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Sunset at Valle de la Luna


Sunset at Valle de la Luna
Photo Information
Copyright: James Parker (Jamesp) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1251 W: 0 N: 4829] (14332)
Genre: Landscapes
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 1999-09
Categories: Desert, Mountain
Camera: Canon EOS 1vHS, Canon 17-35 2.8L, Fuji Provia 100
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-08-16 3:55
Viewed: 1321
Points: 38
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is a scanned slide taken in 1999. The scale of this can be judged from the people standing on the slope in the foreground.

The Valley of the Moon (Valle de la Luna) is one of the most visited places in and around San Pedro de Atacama and is located 13 kilometers west of San Pedro in the Cordillera de la Sal, in the Atacama desert of Chile. It’s an interesting place with stone and sand formations which have been created through the centuries by floods and wind, which has also given it an extraordinary color and texture, looking similar to the surface of the moon. From a large sand dune in the valley (the viewpoint for this photograph), it is possible to appreciate all the marvelous and surprising features of this zone. In Valle de la Luna there are dry lakes where the composition of salt makes a beautiful white covering layer of the area; escarpments in all colors; green, blue, red and yellow, which color the sunlight changes depending on the time of day and is especially beautiful at sunset. It presents diverse saline outcrops which look like real sculptures and contains as well as a great variety of caverns.

At nights of a full moon, the valley also presents an indescribable, majestical and silent aspect, coldly beautiful and imposing.

Valle de la Luna is a part of the Reserva Nacional los Flamencos and was declared a Nature Sanctuary in 1982 for it’s great natural beauty and strange lunar landscape, from where in inherits it’s name. It’s visited by hundreds, if not thousands of tourists every year, being one of the most famous attractions of Chile.
PaulH, Proframe, marhowie, angybone, uleko, gracious, anel, nglen, SelenE, Necipp, gannu, delic has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Proframe: OOops!Jamesp 2 08-16 04:59
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1031 W: 26 N: 2984] (10774)
  • [2007-08-16 4:07]

Hi James,
a truely awesome view...the strong curving shadow in the FG is excellent, and the hazy mountains in the distance are a perfect back drop to that golden ridge. Great composition too, very well done!
Paul

Hi James,
Great view over this beautiful valley with wonderful warm colors and light on the rims.
Tha sand stone formations all ook alike and the lines leading the eye perfectly in to the hazy/moody background.
Love the way you did insert the people on the bended line of the rim. They give the viewer a perfect idea how big those sand stone formations really are.
Excellent composition, note and scan work.
Just one question: Since when is it possible to use Fuji Provia 100 slide film together with the Canon 1D MK II :)
Thanks for sharing.
Best wishes,
Harry

Morning James,
Wonderful sense of depth with good size cues, giving a great sense of scale to this panoramic vista. Very nice layered composition, from the shadowed curve of the FG, to the distant mountain tops kissing that clouded sky.
Hope I haven't "layered" it on too thick ;-)
Very well done!
Howard

Amazing lines and patterns....unusual and beautiful. Great how the shadows magnify the entire feeling of the photo.

amazing landscapre, TFS Ori

hello james,
nice capture of the sunset, the warm colours look nice here, like the composition and pov very much,
well done,
tfs & regards
pankaj

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2458 W: 168 N: 7420] (23432)
  • [2007-08-16 7:21]

Hello James,
This is truly wonderful! I love the curving lines, the textures, the colours and the depth of focus. The contrasts from darkness to bright sunshine to haziness in the far distance are fantastic too. Those "little" people brings it all into perspective! I could view this for a long time!
Many thanks and best wishes, Ulla

Hello James,
What a awesome view indeed with great sense of depth, good exposure and focus!
I loved the texture of valley and the golden sunlight!
well composed and well seen
cheers
Tony

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1166 W: 0 N: 1950] (8279)
  • [2007-08-16 11:51]

hello James,
This Atacama desert must be something fabulous!
Absolutely amazing stone formations. I like the contrasted view with the shadow in the front and the warm light on the landscape.
Best regards
Anne

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1988 W: 5 N: 5524] (20880)
  • [2007-08-16 12:08]

Hi James . as paul said awesome picture. having the people in the shot helps to understand the scale . fantastic colours and shapes in the sand and stone. good view of the mountains in the back ground. very well done TFS. very good notes to resd thanks.
Nick..

Hello James! Very original capture. Great POV! Excellent landscape. Best regards!

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-08-16 20:19]

Hello James

Oh those people! another wow shot ,the natural land formations make for an artistic composition.The lighting and colours are wonderful.TFS

Rob

That is quite an interesting landscape James. The human scale does add to the shot. I like the curve of the foreground and the wonderful texture.

TFS
Evelynn : )

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2339 W: 59 N: 3777] (12120)
  • [2007-08-17 5:00]

Hi James,
Lovely landscape. Colors,POV, DOF,light, shadows and textures look very good. I liked the way you included the people to the composition, they give a good scale. TFS

PS: Yesterday I sent you an e-mail via TN, did u receive it?

Have a nice weekend
Selen

Hello James just awsome nice note I like the detailed description. Very nice light giving you the fine detail and contrast. very well done tfs rgds Necip.

Hi James,
Superb! I like this odd landscape, plenty of escarpments. An unique view, your very lucky visiting this place.
regards
Hernán

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 916 W: 4 N: 2277] (10628)
  • [2007-08-17 20:47]

James, WOW what a capture and really wonderful view. Excellent lightig. Ganesh

  • Great 
  • delic Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 530 W: 6 N: 340] (936)
  • [2007-08-18 13:01]

Great view, James. Love that curving shadow with the people on it. Regards,
Hakan

Hi James

WOW - what a beautiful shot. and the persons just add that scale that is really needed (and very often missing from my shots). the light and composition are stunning.

TFS
Emma

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