mm of rain one night. The sun only showed its face on the day we left, and then it was back with a vengeance!

One may leave the rest camps at 04h30 during December & January, when it is still pitch dark. This dawn scene was taken on day 7 of our trip; the sky was a brooding brown-red that kept changing as we drove from Skukuza to Lethaba. The ideal scene just never seemed to be “there” through the many trees next to the road. I have never seen such a sky before, not even in Namibia were I was born or in Botswana, both countries with gorgeous lighting conditions. This was taken from the car window; beanbags; Fuji Velvia; 70 mm setting on 70 -200 f2.8 Sigma lens with 1.4 X converter, Nikon F90X; Scanned on flatbed scanner; Reduced to site size.
red45, Fisher, marhowie, JeanMichel, LordPotty, Luc, rlortie, mumek, svdiesen, scottevers7, jhm, radz, christophe, Janice has marked this note useful
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To mumek: ThanksCallie 1 01-17 13:04
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Critiques [Translate]

Amazing colours Callie. I like theb trees in the foreground. A scene one never forgets. Good post, Well done

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2703 W: 74 N: 8857] (30219)
  • [2005-01-16 6:08]

Superb 'african' colours. This had to be great moment. I agree with your every words about mornings Callie :-)

Great Callie.
Very nice scenery with amazing colours.
I'm not agree with you about mornings, the best time of the day is very early in the mornings, when the air is cold and fresh.
Great work.

Composition: ****
Sharpness: ***
Color: ****
DOF: ***
POV: ****

Very good shot, full colours.
Very well done.
TFS.

Thats a pretty dramatic sky Callie. Lol, over here we have solid grey murk at the moment.

If you don't get up early, you miss shots like this. Africa has beautiful momments like this. Sure would like to see more scenery. Well done Callie. TFS

Callie, Thanx for sharing this wonderful African sunrise. As you say, it's a glorious palette of colors! Again, TFS!

Beautiful composition, Callie. I'm a morning person in summer, but here, it's more often for capturing the morning fog :-). I like the colors and these velvet pink clouds in the blue. The clear patch works well too, and your note... that's sharing not only an image. Thanks.

Brilliant colours! I've only seen sunrises like this on LSD! Kruger National Park seems like an amazing place from all the shots we've seen. Well done Callie.

Superbes couleurs de couché de soleil !!! les arbres en contre jour sont bien choisis !

  • Great 
  • japie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1814 W: 100 N: 1904] (5187)
  • [2005-01-16 14:22]

Ek mag maar se "Bliksem". This is a shot that will even get me out of bed early in the morning. This is a stunning sunrise - wens dit was myne.

Groetnis

Backlighted trees on this magnificent painting of blues and reds is just beautiful. And your note adds a personal touch to it that is very interesting. TFS.

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1873 W: 304 N: 4300] (14729)
  • [2005-01-16 16:06]

When I have to get up before dawn I do not sleep, Callie.
This photo reminds me the one that I posted on November 20th of last year.
(Here, you must read between lines, stop thinking and re-park in your heart...)
A magnificent picture with an excellent note.
Thanks

  • Great 
  • mumek Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 106 W: 0 N: 178] (847)
  • [2005-01-16 18:08]
  • [+]

Excellent scenery! Fantastic colors.The new day is coming.Beautiful composition.

At least you got a great reward for getting out of you bed a bit too early... I know the feeling. I think great sunrise is even better then a sunset and your is definetly Poster stuff

A very beautiful landscape picture. Beautiful colored sky.

  • Great 
  • jhm Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 649 W: 0 N: 178] (628)
  • [2005-01-17 2:27]

Een totaal ander beeld of dat wij gewoon zijn van U, het donkere silhouet van de bomen op de voorgrond tegen de zeer mooie hemel met zijn groot kleuren palet, maakt de foto tot een geheel, mooi werk Callie.
Groeten uit Vlaanderen,
John.

  • Great 
  • radz Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 605 W: 11 N: 616] (3396)
  • [2005-01-17 2:41]

Love the colours,you got good compostion and like the forground trees.Beautiful shot.

Superb color of the sky, very great shot Callie
In a friendly way Christophe

Just great! I would like to spend my holidays watching something like that! Thanks.

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3318 W: 149 N: 6113] (18646)
  • [2005-01-17 4:43]

It was definitely worth it you getting up early Callie. Not that I can talk about early mornings. Superb colours here. Just lovely.

Nice shot! Beautiful landscape, the bright colours are fantastic, great photo, excellent work!
and many thanks for sharing!
I like so much!
The composition gear up for a very fine result.
this one is the best for me

  • Great 
  • osse Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 962 W: 0 N: 89] (7793)
  • [2006-02-03 17:59]

Beautiful composition and beautiful colored sky.it's a very great shot Callie.Looks like one of my shot in sweden.
TFS
osse

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