Chess Pieces of the Sahara, a photo from New Valley, Inland

Photographer's Note

Another shot from the surreal landscape of Egypt's White Desert. Calcium carbonate (chalk) was deposited over 40 million years ago when this was the bottom of an ocean. Now the wind has eroded it into a landscape of almost cartoon-like monuments, like the chess knight in the distance.

The whole structure with the "knight" is maybe 8-10 m (25-30 feet) high.

The area is now a protectorate (national park) and is near the center of Egypt.

robertosalguero, besnard, achakladar, macondo, PaulVDV, avene, Floydian, patdeph, bostankorkulugu, wishlist oznaczył to zdjęcie jeko użyteczne

Critiques | Translate

besnard (59196) 2008-10-08 22:58

Bonjour Ken
Une image assez incroyable, on se croirait transportés sur une autre plančte. Au 1er abord, avant d'ouvrir la vignette, j'ai cru voir un paysage de neige mais la note explicative trčs intéressante a remis les pendules ŕ l'heure.
Merci pour le partage et bonne journée.
Nicole

robertosalguero (292) 2008-10-08 22:59

Hi Ken,

This is very interesting. The feature does look like a horse head but I wonder how big it is. I like the warm tones against the white mineral deposits. Good point of view. Thanks Ken :-)

Roberto

Morac (27725) 2008-10-08 23:50

Hi Ken,
What is beautiful!
The landscape is incredible.
These soft and pastel colors and pastel are superb.
Regards
Marc

MarcT (20964) 2008-10-08 23:54

Hi Ken,
You're right, it's a knight. A mighty one.
Nice light too.
Cheers
Marc

devimeuxbe (58557) 2008-10-08 23:55

Hi Ken
wouaaa, impressive vision. You get an excellent light. The cropping in perfect
well done
Bertrand

kyrneucciu (1390) 2008-10-09 0:31

Hi Ken, Beautiful light and beautiful composition cheer. JO

macondo (20449) 2008-10-09 0:50

Hi Ken.
Great title for this amazing piece of natural sculpture. The gentle light has rendered the picture in lovely colour tones. You composed it very well, with the foreground sand formation providing a sense of depth. Good choice of aperture to give the depth of field, too.
Regards,
Andrew

pastadog (13111) 2008-10-09 2:05

I had seen "wide" photos of this weird place, Ken, but this particular "knight" is certainly unusual and very impressive... emphasized by the excellent light and the efficient inclusion of this salt formation in fg/bottom giving depth and textures... congratulations, Daniel

PaulVDV (63024) 2008-10-09 3:31

Hello Ken,
The light is very good. Also a good idea to include the white rock on the foreground.
Best regards, Paul

avene (12675) 2008-10-09 5:43

hello Ken,
apt title to this surreal scene, it does look a little like a celestial chess board. the warm light creating a pale golden cast creates an interesting contrast with the white of the chalk, I wonder if playing with levels and curves could boost saturation. the foreground works well to add depth, I like a lot the instricate textures. excellent work, my compliments.

best,
Kristine

Floydian (30970) 2008-10-09 7:29

Hi Ken,
Been a few times to Egypt but never made it to here and that's really a shame because i have seen some great shots from that location. Very photogenic, very creative formations...must be a great place for a photographer.
Nice warm light which glows over the white desert...very nice.
Regards, Henk

patdeph (35750) 2008-10-09 9:10

hello Ken
these white limestone formations are really astonishing, and are enhanceda superb light!I like very much the soft colours,and it's superbly framed!
Regards
Pascale

mamalia (242) 2008-10-09 11:11

hello ken,
what an incredible place and a great photo. it looks like to antartic or mars! light and colours are beautifuls! thank you for sharing this extraordinary vision.
amalia

sunamoon (10) 2008-10-10 12:14

Hola Ken:

Me parece una foto impresionante,
me gusta los contraste y ese fuerte color blanco, buena profundidad y definición!, buen trabajo.

Un saludo,
Elena

chris04stop (6805) 2008-10-10 15:24

But...but...the one the top is a squirrel or a beaver! Do you can see him? Anyway, this is a very good pic, Ken. It remembers me, so a strange things, the Greenland. I was there with my husband and I love SO much Greenland! Ciao and thanks,
Anna Paola

bostankorkulugu (42866) 2008-10-10 23:16

never before i was aware of this place untill i saw your and ricardo's -riclopes- shots this year... it looks like a combination of the white deposits of pamukkale and the rock formations of cappadocia somehow, two unusual landscapes of turkey...
i like the way you composed this one in a vertical format... the warm evening light adds a lot to the charm also... cheers ken...

batalay (41261) 2008-10-12 11:36

Hello Ken,

Recently I saw a program on television about glass created by the action of meteorite impact with the earth, and it was in the White Desert where the glass is found. Some Royal jewelry surviving from ancient Egypt had employed such glass, and the appearance in the glass, if I remember correctly, of the vary rare element Iridium had been the clue. Subsequently, an expedition to this area gave up some more of the rare glass. Thanks for letting us travel to the exotic site vicariously.

Warm regards,

Bulent

eversmile (11636) 2008-10-13 15:45

Hi Ken

Ok ok you see a chess knight. I see a marmot, (friend of Franscica rabbit of course). I like the light and the bright colours and I am impressed by your note because I didn't know anything about this white desert.
Regards
Marine

wishlist (4133) 2008-10-14 12:46

Hi Ken,
the beautiful light has been a great friend of your, allowing you to create a beautiful atmosphere. Very very nice to look at, the compo is pretty simple but very effective with the softness of the warm tones enphasizing even more the beauty of this view. I like it a lot, thanks for sharing it.
Regards,

Igor

AgaA (2636) 2008-10-15 4:13

On first sight I thought it is a snowy landscape :) Interesting shapes and wonderful light.
Cheers,
Aga

Francisca (348) 2008-10-18 4:39

Hi Ken,
Yes you really have to be crazy to visit the white desert in july :-)! It was extremely hot wasn't it :-S!
I really like your shot! Love the light and the rock in the foreground.
Well done!
Fran

jmcl (14535) 2008-10-23 18:49

Hi Ken,

I hope you and yours are well .. what wonderful light .. beautiful tone .. wonderful foreground to background relation .. great dimension .. striking place ... wonderfully captured .. very nice. take care, John

Elaine_Blath (8471) 2008-10-28 0:37