oceanphysics

It looks very similar to the Dead Kennedys "Plastic Surgery Disasters" cover, actually, which is actually a famous photo taken in Uganda by Mike Wells, of a starving (black) child's hand in that of a (white) missionary.

Andromeda is only approaching at about 0.1% the speed of light, not nearly fast enough to cause a color shift noticeable to the human eye.

I think it's quite nice. I'd definitely crop about 20% from the bottom, to get rid of that highlight and featureless shadow.

Sorry, should read "I don't know if all of Martin's shots are tripod-hole shots or not."

I don't know if all of Martin's shots are tripod shots or not. I've certainly taken my fair share. While I was learning the technical skills required to take them, it was fun, and it's still fun sometimes, but more in the sense that it's fun getting outdoors and doing it rather than any satisfaction at the results.

 

There's no doubt that Martin's shot is technically much better than most of the photos I googled up, which are mainly snapshots. I only object to being accused of being "jaded about the environment" or whatever it was. It's quite possible to be very interested in the environment and yet find this photo, or even nature photography in general, mostly boring. Photographs of the environment are not the environment.

I'm glad you can remember your impressions when you saw this image for the first time, because that's what many other viewers are now experiencing.

Thank you for that blinding glimpse of the obvious. And clearly the most worthwhile perspectives come from beginners and others who haven't spent enough time looking at landscape photography to have seen this before.

As to the phenomenon, I'm mystified as to why anyone thinks ice is involved. It's pretty clear it isn't. The bed, made of clay, gets wet and a thin layer of very slick mud forms on top. High winds push the rocks around. Ice would just hamper the process. And if large sheets of ice were somehow moving around, you'd see rocks moving in parallel paths, which does not occur.

It never ceases to amaze me (sadly) how some people (e.g., a reviewer above) can become so jaded to the natural environment.

I'm not jaded about the natural environment. In fact, I quit a six-figure job in industry so that I can live in poverty for six or seven years in graduate school and spend my life studying the natural environment. Have you?

If I'm jaded it's about having seen pretty much this exact shot dozens of times. I was impressed the first time I saw one, close to ten years ago. In fact, I bought it, in black and white, and I still have it someplace, stored away, because it wore out its welcome on my wall. Without comparing them side by side it wouldn't be hard to believe the two shots were made at the same time from the same tripod holes.

Here are some other versions.

It's well-done enough, but it's certainly one of the cliches of western U.S. landscape photography. I've seen at least a dozen versions by a dozen photographers, all taken at the same location, and they all pretty much look like this, whether in color or black and white. The first time you see it, it's interesting. After a few more times, not as much.