Giant Footprints, a photo from Rajasthan, West

Photographer's Note

Astonishing is the work of the wind to create amazing textures like these on the sand dunes of Sam. They resemble Giant Footprints left behind by some alien(s), "who would have wandered around the dunes at night"(!). Next day, the dune would shift helped by the swirling winds & with it these amazing natural works of art would erased forever. For scale, note the butt of cigarette in the bottom left.

A punchier version (boosted saturation) in the Workshop.

Undoubtedly the most well known destination in Jaisalmer after the ‘golden fort’, the Sam Sand dunes are a tourist hot spot in more ways than one. 3km long, 1km wide and as much as half a kilometer high, the dunes are as treacherous as they are scenic. If you opt for a camel ride stay very close to your raika (guide) as only he can manoeuvre you through the quicksand, which has sucked many an unwary goat to its gruesome death. There is no vegetation here and the swirling winds are almost as intense as the khamsins (sandstorms) in the Sahara.

edytungkal, jorbe, besnard, danos, Jonas_Schmitt, Dpbours, feather, jafadabret, ribeiroantonio, sayanwithsenice, Scharan, kiwi_explorer, emjleclercq, ChrisJ, papagolf21, Henryk_Bilor, riclopes, pierrefonds, ramesh_lalwani, batalay, josepmarin, adores, jusninasirun, bakes888, avene, plimrn, Vato_Law, crckt, Felip, aloyho heeft deze opmerking als nuttig gemarkeerd

Critiques | Translate

faubry (35447) 2008-07-03 2:22

hello Angshuman, a superb anc wonderful photo, light, color, cadrage, congratulations
francine

jorbe (319) 2008-07-03 2:29

Hello Angshuman,

Excellent photo. Line from dyne draws my eye in. Excellent exposure and composition.

Well Done!
Jorbe

danasam (1075) 2008-07-03 2:29

Hi Angshuman, that is a very good one, congratulations. I loved the shades and the lights, it is very professional well done.
Sam.

besnard (59196) 2008-07-03 2:43

Bonjour Angshuman
Une très belle composition tant par le cadrage que par les couleurs. La nature nous propose de belles choses.
Merci pour le partage et bonne journée.
Nicole

danos (110407) 2008-07-03 3:36

Hello Angshuman,
A first rate photograph of the giant footprints in the desert of Sam dunes.Really the scene is astonish with the gold light and the colors to make the scene magical.An abstract shot,a piece of artwork.Well done.

Regards,Danos

aadilj (18102) 2008-07-03 3:50

Thats absolutely fabulous Angshu and so well conceptualised and crafted. the tones are mesmerisingly beautiful. Great effort and superlative composition

edytungkal (4551) 2008-07-03 5:49

What can i say....perfect is the the best word figured this fantastic sand dunes. You have great compo which beautiful colours and perfect lighting and that cigarette in the bottom left really help us to understand the scale. This picture perhaps one of your best, Angshu friend. Well done and thanks alot

daniel

Dpbours (222) 2008-07-03 5:54

Hi Angshu,

That are some amazing footprints you have captured there. Good of the one cigarette butt to creat some reference!
I think the original posting works the best, since it gives better contrast between the deep yellow and the shaded darker parts of the dune. Nice.

Greetings,
Dennis

Jonas_Schmitt (3074) 2008-07-03 5:55

Hello Angshuman!
What a wonderful picture of this amazing desert landscape. The photo really looks beautiful and shows the landscape very well. You composed this picture perfectly and I like the diagonal line of the sanddunes very much. The light is really fantastic and I also like the shadows a lot. Also fantastic colors, brilliant contrast and brilliant sharpness. The frame matches to this composition very well and you chose an excellent point of view to take this wonderful picture. Well done, my friend!
Best regards,
Jonas

feather (51130) 2008-07-03 6:48

It's difficult to say which image I prefer as colour/contrast is good on both, although different. The only thing I notice is that the increase in contrast in the WS seems to have introduced some colour noise into the shadows that is not apparent in the main post. You have composed the image well with the main formations in a diagonal across the frame. Your POV is excellent so you could look down on the dunes and show up the patterns. Were you on a camel?
Good work
Kath

jafadabret (56501) 2008-07-03 7:22

Hi Angshu.

Le vent est grand un artiste-sculpteur de dunes. Il s'est amusé à reproduire la forme des coquillages. La lumière rasante donne du relief aux formes ciselées par la nature. Les couleurs très chaudes sont un plus pour la beauté de ce cliché.
Jacques

Bluejeans (64251) 2008-07-03 8:33

Ola Angshuman ,
Que linda a cor da areia tem uma textura magnifica , gostei muito dos detalhes, ficou uma bonita foto artística , parabéns!!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

sayanwithsenice (758) 2008-07-03 9:49

Hi , I am very much amazed to see those footprints.. The shadows makes it more sharp and brilliant frame altogether.. I admire your concept and composition.. Nice quality and texture.. Thanks!

Regards,
Sayan

Gerrit (62042) 2008-07-03 10:13

Hi Angshu,
beautiful colors, light and structures.
Regards, Gerrit

Morac (27725) 2008-07-03 11:09

Hello Angshu,
Thats absolutely fabulous.
What a wonderful picture of this amazing desert landscape.
Regards
Marc

ndb1958 (9289) 2008-07-03 11:14

Hi Angshu, such a beautiful texture on the sand. Nice tones and good lightning. I've never been in the dessert. Would love to do that. Nino.

pastadog (13111) 2008-07-03 15:28

Wow, Angshu, the shapes and colors are fantastic (and the intriguing POV, but I read your reply to Kath). I believe OV is better than WS (too much saturation here IMHO). It could be Mars, or some other planet... Congratulations, Daniel

Scharan (14144) 2008-07-03 18:48

Olá Angshu

Um belo trabalho artístico.
Ótima textura, cores lindas, um olhar apurado.
Parabéns!
GA
Vera

pcp (3396) 2008-07-03 20:53

Wow.. great light and shadows play...how you see this world is really great. i admire your composition which gives the real essence of India. In this image you show us a magic of nature.. well done.

TFS

Senthil

kiwi_explorer (12209) 2008-07-03 20:58

Hi Angshuman,
Wow ... spectacular landscape and you've captured this superbly. The lighting and contrast here is just perfect. This image is of postcard quality ... can't see any fault here ... excellent work! tfs and have a nice weekend.
Cheers,
Renier

emjleclercq (15778) 2008-07-03 23:00

Very nicely shapes dunes, and a gorgeous color.

All the best,

Emmanuel

Graal (103040) 2008-07-03 23:54

Hi Angshuman,
amazing forms and patterns on the dune. Interesting place. Well composed image. Fine game of light and shadows. For me here is better than in WS. Good work.
Gr., Aleksander

ChrisJ (171888) 2008-07-04 0:00

Hi Angshuman

Good high pov, with nice repetititon of the dunes, & superb colour, texture, & sharpness. Tfs!

papagolf21 (152607) 2008-07-04 0:46

Bonjour, cher Angshu,
Le désert n'ayant pas donné de concurrent au sable, grande est la paix du désert.
[Henri Michaux]
Des cratères, des empreintes, des formes, tout est étonnant dans cette partie de dunes.
La beauté de l'ensemble est remarquable.
Amitiés.
Philippe

toto (0) 2008-07-04 1:43

Bonjours,
belle photo de ces dunes très jolies dans leurs couleurs dorée.
Les détails comme ces dessins sur les dunes donnent un effet de mouvement a celle ci.

Amitiés Thomas

Henryk_Bilor (20803) 2008-07-04 2:19

Hi Angshuman
Nice capture of the sand with great, interesting structure. Goodl light too:).
Regards

riclopes (35577) 2008-07-04 3:24

ah, here it is. I really love this image, Angshu. And also the idea of giant footprints that it gives. Great diagonal, fascinating pattern and textures. I struggle in my mind so many times...should I push a bit more with pp? Sometimes, I like it more this way, other times I like it more the punchy version. Even now, I can't decide...so I'll keep this softer and more realist version...just for now.
Best regards,
ricardo

testmaniac (13508) 2008-07-04 4:11

Hello Angshuman, good composed photo,nice colors and shadows.
I like it!

TFS and best regards,
Phil

pierrefonds (114608) 2008-07-04 4:30

Hi Angshuman,

A good capture of the giant footprints designed by the wind in the sand. The diagonal created by the footprints is an asset to the composition. The point of view is allowing us to see the details and the different tints of colors enhanced by the light. Have a nice day.

Pierre

jonathan_hart (21276) 2008-07-04 4:34

nice shot with good light, great tones and interesting forms, well done crop
regards
jo

marietom (34611) 2008-07-04 5:20

hello Angshu,

De la couleur, du graphisme... C'est très réussi, et un régal pour les yeux.
Bonne journée
Marie

ramesh_lalwani (3213) 2008-07-04 5:36

Lovely golden sand Angshuman.Really look gaint foot prints.
Ramesh

ribeiroantonio (22730) 2008-07-04 6:21

Amazing sharpness and clarity in this photo. And superb colours too. The patterns on the sand are very interesting. Well done.
Antonio

batalay (41261) 2008-07-04 7:09

Hello M. B,

A superlative shot of nature at its exotic best! The light and shadows accentuate the textures. Your note informs the reader about the scale and that this is on earth, rather than an image sent back by NASA's Martian Rover, plying its way on the distant planet. This is one of the finest shots of desolate landscape I have seen on Trekearth or elsewhere. An A+ for composition, A+ for exposure.

Warm regards and have a good weekend,

Bulent

josepmarin (59385) 2008-07-04 9:15

Hi Angshuman,
The strong graphism and the great beauty of these dunes is perfectly caught in your composition. I like the simplicity and the great attraction of the image, and the magnificent game of the light with the shades, that they draw the relief in the sand of the dunes.
It is an extraordinary work, with a lot of beauty. Good title also.
Best regards,
Josep

goodwill (4274) 2008-07-04 11:10

Hi Angshu,

The Tones are impressive and the diagonal perspective holds the eyes and.................I love the clarity.....rather I am smitten away by the neatness in the shot.

Rajeev

adores (46979) 2008-07-04 14:45

Hi Angshuman!
Very good composition! I like the shapes a lot, especially with this soft light. The dune forming a diagonal is great!

jusninasirun (17529) 2008-07-04 19:16

Hello angshu. Stunning image with excellent texture and well exposed shot. Well done and have a great weekend. Best regards. Jusni

Stepan (27210) 2008-07-04 23:09

I do enjoy that kind of abstract and extra-contrasted compo... You almost make my judgement about Sam change !!!
All is in the crop and the inspiration. Excellent.
Stéphane

bakes888 (18499) 2008-07-05 0:34

Hi Anghsu. Great photo. I love the colours, textures and forms you have captured in this shot. I think I prefer the original for its smoother texture and more even colour tones. Thanks for sharing.
Have a good weekend, Paul.

sagar (2410) 2008-07-06 5:41

Hi Angshumanda,
Terrific colors!!!! This one really proves that nature is the best designer. A perfect shot.....with wonderful details.
Regards,
Sagarneel.

siolaw (38294) 2008-07-07 6:34

Hi Angshu
The light management is excellent, rich colors and textures. You got the most out of a simple scene and turned it into a piece of art.
Greetings from Goa!
Laurent

somak_g (497) 2008-07-08 1:39

hi angshu,

WOW !!!

regards
somak

avene (12675) 2008-07-08 8:10

absolutely fantastic photo, Angshuman, the sand looks as if made of gold, and I find the black frame works really well here. the textures are fascinating, like something seen on Moon may be, and I like a lot how you creted a strong diagonal line that leads the eye through the photo. excellent work, my compliments.

regards,
Kristine

plimrn (21344) 2008-07-08 12:40

Hi Angshu,
You're really stretching yourself with this n ear abstract beuety of colors and textures. I prefer this version as well.
HLJ, Pat

Vato_Law (12732) 2008-07-08 12:52

Hello Angshuman,
This is quite a different thing from your usual approachs but the result is very pleasing indeed.
First the tones which are superb and then these textures on the sand surface which indeed look as gigantic footprints.
Well seen.
Cheers,
Paulo

crckt (7222) 2008-07-08 18:49

Hi Angsumanda,
I was away for a few days, I see that you have been posting great shots! I think that this one is simply stunning! Great sharpness, the pattern on the sand does look like GIANT footsteps.
Regards,
Shaeri

Felip (3907) 2008-07-09 15:03

Do I have to say anything about this shot that hasn't been said yet?...It's so spectacular, than the best one can do is to say nothing and contemplate the inmense beauty of it.
Well done Angshu

Felip

sayat (2949) 2008-07-15 1:35

Fantastic are the dunes and your shot reflects it quite well. The idea is very well seen here and to me, the light / shade balance makes this shot a great one my friend!

jmcl (14535) 2008-07-15 11:38

Hi Angshuman,

Beautiful tone .. Beautiful textures .. I love the way you angled inot into the frame. very nice. .. Depending on how the noise feels if it enlarges I like the workshop even better.

take care,

John

dvlazar (6662) 2008-07-17 2:45

Hey there,
I missed this photo in your gallery before - but its a real outstanding winner shot!
I like the patterns, the crispness of it all and the shades of light.

Good work.

aloyho (6798) 2008-07-20 0:30

Hi Angshuman,
Indeed a stunning display of the works of nature. The intense colour and good range of tones really brought out the beautiful form of the desert. The swirls and zigzag movement is very musical and pleasing to the eyes. Splendid shot!!

Best wishes and an easy Sunday.

mikeo (12129) 2008-07-20 0:53

Hi Angshuman,

You have really great gallery, for beginning this shot:) Very simple shot, but ths to hard structure of paths and wonderful play od sunlight and shadows it looks so great!
Amazing colours and great composition!

greetings,

mikeo

bijitbose (18) 2008-07-27 2:02

Mind blowing laglo dada!

MarcT (20964) 2008-08-07 22:01

Hi Angshuman,
Superb texture, colors and shades.
Almost monochrome but with a lot of depth.
Cheers
Marc