Where do we go..., a photo from Er Rachidia, South

Photographer's Note

As I believe that walking the path is sometimes more important than reaching the destination, I've chosen this photo as one of the first postings this year.

This is by far my most appreciated photograph on TE and it taught me that we all want to dream of distant, mysterious & exotic places. And because I've just returned from Sahara I want to remind myself of incredible magic that desert offers and share this magic with you.

I have decided to post it with slightly different crop. I left more of the sea of sand dunes to give better idea of immense space that you can experience there. This photo is taken from some other high dune.

Shall you all travel to all places you've always dreamt of.. and take unforgettable photographs you've always wanted to .. (as this is definitely one of my dream photo come true)

Happy New Year!!

Here is the original version

Here is the original version

Lucie

Vacdub, Oldtree, carper, mathiasmo, pascal13, Janice, cherryripe, cherubin, eleparc, designsoul, Clairedelune, PLD_images, martou, L2K, peck, sleon, tcht, Jeppe, mfonda, h_sedghi, stranger, rajhema, MLINES, Tasmaniac, vhemmati, jaja1970, Viera, rigoletto, snowfalken, edytungkal, CLODO, Suppiluliuma, erhan1958, jmigueln has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

picardo (2459) 2006-01-04 12:46

I think that the picture captures the immense space that is the Sahara. I like it very much!
The sand and the people is very sharp!. How did you take the picture ? Over a huge dune or in a plane ?
Great picture! TFS!

sebautourdumond (3108) 2006-01-04 12:46

Hi Lucie,
very nice picture, I like it. Colours, composition, light, all is beautiful. Immensity is ok with human scale on the bottom right. On my favorites!
Great job
Bye
Seb

Quentin (5280) 2006-01-04 12:46

Hi Lucie
Waaouh!! What a beautiful photo! All these dune are amazing and of course this caravan is perfectly included in your image! Congratulation and happy new year!
Quentin

dof (463) 2006-01-04 12:47

Excellent shot Lucie !! As you said, I love the immense space feeling your shot gives. The shadows are interesting too. Nice capture

Vacdub (3) 2006-01-04 12:59

This is real a photograaph giving us atmosphere and character. I like it a lot. Congratulations.

dmcloughlin (8) 2006-01-04 13:00

Lucie,
Colours, composition and contrast are all great.
Darren.

Oldtree (2457) 2006-01-04 13:01

I like this photo very much. The sharp contrast between the people in the foreground and this beautiful desert is excellently captured and composed. Very well done!

centurion (0) 2006-01-04 13:01

Outstanding capture here Lucie. Great , I love it.

rhizomes (15343) 2006-01-04 13:13

Hi Lucie,
Very impressive light on these dunes.
Very great crop and perfect colors.
Congratulations !
Christophe

mrcrow (3993) 2006-01-04 13:16

that is fantastic lucie
i must go back to morocco

nanauhauer (761) 2006-01-04 13:23

This is for sure a amazing photo.
The size of this place is unbeliveble.
Seems like you are in a helicopter.
Congratulations!
Nanau

carper (96) 2006-01-04 13:26

Hij is prachtig Lucie,
De perfectie stroomt er letterlijk vanaf. ik ben zelf ook een beetje perfectionist en ik waardeer het ontzettend als ik een perfecte foto zie. De compositie de balans, het detail, wel alles is goed en streelt mijn ogen. ik heb trouwens je intro ook gelezen en vind deze zeer goed en ik ben het gedeeltelijk met je eens er zijn teveel foto's die niet gewaardeerd worden. Maar, deze foto wordt dat wel degelijk, uitstekend werk en nog een goed 2006 toegewenst.
gr. jaap

THAR (3877) 2006-01-04 13:27

Superbe!!!

mustang8573 (145) 2006-01-04 13:29

Excellent shot. I love the shadows. I don't think it would have turned out the same without them. The people add amystery to the photo and leaves me staring at it wanting to know where they came from and where they're going.

jemaflor (146280) 2006-01-04 13:36

Hi Lucie,
Great landscape and great shot, well captured, the light is wonderful and people on your photo are very well placed and give an interesting effect, congratualtions and TFS.

mathiasmo (1759) 2006-01-04 13:38

what a shot, Lucie! Colors are so great, so as the dunes pattern and the final touch: the camels and the nomads. Just wonderful! I would talk about a feeling of mine that you could have cropped the upper part of the photo, to make the pattern more powerful, but never mind. The photo is PERFECT!!

ciec (1081) 2006-01-04 13:52

Hi Lucie
I like this too. Excellent athmosphere, excellent light.
Did you try to cut the upper more distant part ?

pascal13 (2100) 2006-01-04 14:23

Bonjour Lucie,
Encore une photo superbe,rien à redire,c'est excellent.
Pascal

Janice (4403) 2006-01-04 14:33

Ah Lucie, what a stunning scene, so mysterious and beautiful. It is a place not many of us will visit, and thank you for showing it to us. I think your composition is just superb, and a dream come true for you. Thank you for sharing your dream.
Janice

cherryripe (21033) 2006-01-04 14:59

Hi Lucie
This is picture-postcard stuff.
I like how the perfectly aligned travellers seem lost in the immense desert as well as the colour of the sand and effect of the shadows.
Nikki

xavshot (69835) 2006-01-04 15:34

Bonsoir Lucie,
très très belle photo avec une lumière magnifique et un cadrage grandiose
j'aime beaucoup
Bravo
Xavier

JanArie (657) 2006-01-04 15:42

Hello Lucie
Also a very happy new year!
Very beautifull photo with these colors and long shadows.
Very good!
Greetings Jan-Arie

anesugur (18789) 2006-01-04 16:14

Hi Lucie,
Wonderful picture.
Excellent atmosphere, composition and colors.
Thanks for sharing. Uğur

cherubin (1971) 2006-01-04 16:35

hi Lucie,
excellent shot, with all these dunes and the light who follows the travellers!
happy new year!
cherubin

MichaelTrezzi (3374) 2006-01-04 16:52

Hi Lucie, What a superb desert pic. I like the rhytm of the desert you captured here. Well done, Cheers, Michael

eleparc (24063) 2006-01-04 17:23

Merzouga! i love those dunes! I have been walking through them for 4 full days and I have such great memories of this trip! thank you for your wishes and I hope your dreams are fullfilled too ;-)
I love your note! and I agree fully to it! the path is more important than the destination!!!

Thanks
Eric

designsoul (17843) 2006-01-04 17:30

Hello Lucie,
This photograph, I believe, needs no words of description, for it is pure poetry... a most lyrical, evocative poetry.

Thank you for the new year's wishes, one of the most beautiful I have heard this year! :-) The same to you...
sarolta

marietom (34611) 2006-01-04 17:45

Beaucoup de choses ont déjà été dites sur cette photo, je rajouterais juste que je la trouve moi aussi magnifique !
Marie

Cormac (26565) 2006-01-04 18:53

I thought this looked familiar! Great shot, with huge perspective and perfect framing, placing the camels in the lower right corner. The sense of immensity is quite amazing, as is the light. Superb!

vapours (8264) 2006-01-04 19:33

What an absolutely incredible image. The contours and shades of yellow/orange throughout the shot are brilliant, and the positioning of the camels is perfect.

My first favourite for 2006 :)

Wahclellaspirit (4125) 2006-01-04 20:02

Brilliant image. The minuteness of mankind upon the Earth. Brilliant color, great exposure, and grand entrance...
Very Nice...

Clairedelune (4923) 2006-01-04 20:44

Hi Lucie,
I remember well your other picture, since it is by it that I came to your gallery, being impressed. I'm still impressed! ;) I love so much the rich yellow/brown color of the sand, the long shadows of the camels and the men/women, those little silhouettes, well placed in your composition and frame. This is pure beauty. And this one will go directly in my favorites. Yes, I hope one day to have the chance to take an unforgettable photograph. I'm really happy for you!
Claire

PLD_images (7149) 2006-01-04 21:03

Just one of the best picture I have seen here on TE, and I have seen a lot... ;-)
Hard to critic because the work is flawless.

Nicely done indeed.

Paul

mpb001 (4602) 2006-01-04 21:35

Wow, Lucie, this is a wonderful shot. I really like the composition and how the horizon line is placed. The color is so rich with earthtones. Excellent work.

martou (1660) 2006-01-04 23:12

bonjour Lucie,
amazing shot, I like the cuves of dune, nice silhouette, really good work, bravo Martin

goomer (0) 2006-01-04 23:47

Man I love this picture! Incredible!

ballyna (1689) 2006-01-11 14:14

lucie,
this is just fantastic,very nice.they are going their way in a great discipline even at that lifeless sahara conditions.the curves of the sand are marvellous,great colors and great compo.
regards

L2K (240) 2006-01-12 1:46

Lucie, this is quintessential Sahara photo, what more can I say... You were lucky to find such high place from which to take it. The pattern of lights and shadows is exquisite and resolution superb. This way of cropping is very effective.
Perfect picture!
greetings

Leszek

peck (2779) 2006-01-16 13:13

Hello Lucie,
Very amazing photo!! I like this composition and framing... Great POV!
Well done :)))))

best regards
Gregory

sleon (9402) 2006-01-17 10:51

Hi Lucie
This is such a magical image. The size of the camels in the landscape shows us the sheer immensity of the desert and the rich colours and long shadows are just beautiful. Of all the images I have seen on TE, this has to be my absolute favourite!! I hope to visit Morocco sometime soon, and if I get to see anything as spectacular as this view, I will die happy!!!
Regards, Susanna

Calimero76 (10957) 2006-01-18 1:35

Hello Lucie
this photography is a jewel
I like it
in a few months, I must go to Morocco and I hope to see this dunes
Is this far from Ouarzazate?
Regards
Patrice

lonelywolf (3900) 2006-01-23 2:12 [Comment]

Show Comment

berseph (1758) 2006-01-23 15:30

Great picture Lucie. I love the rolling sand that seems to never end. Great framing with the camels in the corner. I love the shadows that are present. ~Amber

tcht (7565) 2006-01-23 15:49

Hello Lucie,
Wow...splendid! Perfect depth and pov. And I love the repetitive pattern of the dunes!! Really good work. Congratz!
Best regrds,
CheukHin Tsang

tjanze (5674) 2006-01-27 14:45

Hi Lucie!
Great photo.You show us how small is human in desert sand.
Colours,composition,light,sharpnes...simply fantastic.

Jeppe (18654) 2006-01-29 14:35

Wow Lucie - what a landscape view and compostion - I would have loved to have been the photographer on this one - my compliment - a favorite :-)

nicole80 (2163) 2006-02-10 9:44

Hello Lucie,
J'aime beaucoup la manière dont tu as réussi à capturer cette immensité. j'aime beaucoup la vision de ces "ondulations" des dunes. Les personnages placés sur l'un des points forts de la photo renforcent l'idée d'immensité!
Congratulations,
Nicole

krakowiak (4762) 2006-02-12 3:25

Hi Lucie!
What can I write about this photo?!
In my opinion it is excellent shot. For me, it really magical photo, beautyful place, fantastic warm colours, great composition...

Best Regards,
Pawel

BlaiseCendrars (0) 2006-02-12 5:02

Hello Lucie! Thanks for your visit and nice comment!
Wow! I am lost for words! This is one of the loveliest photos I have seen! An endless sea of sanddunes, a caravan and the most marvellous low light - it is a dream and a masterpiece. It was much better to include the second layer of dunes in the distance to deliver a sensation of eternity. Wonderful work!
Thanks so much for sharing!
Best regards,
Chris

wolfy75 (454) 2006-02-19 13:44 [Comment]

Show Comment

alego (277) 2006-02-23 18:41

Hi Lucie,
What a wonderfull photograph. It captures so well the essence and the spirit of desert. I really like contrast in the endless sea of sand dunes. Great colors. Small caravan adds so much character to the image and sense of scale. One can only wish to see such sight with his/her own eyes.

Compliments,
Goran

Mistral (15416) 2006-03-12 16:00

Hi Lucie,
dreamy image of moroccan desert.
Your composition is excellent and light is perfect!
Great image!
A smile
Luca

Svillegas (1169) 2006-03-13 6:02

Hi Lucie
Maravellous shot, great perspective, light and use of the DOF. Good colour saturation, sharpness and composition. Magnific!
Sonia

danielswalsh (13597) 2006-03-14 9:14

Five words come to mind after viewing this shot Lucie...

'I want to go there!'
Looks as though you got some good height to get this angle on the men and camels, where you in a hot air balloon? Or possibly just a really big sand dune?

Awesome composition, great levels and sharpness... a real winner. This is going into my fav's.

Cheers,
- Dan

GSHodg (104) 2006-03-14 18:37

Perfect time of day, perfect composition.
very evocative image flwalessly captured.
I love it.
Gordon
p.s. I much prefer the wider crop you made.

mfonda (891) 2006-04-04 1:52

Hi Lucie,

This image is absolutely amazing - I don't know much else to say. Wonderful colors and composition, everything is perfect. Thanks for sharing.

- Matthew

celinaconroy (717) 2006-04-10 14:14

How did you manage this...in a ballon, plane?
It's just wonderful. I love the distant perspective.

Celina

mkawalec (544) 2006-04-17 2:27

Simply one of the most beautiful pictures I have ever seen.

h_sedghi (880) 2006-04-17 12:00 [Comment]

Show Comment

stranger (726) 2006-04-17 15:35

Good job godess of dunes ;) I love this shot :)

rajhema (1873) 2006-06-07 9:56

Simply marvelous landscape Lucie. Same like others I wonder from where you took this picture. Contrasts, colors and sharpness all excel in this picture. Looks like I'm there.

Cheers
Rajesh

MLINES (12516) 2006-07-23 19:52

Hi Lucie, You have some stunning shots from distant places. The cropping and colours are very good here. Thanks for this insight. Murray.

jluca (10377) 2006-08-07 9:54

Really marvelous !!!
the light is perfect and these camels are giving the scale of these beautiful dunes.
Bye,
Jean-Luc

fserajian (2299) 2006-09-03 2:11

Hi Lucie,
This is a wonderfulphot, very warm colours and a fantastic composition. Well done,

Fara

msanaei (131) 2006-09-30 23:45

Hi Lucie
It's Realy beautiful photo:)

Good Luck
/\/\asoud

sam-sby (439) 2006-10-13 2:50 [Comment]

Show Comment

vhemmati (616) 2006-10-13 3:00

Hi Lucie,

A classic desert shot with superb composition and light control. The placement of the caravan and its influence on the photo is just amazing.

TFS

-V

Surfer31 (0) 2006-12-26 18:09

Lucie, amazing composition and colors.
I can't comment more on this one, this is too much for me. I've been in the Merzouga dunes very recently, I know this place (and view) very well. It was my last trip with my dear girlfriend. Your note is simply touching, you brought out some of my dearest memories and emotions in me.
It's such a pleasure to look at all your pictures and read your notes.

Viera (948) 2006-12-27 3:46

Hi Lucie,
I like this photo very much.Immense dunes and the caravan in the foreground are amazing.
Regards,
Viera

rigoletto (34279) 2007-02-12 5:14

Hello Lucie,
Though i am not a desert fan, i can easily admit that this one is one of the best desert photos in TE i've ever seen. The waves of sand, sharpness, colors, light-shade, positioning of the caravan are just perfect. Great photo.
Congratulations,
Deniz

jean11-3 (2799) 2007-03-03 11:18

Have just discovered this beautiful picture Lucie.
The colours,the light and shade,the composition are all perfect.
This is one of those pictures to be very proud of,TFS, regards Jean.

snowfalken (1116) 2007-04-02 7:29

Hello Lucie,

I found this picture on the TE homepage today and it caught my attention immediately! That is because of the simple, excellent composition and wonderful colors and light! You placed the small caravan in one of the strongest points of the picture! The low sun creates beautiful long shadows on the ground and models nice shapes in the dunes! The exposure is perfect to capture all those details in both shadows and highlights and the white balance settings were ideal to render the golden colors! Very well done! One of the best pictures on TE and definitely a favorite! Thank you!

With Friendly Regards,
Eddie

enedimd (1532) 2007-04-02 7:33

Hi Lucie,
Very nice shot. I like it very much.
Colors, sharpness, light and shade are perfect.
Congrats,
Emir Nedim

zumoduvas (2069) 2007-04-02 8:37

Hello Luicie.

Excellent picture, nice composition and colors.

Regards.
Jose Luis.

Albrecht (11283) 2007-05-14 12:39

Hi Lucie
Absolutely great shot;wonderful view and the smal caravan at the side is wonderful.
greetings Albrecht

IgorDeleze (585) 2007-06-29 9:24

HEllo Lucie,
I have just discovered this fabulous picture on the TE home page.
Simply amazing and beautiful.
Greeitngs.
Igor

fotohadi (2967) 2007-09-12 15:41

Hi Lucie,Excellent atmosphere,very good composition,POV...Well done Hadi

Haymotion (2761) 2007-10-23 5:36

Photo Poster !!
Des dunes a perte de vue, une caravane de chameaux...
Bien composé avec ces hommes du déserts positioné en bas a droite...
Bravo
Vince

Corthyll (90) 2007-11-22 17:47

Gorgeous photo! The depth of field is excellent whilst the contrasting shadows in the dunes are well-captured.

edytungkal (4551) 2008-04-08 20:22

Wow...what a fascinating landscape and added the shadows of the travellers on fg really a very great idea, i love this shot alot Lucie..
congratulation...

daniel

Bushrat (69) 2009-04-20 22:43

I saw the cropped version of this shot and like this one best because as you say it gives a better idea of vast space, also conveys the idea of the camels travelling "through" the photo on their way to...? A timeless shot, it could easily be from biblical times. Fantastic.

muunal (792) 2009-05-09 22:01

Congrats...Just a masterpiece...

CLODO (45116) 2009-07-22 11:40

Hi Lucie
Superb picture of the nature with some persons giving the scale
Congratulations
CLODO

nagual2 (1179) 2009-08-17 13:50

great picture it shows how nomadic we are.

fadingstar78 (420) 2009-12-01 11:09

Beautiful light and colors in this awesome picture!

claud26point2 (1418) 2009-12-01 11:13

Unbelievable colors, light and lines in this photo. Absolutely stunning!
-Claudia

PainDivine69 (1) 2009-12-01 11:21

Hi Lucie!
This picture really can be compared to a dream. Wonderful. Your composition including the human beings in the right foreground is perfect. Great DOF and colours.

Have a nice day, Björn

climber1974 (77) 2010-01-13 6:22

Hi Lucie! Fantastic shot, congratulations!!!

tober (8797) 2010-02-04 1:16

Hello Lucie, I've just noticed this impressive beauty after 4 years have passed upon its upload. Nowadays, especially during the last few years I rarely see this quality of photos in Trekearth.

I see you are not active for more than six months. If you are still around, please keep sharing this sort of wonderful photos. Congratulations, Tolga

comanu (902) 2010-02-04 1:27

4 x camels.
5 x mens.

donluicu (24741) 2010-02-04 1:48

bravo Lucie,
voilà ue aimeg exceptionnelle, excellent ca

Efffcia (28) 2011-06-07 2:22

Nice Photo. Very Beautiful. Great Composition.

dimmtass (12) 2012-09-14 12:50

Dear lucinka
My wife is engaged in painting and often uses similar motifs as you.
When she saw this picture is so delighted that after a long time got the inspiration to paint a new picture ...

masoud334033 (12) 2013-09-09 4:39

it's very very beautiful,Congratulations.

jtkitty (392) 2014-02-22 10:45