Photo: Thierry Bornier
Sometimes the world’s beauty is overwhelming. I caught my breath when I saw this image last night and I just stared at it for a good long time, transfixed.
It’s one of many gorgeous landscapes from a photo-essay by photographer, Thierry Bornier, of the rice terraces in Yuanyang, China, a UNESCO World Heritage site, but this is my favorite.
To begin, the lighting is spectacular. It’s soft and dreamy and my blood pressure drops three points just looking at it. I love the curves of the terraces radiating out towards the edge of the photo, almost as if a a giant pebble had been dropped in a pool. I am struck by the vividness of the water and the softness of the orange and pinks that float through the image. I love the farmer in silhouette and how he gives the picture scale. In fact, the photo is almost too beautiful to be true but the farmer grounds the image in reality.
I wish I had taken this photo not only because it’s beautiful, but because I wish I’d been there to see it in person. And if you look at the rest of the photo-essay, you’ll understand why the terraces of Yuanyang just went on my “Must-see” list.
What do you think of this photo?
Click here for more Photos I Wish I Had Taken
P.S. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat at @Insatiabletraveler
Categories: Photos I Wish I Had Taken
nice capture.
What a lovely images it is…
magnifico
Thanks!
THANKS FOR SHARING!
Amazing photo!
I couldn’t agree more!
Beautiful
amazing! I went to the terraces in January this year and……. couldn’t see a thing. Rare snow and fog rolled in and not only couldn’t I see a thing, but i was stranded there for three days! Definitely go, but check the weather forecast!
Oh Noooooo! That would be THE WORST. To go all the way there and have no visibility. I would be crushed. I’m breaking out in a cold sweat just thinking about it.
yes it was a REAL shame. The fact that snow is so rare there was the real kicker. Oh well! maybe next time!
This photo is absolutely gorgeous! I especially love the colouring in it and the calm feeling I get inside. But you definitely described it well!
It is beautifull!!to see the world is a must to be at peace.
Truly!
beautiful!!
this beautiful
Beautiful picture !! I’ve been in Bali and i worked in those places with people who were living there. It is a very difficult job and they make this at sunrise to sunset ! I wish you will go to a place like that because it’s something you must see in your life
I bet it must be amazing in person! I hope I can go too. 🙂
Spectacular!!! Thanks for posting the link to his article about the area. Just fascinating, both ecologically and artistically !
My pleasure. I’m so glad you liked the piece, and weren’t the other images in the article spectacular too?
It feels endless, which I find peaceful.
Yes, it’s very peaceful
So beautiful, almost unreal…
So true. It has a wonderful ethereal quality that almost makes it look like something out of a fantasy.
WOW! I want to go!
Same reaction I had 😉
no comment
Out of the world…Amazing..I am out of words..
I totally agree!
Sounds Good , Thnks For Sharing
Wow Amazing , Good For You Susan
It’s not my picture, but really glad you like it.😀
This photo is seriously breath-taking…The way the lighting is makes me almost nostalgic, if that makes sense…it reminds me of summer and I love it. Gorgeous.
I love it to. Thank you for checking it out. 🙂
I can’t help but wonder how the farmer gets his/her oxen from one step to the next (either down or up). Really beautiful shot!
Good question!
This photo needs to be on a wallpaper in all houses. Serenity. Tranquility. Enjoying the moment.
Wouldn’t that be nice!
I like your article, very inspiring and thank you for your post
You’re very welcome. Glad you enjoyed it.
Nice Photo,, Like It
Nice Post (y) Very Usefull
I have never heard of rice terraces, so it looks surreal. The colors almost make it seem like a drawing. Because of the dark sky, it is difficult to see where the light is coming from. Beautiful. Thanks for sharing them.
Extraordinary right? They are new to me to buy in dying to see them in person now
Very Beautiful Photos, Nice Job
They aren’t mine, but I’m glad you like them 👍
This photo is intriguing as well as beautiful. The colors give it softness, the terraces are dramatic. But I think I like the farmer and his cow best. Just amazing. Thanks for sharing it.
You can see why I wished I had taken it. 😉Check out the other photos from the photo -essay.
wow,,, Nice Photos,, Beautiful
Isn’t it? I just love it. You should check out the others.
Sometimes we envy farmers. He can see all this beauty much more often…
So true!!!
One of the many joys of being a farmer, yet farmers have more and more struggles these days due to modernization, globalization, etc.
Love it – fabulous lines, fabulous lighting, great composition within the frame….
You’re right! This image really does look too good to be true. For me, it’s almost as if the longer you gaze at the picture the more it makes you think what it would be like to see it in person and if the colours would look true to form. It’s definitely different, thought provoking, but beautiful. 🙂
The pattern of the terrace really gets my attention. How it moves down and drops out of frame and is filled with a pallet of pastel colors. The vibrancy of it against the now dull greens makes this picture peaceful for me. I like it. Thanks for sharing.
You bet. And thanks for the thoughtful commentary. 😀
Exactly. The pattern and the design aspect of it commands attention.
This is wonderful indeed, but there are more wonders to see if you’re going to China (not big cities though). 🙂
Yes, for sure. I prefer not being in the big cities. I get that living in NYC. What other sites do you recommend?
There’re too many sites to recommend here. Perhaps get a map of China (or a complete tourist guide book), and then circle place by place in vicinity to save distant traveling. For example, go to south of China, Guangdong, Hunan provinces first, there’re lots of beautiful sites; Then maybe Jiangxi, Fujiang, Anhui Provinces, big mountains, valleys, lakes etc… It may need 10-20 trips before you have had enough, imho.
Nature and the inspiration we can derive from it so underrated.
What do I think of this photo? It’s insanely beautiful!!! Thank you so much for sharing. I’ve seen pictures of the rice terraces during the day, but never at sunrise(/sunset?) like this one. I wish I had taken that as well.
You’re welcome! I’m so glad you like it too. I believe it was taken at sunset.