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The Mighty Tien Shan


The Mighty Tien Shan
Photo Information
Copyright: James Parker (Jamesp) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1296 W: 0 N: 5059] (15080)
Genre: Landscapes
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-07-16
Categories: Mountain
Camera: Canon 1D Mark II, Canon 70-200 f 2.8 L USM
Exposure: f/4.5, 1/500 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Ricks Favourite Pictures Pt.II [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-09-19 7:24
Viewed: 388
Points: 52
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hello everyone. For today's posting I have chosen a shot of the Tien Shan (or Clestial Mountains) on the borders of China and Kazakstan. Looking the other direction was Sayram Lake - a beautiful high alpine lake. The trees are the endemic Shrenk's spruce.

This shot was two days drive north of my previous Tien Shan postings.

Sayram Lake, is known as a pearl of the Silk Road, is the largest alpine lake in Xinjiang. It is located about 90 kilometers (56 miles) southwest of Botala Prefecture, Urumqi. In Mongolian language, the name of the lake means 'a lake on the ridge'. In Kazak, sayram means 'blessing'.

The lake is about 20 kilometers (12 miles) long from east to west, 30 kilometers wide from north to south. It covers an area of about 454 sq kilometers (about 175 sq miles), and has an elevation of 2,073 meters (6,800 feet).

Sayram Lake is known for its wonderful natural scenery. The lake is said to be like a brilliant emerald inlaid in the basin surrounded by Tianshan Mountain. The water in the lake is very pure and clear. Flocks of ducks and swans coast on its surface. Flourishing cypress and cedar trees cover the whole mountain range. Gerr (nomad tents) scatter the foothills of the mountains.

There is a touching love story about Sayram Lake. It is said that the lake was composed of the tears of a couple of Kazak young lovers. A beautiful girl and a young man were deeply in love. One day, a cruel devil was captivated by the girl's beauty. He captured the girl and confined her to his residence. The girl took a chance to escape, but the devil found out very soon and went after the girl. She was forced to jump into an abyss. Later, her boyfriend heard of this and he was so sad that he jumped into the abyss to be reunited with his lover. Their painful tears flooded into the abyss and formed Sayram Lake.

TIEN SHAN
The range lies to the north and west of the Taklamakan Desert in the border region of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of western China. In the south it links up with the Pamir Mountains. It also extends into the Chinese province of Xinjiang and into the northern areas of Pakistan, where it joins the Hindu Kush.

In Western cartography, the eastern end of the Tian Shan is usually understood to be just west of Ürümqi, while the range to the east of that city is known as the Bogda Shan. However, in Chinese cartography, from the Han Dynasty to the present, the Tian Shan is also considered to include the Bogda Shan and Barkol ranges.

The Tian Shan are a part of the Himalayan orogenic belt which was formed by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates in the Cenozoic era. They are one of the longest mountain ranges in Central Asia, stretching some 2,800 km eastward from Tashkent in Uzbekistan.

The highest peak in the Tian Shan is Jengish Chokusu which, at 7,439 metres (24,406 ft), is also the highest point in Kyrgyzstan and is on the border with China. The Tian Shan's second highest peak, Khan Tengri (Lord of the Spirits), at 7,010 m, straddles the Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan border. Mountaineers class these as the two most northerly peaks over 7,000 m in the world.

The Torugart Pass, 3,752 metres (12,310 ft) high, is located at the border between Kyrgyzstan and China's Xinjiang province. The forested Alatau ranges, which are at a lower altitude in the northern part of the Tian Shan, are inhabited by pastoral tribes speaking Turkic languages. The major rivers rising in the Tian Shan are the Syr Darya, the Ili river and the Tarim River. The Aksu Canyon is a notable feature in the northwestern Tian Shan.

One of the first Europeans to visit and the first to describe the Tian Shan in detail was the Russian explorer Peter Semenov in the 1850s

SCHRENK'S SPRUCE
Schrenk's Spruce (Picea schrenkiana) is a spruce native to the Tian Shan mountains of central Asia in western China (Xinjiang), Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. It grows at altitudes of 1,300-3,600 m, usually in pure forests, sometimes mixed with the Tien Shan variety of Siberian Fir (Abies sibirica var. semenovii).

It is a large evergreen tree growing to 40-50 m tall (rarely to 60 m), with a trunk diameter of up to 1-2 m. It has a narrow conical crown with level branches and sometimes pendulous branchlets. The shoots are pale buff-brown, and glabrous (hairless). The leaves are needle-like, 1.5-3.5 cm long, rhombic in cross-section, dark green with inconspicuous stomatal lines. The cones are cylindric-conic, 6-12 cm long and 2 cm broad, purple when young, maturing dark brown and opening to 2.5-3.5 cm broad 5-7 months after pollination; the scales are moderately stiff and smoothly rounded.
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To eqshannon: Yurts and GersJamesp 2 09-19 08:03
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Critiques [Translate]

Yikes...talk about giving an image dimension..I immediately spotted the tents...and was going to ask if they were Yurts...I had lived in a yurt for one winter in New England...pretty cold at the foot of the mountains...

A very grand image James...it covers not only a wide area top to bottom, left to right but also there is as I say a definite depth shown...I think the notion that those are people down there is what gives it the immense quality...
Bob

hello james,
excellent vertical composition, the various layers makes the shot very interesting, very well management of the exposure,
well done,
tfs & regards
pankaj

Hi James,

I like the depth and scale of this image...certainly confuse my eye. Layers of landscape and mountain with light direction is so beautiful.Great landscape shot.TFS.

regards
mohaimin

Hello James,
One of the places I want to go within the next years. Certainly after seeing this superb photo.
The light in this photo is marvellous and the composition brilliant. Fantastic DOF. Very beautiful!
Have a great weekend,
Peter

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1865 W: 8 N: 4848] (15703)
  • [2008-09-19 10:17]

Hi James,

This is awesome! The tents on the ground give a good perspective of the height of the mountains. I love the vertical composition making the eye follow up to the top. The lighting on the grass is excellent, followed by the layers of trees, the snow covered mountains and finally the sky. Outstanding shot.

Jane

Impressive is the word here, James.
And well photographed! Good lighting conditions as well.
There's a certain soft haze which I like. There are also a lot of details to detect and these gave you an idea about the real size of this snowcapped mountain.
The Schrenk's spruce looks like the perfect Christmas tree. However 40-50 meter is a lot....TFS
Annick

Heloo James,

Utterly stunning!
The mountains are majestic, the trees as organised as an army and the grass, welcomingly bathed in sunlight.
The tents give the whole an even more impressive feel when you then recognise the scale!
Well seen and well composed.

Kind regards,
Bev :-)
pl :-)

hello James

excellent landscape shot with fine POV, DOF and the vertical framing
that i love it, i love the shadow parts and the highlights part
of the image where the sun is coming, very beautiful landsccape, TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2089 W: 9 N: 5861] (22206)
  • [2008-09-19 11:34]

Hi James. Most of the word to discribe this have been used . So all i can say is its a beautiful landscape showing the beauty of nature. well done TFS.
Nick..

Have a good weekend.

Hi My friend James,

A fine landcape capture of this marvelous scenerey of Tien Shan with great POV. Thanks to you we are making a photo tourism:)! Many thanks for sharing this part of paradise.
Have a great weekend!
Cheers,

Bayram

Merhaba James,müthiş bir alan ve ışık.Dağ sinsilesi ve geçişleri harika.Süper bir fotoğraf,ellerine sağlık,selamlar :)

Hello James

What a magnificent view here, very well sutied to portrait mode an impressive landscape with excellent detail and good colour saturation. the tiny tents really do give us some sort of perspective here and bring home the enormity of the view.

TFS regards Helen

This is heavenly, my dear friend!"In pastures gree, He leadeth me..."
I simply love this shot!
Goldy

Hi James,
A nice capture of this beautiful mountainscape. Very well composed with lovely colors and a very good view. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2123 W: 222 N: 3908] (12975)
  • [2008-09-20 3:01]

Hi James

A gorgeous tight view here with an excellent composition!
The vertical framing works superbly here and it adds to the nice transition of colors, textures and temperatures that the depth offers.
The presentation is also great and informative (as always) while the technical part of the shot is spot-on.

Bravo and TFS
Horia

Hello James,
Looks mighty with this well known Tien Shan!
the lighting is specially beautiful towards this great composition with a very informative notes to understand it further!
good pov with sharpness, nice colour and details
well done
Tony

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1824 W: 243 N: 6007] (21398)
  • [2008-09-20 14:26]

Hi James,
what a fantastic shot!
The composition is superb.
Excellent light.
Great shaprness.
The vertical trees almost look unreal.

Brilliant work!

Joe

Hi James
Another fantastic place. I like great mosaic of light and shadows. Good exposure, great compo I like it very much
TFS
Krzysztof

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1399 W: 120 N: 5170] (22817)
  • [2008-09-21 7:04]

Hello James, well done with the vertical composition, good sharpness and beautifullight, good note too!

Mario

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2707 W: 139 N: 7809] (24333)
  • [2008-09-22 7:00]

Hello James,
Your photos and notes would make a fine book, of the coffee table top type that one could dip into. This is how I feel when I see most of your postings and this one of the Tien shan is no exception!
I like the lighting on the patureland and the superb mountain BG.
Thanks for sharing both this and your excellent note.
Ivan

Hi James,

Outstanding landscpe with view on the high mountain.
good deepthworking trough the different high tablous from the mountain.

Gert

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1096 W: 1 N: 4461] (14972)
  • [2008-09-22 19:25]

Hello James,
Amazing scene captured so perfectly by your outstanding camera work. The very imformative notes completes this superb posting.
Thanks James great work Sir.
Rick

Hi James,
Very beautiful landscape which seems to include all four seasons. Great composition, DOF and lighting, nice natural colours.
TFS
Pekka

  • Great 
  • rcrick Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 647 W: 42 N: 1198] (3854)
  • [2008-09-23 21:18]

Hi James,

Missed this one along the way, what a breath taking place, just amazing, all those layers just superb, exceptional detail and d.o.f, beautiful light not only on the valley floor but on those mountain peaks as well, just awesome. t.f.s

Cheers Rick :)

  • Great 
  • iris Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 409 W: 41 N: 785] (2478)
  • [2008-09-24 20:23]

Dear James,
Hope this critique find you in good health and spirits:)

Another priceless gift you bring to us from your 'Journeys to Deep Ends of the Earth'.I love the green gradually rising and giving way to the snow-clad grey hilltop.The sunlight falling in shades add a dramatic effect to the whole composition.And what a heart warming tale of love to go with this beautiful composition.
TFS for sharing ...

Warm regards
Silpa

Hallo James
Another mind blowing landscape from your lens. The composition is very good, and I really like the combination of greens, blues and whites and all other in between. This is really a great shot and can easily go through as a place out of a fantasy world or destination. I think most people have said what needs to be said about this picture, so I'll just add that this is a PPPP – Pretty perfect picture photo. The light shining on the greenery in the foreground is really magic. Great shot. Thanks for sharing.
Kind regards
Anna

Hi James,
I love the play of light on the meadow. It gives such wonderful colors to the grassy area. The few cars and yurts down in the valley also add a wonderful scale to the photo and show how mighty this mountain really is. I love all the diagonal lines and the different layers.
TFS,
Niek

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2543 W: 170 N: 7734] (24475)
  • [2008-09-28 22:16]

Hello James,
Wonderful view across these sun-drenched meadows to the forest and mighty mountains beyond. Excellent DOF and wonderful light and colours. A beautiful composition too.
They're showing a brilliant BBC series of Wild China here at the moment - amazing how much natural beauty there is left. Have you been to Yunnan?
TFS and best wishes, Ulla

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