At Nightfall in a Lost Canyon
We were exploring the region of the ancient kingdom of Colchis in Eastern Turkey.
After a picnic dinner involving tea from freshly collected peppermint, w...
Read more
We were exploring the region of the ancient kingdom of Colchis in Eastern Turkey.
After a picnic dinner involving tea from freshly collected peppermint, we wanted to get still a bit further. The canyon got steeper and the rock more purplish. But no reasonable campsite turned up. After dark, we missed a turn and the dirt road became windy and increasingly steeper. The engine stalled and the brakes were not up to the task either, so we slowly rolled backwards in the dark ... The nightmare was over when we hit a mighty bulldozer with a big clunk. - We called it a day.
Read less
After a picnic dinner involving tea from freshly collected peppermint, we wanted to get still a bit further. The canyon got steeper and the rock more purplish. But no reasonable campsite turned up. After dark, we missed a turn and the dirt road became windy and increasingly steeper. The engine stalled and the brakes were not up to the task either, so we slowly rolled backwards in the dark ... The nightmare was over when we hit a mighty bulldozer with a big clunk. - We called it a day.
Read less
Sep, 2014Views
1449
Likes
Awards
Top Shot Award 22
Contest Finalist in Remote And Isolated Photo Contest
Peer Award
Absolute Masterpiece
Superb Composition
Outstanding Creativity
Top Choice
Magnificent Capture
Virtuoso
All Star
Emotions
Impressed
Top Ranks
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Top 20 rank
Top 20 rank
Top 10 rank
Categories
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Discover more photos See all
Behind The Lens
Location
This image was taken on the way on our kayak sporting expedition in eastern Anatolia, Turkey. This was many years ago, as the expert can glean from the minibus and the kayaks.Time
While we were getting slightly desperate at nightfall to find a campsite, I could not resist to put in a photo stop. When I saw the opportunity for an interesting perspective, with the somber mood of the canyon in purplish light, I just had to jump out and take the time to make an image.Lighting
The lighting with natural light was a challenge as I used ISO 25 Kodachrome at the time.Equipment
At the time, I had a Nikon F2 camera with pre AI 35mm f/2 and a pre AI 85mm f/1.8 manual lenses with me. So I used the 35mm lens. The low ISO rating of the slide film in the camera dictated a long exposure time as the motion blurred water reveals. The camera was steadied by improvising a support using some rocks. The lights of the minibus were left on while standing, suggestive of the situation with the bus creeping along the dangerous winding road.Inspiration
This was one of several, once in a lifetime, trips that I did with my then girlfriend. On this experience we were joined by two herculean friends, who were not easily frightened. For me it was no question, that I wanted to come back with a reasonable crop of images again. So while the traveling and sporting activity was the primary motivation, photography was a close second for me.Editing
Landscape photography, with human element or not, is a branch of nature photography in my opinion. So the image should be honest in rendering what was there. The principal choices, composition and exposure, are made at capture. In processing this old slide, I adjusted the crop slightly, primarily to do away with boring overexposed sky, just including the distant mountains in bluish haze. Some dust spots were retouched. Also minor adjustments were done to exposure and contrast, not even dodge and burn in this case.In my camera bag
Analog film photography is past for me since many years. My "goto" camera is a Nikon crop camera like the D7100 with a 5x normal zoom AF-S 16-80mm f/2.8-4. This offers so much more flexibility and image quality with less bulk and weight than my bag full of analog equipment. My most frequently used extension of the one lens kit is with the AF-P 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 lens, which I also use on my full format camera.Feedback
Sadly, this and too many other similar places have become victim of the need for electric power. This canyon has long been drowned in a series of power lakes. Fortunately, a lot of interesting places remain. Many interesting locations are not that far away and much easier to reach. The covid-19 virus has helped to remind us of this fact. I think wherever you go, it is important to be prepared. If nothing specific is to be expected, you grab just the goto camera.
