Brunch with Battutah
Dunehill run
Posted by Michael Skorulski (Cigel, Slovakia) on 15 August 2008 in Landscape & Rural and Portfolio.
When my daughters were young and we lived in Saudi Arabia, one of their greatest pleasures was to run down a sand hill like this at full tilt. Falling and getting as sandy as possible was a lot of the fun.
We loved the desert and regularly drove across it as well as across a treacherous tidal salt flat to get to a secluded beach on the Red Sea. We gradually learned which tracks to take so we wouldn't get stuck. If a path looked soft we would get out and test it by walking ahead of the truck.
Once we came across some local people whose pickup was stuck in sand. They were surprised to see three western females leap out of a jeep to help push them onto firmer ground.
Steve Rice from Olympia, United States
A beautiful image of the dune and this rather desolate looking place.
15 Aug 2008 5:17am
@Steve Rice: Thanks so much, Steve. I always found it more beautiful than desolate.
Stephen Phillips from San Francisco, United States
Great image with a fun and enjoyable tale. Thanks, Michael.
15 Aug 2008 5:35am
@Stephen Phillips: A pleasure. Glad you enjoyed it. thanks, Stephen.
Kylie Greenan from Richmond, Australia
Wow Michael, the dunes have almost a silky gold texture in this capture, so beautiful, I love the sharp crest of the sand the leads to such a striking blue sky, a very artistic composition!
15 Aug 2008 6:12am
@Kylie Greenan: Thanks, Kylie. That sharp crest was one of my favorite parts too.
Erik from Amersfoort, Netherlands
Very nice shot, love the title it fits real well...
15 Aug 2008 6:51am
@Erik: Thank you, Erik.
Calusarus from St Sorlin en Valloire, France
Very nice shot of this dunehill. And the cloud presence gives a real balance.
15 Aug 2008 6:57am
@Calusarus: Thank you very much, Calusarus.
Mirko Herzner from Mühlheim am Main, Germany
Love the sharpness and colors of this one! The composition is so nice, too.
15 Aug 2008 8:24am
@Mirko Herzner: Thank you, Mirko. I appreciate the positive comment.
Ginnie from Atlanta, Georgia, United States
I've decided sand dunes are females, Michael. They always look so sensuous! :) This one is no exception!
15 Aug 2008 8:38am
@Ginnie: I agree. A great way of putting it. thank you, Ginnie.
@Cia: Thank you, Cia.
Ana Lúcia from Leiria, Portugal
Amazing colours. The desert... I really want to go there someday.
15 Aug 2008 9:42am
@Ana Lúcia: Thank you, Ana Lúcia. the desert is a wonderful place.
@Veronelle: thank you, Veronelle.
Betty from New Jersey, United States
Amazing color and fantastic details. An excellent landscape. Love your description!
15 Aug 2008 10:10am
@Betty: Glad you enjoyed it, Betty. Thanks.
António Pires from Lisbon, Portugal
The atmosphere is so transparent that the dune is perfectly crisp and detailed. Nice view.
15 Aug 2008 10:44am
@António Pires: Thank you, António.
Marco from Verbania, Italy
fantastic game of forms.
Very beautiful the contrast between sand and sky, compliments, good shot
ciao...
15 Aug 2008 11:21am
@Marco: Thank you very much, Marco.
@Vink: Thank you, Vink.
@Craig: Thank you, Craig.
sherri from Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
I can feel your sweet memories with your daughters through your writing. We have a daughter. Sounds like quite an experience as well as good memories. Your image is quite beautiful. I like how you captured that sharp ridge.
15 Aug 2008 1:36pm
@sherri: Thanks very much, Sherri. Yes, I have very good memories of that time. The sharp ridge was what attracted me to the dune.
Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada
Oh My, this is absolutely sumptuous, what a fantastic vista...never seen anything like it, perfect Michael ;)
15 Aug 2008 3:27pm
@Lorraine: Thanks, Lorraine. This was our usual weekend playground so to speak.
Judy from Brooksville-Florida,, United States
This is excellent - and I agree, the way the winds have formed that sharp ridge is a fantastic example of nature at work. I don't know how brave I'd be in the desert, but living there, you learned your way around.
15 Aug 2008 3:41pm
@Judy: Thanks for the great comment, Judy.
@Morgane: Thank you, Morgane.
Gary from Cochise County, United States
I love sand dunes also and this is a great shot. Thanks for sharing a little of your story.
15 Aug 2008 4:33pm
@Gary: Thanks for commenting, Gary.
dj.tigersprout from San Bruno, CA, United States
i love sand dunes -- and sliding / rolling down them is fun indeed! :) beautiful shot here and thanks for the personal anecdote too! excellent!
15 Aug 2008 5:18pm
@dj.tigersprout: Thanks very much, Jaycee.
Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom
I enjoyed hearing about your experience Michael, sounds great. This is a fabulous shot, it really has got a special light to it.
15 Aug 2008 6:52pm
@Observing: Clear desert light I guess. Thanks, Mike.
@zohre: Thank you, Zohre.
@Sandrine: Thank you, Sandrine.
Marion from Nanaimo, BC, Canada
Such an untimely beauty to the sand dune. What actions of nature formed the waves. A beautiful composition Michael and I love the story that goes with it.
15 Aug 2008 9:15pm
@Marion: Thanks so much, Marion.
bluechameleon from Vancouver, Canada
I've never seen anything like this...it's fascinating, all that untouched sand and yet so much shape and character. The colours are amazing. Nice!!
15 Aug 2008 9:26pm
@bluechameleon: Thank you very much, bluechameleon.
MadScientist from Düsseldorf, Germany
A great desert shot! Think I understand what you like about this place.
15 Aug 2008 10:17pm
@MadScientist: Clean and untouched. thank you, MS.
@Betsy Barron: thank you, Betsy.
@Stefan: Many thanks, Stefan.
Tracey from White Hall, United States
So beautiful. I have yet to see a dessert, but it is on my Bucket List!
15 Aug 2008 11:40pm
@Tracey: Thank you very much, Tracey.
Nick from OXFORD, United States
Great sky and love the lines and textures in the dunes. Nice story also.
16 Aug 2008 12:45am
@Nick: Thank you very much, Nick.
Rui from Leiria, Portugal
Fantastic photo and a great story too. Sand is very tricky.
17 Aug 2008 12:17am
@Rui: I agree. thank you, Rui.
Japanalia from Yokohama, Japan
The silky touch of the sand is almost tangible! Why does a dune almost always create the image of a woman in the viewer's mind?
17 Aug 2008 1:21pm
@Aurore: Merci beaucoup., Aurore.
@mosleh: Thank you, Mosleh.
Arash from Dubai, United Arab Emirates
So nice!!
some times I walk on this hills without shoes, It make me relax!
25 Aug 2008 9:39am
@Arash: That's interesting. thank you, Arash.
Kevin from OrganicPIX.com from DFW, Texas, United States
Terrific remembrance and astonishing photograph of proportion and ascent.
8 Sep 2008 3:19am
@Kevin from OrganicPIX.com: Many thanks, Kevin.
Sony CYBERSHOT
1/1336 second
F/6.8
ISO 100
11 mm