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Wet Tibet - Looking for Everest


Wet Tibet - Looking for Everest
Photo Information
Copyright: James Parker (Jamesp) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1179 W: 0 N: 4496] (13406)
Genre: Landscapes
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-07-27
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): lovely landscapes [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-08-07 0:12
Viewed: 751
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I took this shot on the Friendship Highway between Shigatse and Tingri (at approximately 5200 meters ASL), quite close to Mt Everest. In the event we did not see Mt Everest - it was too clody and wet and the main track to Base Camp is closed due to reconstruction for the 2008 Olympics (the authorities want to show the Olympic Flame being carried with Mt Everest in the Background).

As you will know the South Asian Monsoon is particularly insense this year and so Tibet is getting far more rain than usual. The trip was mainly cultural, but I had planned to take landscape and flower pictures in this segment - in the event I lugged mt 300mm 2.8 and 100mm macro to Tibet for no reason (hardly a problem when you consider the flooding in Bangladesh, Nepal and India). This was about the most I saw of the Himalaya!

The Tibet Plateau is a high-altitude arid steppe interspersed with mountain ranges and large brackish lakes. Annual precipitation ranges from 100mm to 300mm and falls mainly as hailstorms. The southern and eastern edges of the steppe have grasslands which can sustainably support populations of nomadic herdsmen, although frost occurs for six months of the year. Proceeding to the north and northwest, the plateau becomes progressively higher, colder, and drier, until reaching the remote Kekexili region in the northwestern part of the plateau. Here the average altitude exceeds 5,000 meters (16,500 feet), the air contains only 60% of the oxygen of sea level, and year-round temperatures average -4°C, dipping to -40°C in winter. As a result of this extremely inhospitable environment, the Kekexili region is the least populated region in Asia, and the third least populated area in the world after Antarctica and northern Greenland.

The plateau was formed by the collision of the Indo-Australian and Eurasian tectonic plates in the Cenozoic period (approximately 55 million years ago), in a process that is still ongoing. The tectonic uplift of the plateau is thought to have had a significant effect on climate change, and it is believed to affect the Asian monsoon. In the Indian monsoon season (June to October) when the winds bring humid, tropical air from the south, the Himalayas create a rain shadow which makes northern India very wet and keeps the Tibetan Plateau very dry. As the winds continue over the plateau, they drop what little moisture remains in the air, becoming drier as they move northwards and creating deserts such as the Taklamakan Desert and the Gobi Desert.

Several of the world's longest rivers originate on the Tibetan Plateau. Between them, these rivers carry 25% of the world's soil erosion to the sea. These include the Yangtze River (or Chang Jiang), Huang He (or Yellow River), Indus River, Satluj River, Yarlung Tsangpo River ( known as the Brahmaputra in India), Mekong, Irrawaddy River and the Salween River.
pablominto, PaulH, Necipp, cicindela, ramthakur, marhowie, SelenE, Alex99, delic, nglen, SunToucher, uleko, gannu, anel, touristdidi, diverjohn has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

How disappointing to not even get a glimpse of the majestic peak! Well, knowing you, I'm sure you'll be back to try again. It is interesting how these foothills rise fairly abruptly from the flat plain. Color looks very natural for such a day. Thanks for sharing yet another place I shall never see in person.

Evelynn : )

Hello james,
The image gives a somewhat hostile feeling, probably caused by the muted colours and lack of vegetation!
Attractive lines and I like to spot the horses grazing in a distance...
Good lead-in to the foggy summit in the back!
Greetings,
Pablo -

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 978 W: 23 N: 2700] (9900)
  • [2007-08-07 0:48]

Hi James,
a real pity there was not even a glimpse of Everest, but what a great experience to be in this location anyway.
I like the sudden flat area shown here contrasting with the abrupt slope of the mountainside, and the glimpse of much more severe conditions beyond. Looking forward to more from here.
Paul

Hello James although the weather doesnt look ideal still worth the capture of this amazing location the composition is good and the detail is sharp good colour tones nice contrast between foreground valley and the mountain behind tfs rgds Necip

So you made it close to the Everest Base Camp from China side, James. I envy you.
The rainy ambience seems quite strange to the Tibetan Plateau, but the picture brings it forth beautifully. I like the mist looming on the cliffs to the right and the glimpse of the snow-covered mountains is quite tantalizing.
A lovely picture in its totality.
Thanks and best regards.

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1673 W: 24 N: 4849] (15812)
  • [2007-08-07 2:36]

Hi James,
Good to see your post from Tibet, you have made your presence felt. Awesome view and a breath-taking atmosphere captured. The snow laden ones at the BG and the overlapping one in the front presents a fine effect and illustrates the terrain well. You are lucky to be there enjoying the scene in person. Excellent POV to capture the mood and very nicely composed. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

Hi James,
Excellent note and photo from this part of the world...It does look a bit soggy there, with the intense monsoon season at this time. Too bad that macro lens has been dead weight so far..
Please do keep us posted :)
Well done & TFS.
Howard

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  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2301 W: 59 N: 3645] (11684)
  • [2007-08-07 4:27]

Hi James,
Nice to see another posting from you again. Hope you are enjoying yourself over there.
Landscape and the view looks beautiful even with the clouds. Nice POV, composition and exposure handling.
TFS
Best wishes,
Selen

Hi James.

Places like this I can only ever visit in dreams or other people photos... So it is great to see this picture even there are only glimpses of snow covered peaks in the BG.

Nice to see so much detail in the picture.

Great shot and TFS

  • Great 
  • delic Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 530 W: 6 N: 340] (936)
  • [2007-08-07 5:50]

Hi James,
Funny, I just finished an R.D. Kaplan book about the area. Beautiful view despite the clouds. Best,
Hakan

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  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2975 W: 148 N: 4398] (14271)
  • [2007-08-07 7:27]

Hi James.
What a great landscape and stunning picture. I feel the mountain freshness, space and majesty of the mountains. Terrific POV, crisp sharpness and details of the image, nice clear colours and impressive light tones. Bravo. Perfect done. My kind regards and TFS.
Alexei.

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  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1875 W: 2 N: 5064] (19360)
  • [2007-08-07 10:26]

Hi James. Glad to see you had a good trip and got home ok. This looks an amazing place to been and seen. a shame you did not see Everest.
very good compostion very well done TFS. interesting notes to go with the picture. will look forward to some more.
Nick..

Hi James,
What a wide open place you managed to capture here. I am sure that you felt really small when walking around here. Those horse almost look like toys. It is a pity you didn't see the peak, but hey looking at where you have been in your life, I am almost certain a next time will come. The clouds do give the photo a wonderful mood and does fit the scenery well.
TFS,
Niek

Dear James!
So there you were! :) Really great place! :>
I like this photo because of the following reasons:

1. picture has dramatic climat. The clouds and shadows on the moutains make the scenery very murk.

2. colouration is vivid (even if still darkness is in some places - but its is really nice)

3. composition - high mountain on the left and much smaller on the right, and moreover totaly different in colours peaks in the BG

4. note - very informative

All these elements make the photo an interesting presentation.
Best greetings and have a nice day!
Radomir

PS. I'll be back very soon :)

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 818 W: 4 N: 2026] (9534)
  • [2007-08-08 5:52]

James, Interesting shot and what a landscape shot. The scenario is amazing.ganesh

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1103 W: 0 N: 1788] (7662)
  • [2007-08-09 12:51]

Hello James,
There is something very strong about this picture and I don't mind the absence of Mt. Everest. This landscape is great for itself.
I just love this kind of nude landscape.
Anne

Great image of the peaceful valley beneath the thick cloud and soaring peaks.
Although your note was lengthy and scholarly, I should add something about how the rains affect the Himalayas. As rainwater erodes the southern face, the mountain thus relieved of several tons of soil and rock, rise higher and block the northerly winds which stop the clouds and increase the rainfall.

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