Today is a milestone day for several reasons. It’s VE day, the UK election results have produced an unexpected result, and on a personal level this happens to me my 600th post.
So today’s image records a milestone too – the highest point on earth that I have reached (5,895M or 19,341ft) – Kilimanjaro, one of the world’s Seven Continental Summits. I did harbour hopes that I might exceed that and get beyond 6,000M, perhaps in the Himalayas, but as the years roll by that seems to be unlikely.
This is another image that has been converted in Nik Silver Efex. The original was shot on a film SLR camera and scanned with a Nikon Coolscan. The exposure of the transparency was not quite right, the highlights were blown and the colours did not look good. One of the points in favour of the B&W medium is its tolerance of contrast and white Whites and black Blacks. This image, perhaps more than any other, encapsulates the feeling of being ‘high’, touching Heaven: sunlight on the clouds swirling around and the ground, far below, out of sight.
Congratulations on your 600th post and in particular for reaching the highest point of Kilimanjaro. That’s very impressive Andy. Love the photo. It looks like you can touch heaven 🙂
Thanks very much Norma. You feel you can almost touch it when you are that high – and see the curvature of the earth
Congratulations on your 600th post – please keep them coming! I really enjoy your blog.
Thanks very much Donna – for your visit and for your comments. I see you’ve been to Kilimanjaro too. The altitude beats a lot of people. We did an acclimatisation climb to the summit of Meru first and I am sure that made a lot of difference – we were fitter and our bodies had had time to adjust to altitude.
The image is a great black and white conversion. I’ve had some luck using Photoshop to correct older film problems but it can be a bit of a struggle. The conversion is a nice alternative for those files.
600! Congratulations Andy 🙂 Shame about not getting to the summit – but is a massive achievement getting to 19 thousand – 16 thousand higher than I have been 🙂 Well done for both 🙂
Thanks James. Oh yes, I made the summit OK, but a couple of people in our party didn’t – altitude problems meant they were turned round in the middle of the night back to the high camp.
Marvellous shot, Andy – very evocative.. And well done on your 600th post, keep ’em coming!
What wonderful experiences you’ve had. I’m so glad you’ve chosen to share them with us. It’s one thing to see such a photo in National Geographic, taken by a photographer who’s only a name, and quite another to enjoy the work of someone whom we “know” — at least a little!
I’ve been very fortunate, Linda. It’s ‘connections’ that provide context and a sense of sharing. And that is one of the unexpected consequences of being part of the blogging community.
Fascinating image, Andy…and congratulations on both accounts, having been to such a height, and for reaching this milestone with your posts. It’s been an enjoyable experience on this side watching the blog develop. Thank you for sharing as you do.
Thanks very much Scott. The blog has been a little sporadic recently and my reading of other people’s blogs has suffered as a result of planning for a move and all that goes with it.
You’re welcome, Andy…and I know how the “sporadic-ness” of the blogging goes…have suffered a bit with that myself. Wishing you at least another 600 Andy.
Congratulations on both ‘summits’ 🙂
Thanks very much, Lisa
Excellent processing of a very epic scene. 🙂
Thanks Frank. Epic in many ways. Leaving high camp at 11.30pm and arriving at the summit at 6am was quite a night! And greeting the sunrise was very special
First of all, congratulations on your achievement. That’s A lot. And since you address your interests with a seriousness that inspires thought and attention in your readers, it is truly worth a celebration. Having only heard and read about Kilimanjaro, it’s a great pleasure to se a bit of the mountain through your eyes.
Thanks very much Shimon. I posted at least three ‘Posts’ on Kilimanjaro at least two years ago. If you wanted to see more then just type ‘Kilimanjaro’ into the search box in the Rt sidebar and the relevant Posts will appear.
Congrats on your 600th post Andy. Only other bloggers know how much time and effort goes into a blog. Great photo to hot 600 with. Terrifically shot and processed.
Many thanks Len – If I counted up the hours spent I think I would be astonished.
Congrats on the 600th! 🙂
Reaching those dizzying heights is also quite an accomplishment, Andy. Very nice photo conversion work, sir.
Thanks Jimi.
A very dramatic shot Andy! Fabulous photograph!
I suspect (remember?) that this was a quick grab shot on the move