Lines in the Sand

[Ann]

These photographs were taken from a hot air balloon as it was making its approach to landing in the Namibian desert near Sesriem.

Nothing appears to have moved across these sands except the wind and a single antelope.

[ColinM]

I really like the first one Ann

[Fons Baerken]

Beautiful, the colours are striking!

[Thomas Stellwag]

those colours are exceptional, a great series

[Nasos Kosmas]

Is this planet earth? Beautiful colors

[Hugh_3170]

I like them all, but the third one with its pinks and yellows is my favourite.

I have only had one balloon flight, but as one moves with the wind, the sensation is one of such stillness.  I loved it - must have another such ride! 

[Ann]

Thank you all for your very kind comments on these photographs.

Hugh mentioned the magical stillness and silence when ballooning which is broken only by the occasional roar of the propane-fired gas jets which propel the balloon upwards.

Ballon rides take place at dawn when the natural air is still cold and will contrast with the heated balloon so that the balloon and basket rises into the sky. This has the added advantage that the low slanting light of sunrise picks-out, and accentuates, the texture of the land below.

I have only had the chance to ride a balloon twice: once across this expanse of textured desert in Namibia and once across the Blyde valley in another part of Africa.

The Blyde valley was an entirely different experience as we flew over forests and cultivated fruit farms before landing on the edge of a cornfield.

[Akira]

Amazing detail!

Interestingly, my sense of scale is confused possibly because of the vastness of the desert.

[Ann]

To give you some perspective, I had my lens at 70mm and we were probably below 300 ft in altitude because we were coming down to land. Our extraordinarily competent pilot prided himself on being able to land the basket on their trailer — and did!

He has another skill too. I had always known that the other way to open champagne was with a swipe of a sabre but I had never seen it done. That morning, I did!



(The flying cork is exiting the photograph top-right.)

The Namibian desert is vast and this photograph of the other balloon coming in to land gives some idea of the scale of the place.

[Birna Rørslett]

Apparently this wasn't his first bottle of champagne being decapitated by a machete Good timing on your side, Ann.

I agree with Hugh the third photo is my favourite. So 'Dune'-like, I almost sense the Fremen gliding across the rippled sand in their irregular step pattern to avoid calling a Sandworm.

[Ann]

Birna:
You aroused my curiosity and I had to check if the Namib actually has any Sandworms!

It doesn't: but it does have sand-lizards although they are quite small!!

I am so glad that you enjoyed my photographs — even though they are without any Fremen and Sandworms!

[mfilippa]

even though they are without any Fremen and Sandworms!

For the moment, Ann... For the moment!
Never say never
Please shoot again! Wonderful job!

[Frank Fremerey]

These photographs were taken from a hot air balloon as it was making its approach to landing in the Namibian desert near Sesriem.

Nothing appears to have moved across these sands except the wind and a single antelope.

Wind ripples??? Cool

[Anthony]

Beautiful landscapes.

A peaceful balloon flight followed by extreme violence on a harmless champagne bottle, what a morning!

[Ann]

After further reflection, I decided that the girl in the background of this picture was simply standing in the way.

So I eliminated her. I then reframed the image and added more background to the top of it.

New software makes this possible.