Lake Chungara, Chile

Posted by Rich S on Sat Aug 23, 2003 5:07 pm

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This is another shot where I'm really looking for some assistance. It was taken near Lake Chungara, Chile, at about 15,000 feet, the world's highest navigable lake. (And a long drive from sea level to 15k and back to sea level all in one day, definitely not the way to go.) This was shot in mid-afternoon light, not much choice there, but I plan on going back within the year since the opportunities there were tremendous. (Think snow capped volcanos surrounding a lake the color of Tahoe and abundant with unusual birds.)

The question here is on composition. I had more of the little mounds in the water to the left and a dominant volcano on the right (and I've combined all three in a panorama). Crop? Expand? Or leave as is? (I've also a single telephone pole at the extreme left edge that would have to be cloned out since this was shot from the "main road" to Bolivia.) Thanks for any thoughts and suggestions.

1Ds, 28-70 at 70, 1/400 at f16 and ISO 250.

Rich

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by DMcLarty on Sat Aug 23, 2003 5:43 pm

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Hi Rich
Very interesting place to be in. If one could camp over night sunrise and sunset would be great.

I like a crop off the bottom to the edge of the first row of white capped ridges. It seems to bring in the lake and mountain features. With out the crop I am looking for a subject on the brownish slope. If some one was midway on this slop looking over the valley then no crop as an example

Also a little levels work in PS brought the colors up some.

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by thapamd on Sat Aug 23, 2003 6:11 pm

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Stunning shot, Rich. I agree with D's suggestion about the bottom crop...maybe even a little from the top and making it a panoramic shot. Nevertheless, this is a gorgeous shot!

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by Dan Baumbach on Sat Aug 23, 2003 6:38 pm

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I'd definately go with the crop suggestion. The brown foreground adds nothing to the scenic view. Perhaps when you return if there's greenery there or flowers then it might be worth including.

I'd make every effort to get there either for sunrise or sunset even if it means loosing sleep. This location is worth it.

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by Alan Melle on Sat Aug 23, 2003 9:41 pm

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It's a pretty nice image but it needs a stronger foreground. Without it I would change this to a pano by cropping some of the bottom and some of the empty blue sky. Nice exposure for mid-day light.

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by E.J. Peiker on Sat Aug 23, 2003 10:22 pm

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Agree with the crop and hope when you go back you get a shot in morning or evening light. The Andes are such impressive mountains.

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by Maxis Gamez on Sat Aug 23, 2003 10:48 pm

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I think early morning light will help this beautiful photograph.

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by Heather Forcier on Sun Aug 24, 2003 12:34 am

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Rich, I love it! I also think it's even stronger with just a smidge off the bottom. How amazing that must have been to be there in person.

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by Anders on Sun Aug 24, 2003 3:02 am

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Very nice!

I strongly agree with the cropping suggestions, but unlike most, I don't mind the afternoon light. I like this a lot!!!

Anders

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by Rich S on Sun Aug 24, 2003 7:55 am

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Thanks all. Plan is to try and spend three days in March, for both morning and evening light. (This would be an afternoon shot.) At 15,000+ feet it does give a whole new meaning to the phrase "if it's more than 100 meters from the road, it ain't scenic." Walking is work let alone carrying a camera and tripod.

Rich

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by Tom Hill on Sun Aug 24, 2003 9:28 am

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The crop ideas are fine. However, if you can get some killer light on the foreground, the texture there would make it worth keeping.

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by Kelly on Sun Aug 24, 2003 6:38 pm

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Rich, This makes me want to go to Chile! I like the composition a lot, with the curving shoreline and the little tufts of foreground vegetation juxtaposed against the snowy mountains. I agree with cropping a tiny bit of the brown and some of the empty sky.

Kelly O'Neill

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by Cliff LeSergent on Mon Aug 25, 2003 11:53 am

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Looks like a spectacular area, Rich!

One bit of non-photographic advice: you might do some research on altitude sickness before your next trip. If you think the effects of altitude on a day trip from sea level to 15,000 feet are bad, the effects of camping at that altitude overnight can potentially be very debilitating. If possible, you should camp one or two nights at an intermediate altitude to acclimatize, rather than driving from sea level to the lake and camping there the first night.

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by Guy Tal on Mon Aug 25, 2003 12:06 pm

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What a spectacular place. Chile and Argentina are high on my list of places to visit when I can take the time to travel outside the US. Please post more images if you have them!

Guy

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