Photo: Timothy Allen
Whenever I need a little inspiration, I look at images by travel photographer Timothy Allen. They always blow me away.
Take this image that he posted recently on his Facebook page celebrating his return to Mongolia, a destination he fell in love with while shooting the stills for BBC’s Human Planet. (For anyone that’s interested, he also leads two photographic tours there every year.) It’s just breathtaking. Can’t you feel the cold outside? I can imagine myself huddling there with the rest of the group sipping tea, or whatever it is that they’re drinking. Immediately you get a sense of place that’s utterly captivating. I love how one person is looking at the camera while others are in engaged in conversation, as if the viewer is taking the picture. I love the rich gold of the wood and the framing of the beams on the sides of the image and overhead. The shadows add a sense of drama and mystery.
What do you like?
More Photos I Wish I Had Taken…
Categories: Photos I Wish I Had Taken
I THOUGHT THIS WAS A PAINTING AT FIRST.
That is such a ‘wow’ photo. Love the expressions and the shadow. They look like they are sharing some good conversation.
They do!
The light and color remind me of Rembrandt’s paintings—but I’d have loved the light and color if I’d never seen a Rembrandt. Drama and realism tied together . . .
Agreed, the lighting is just spectacular.
I like the many powerful, contrasting elements. Obviously light at the centre vs the darkness at the edges and in the shadows. The warmth of the fire vs the evident cold that they’re huddling to avoid. The open but enclosed wooden space. Despite these complex features the image looks genuine, almost easy. Beautiful!
Yes! Great observations and well said. 🙂
All of it. Just all.
I relate to the sentiment..thanks for taking a look.
I like the shine of the fire at the centre, that lights up the small space (Looks like a bunker)..The fur hat of the man at the centre, with a golden spark. Most of all, the pattern of the smoke in the air…
Hi Rajat – I’m with you, it does look like a bunker. Thanks for your thoughtful commentary.
Anytime Sus.. love your pictures… I wonder how you handle that huge lenses
LOL.. I’m starting to develop some pretty good muscles! Thank you very much for your kind words about my photos.
This is a fantastic picture!
I know.. I get chills.
Indeed, that’s what we all aspire to…….and difficult light, so beautifully taken.
So absolutely true. That couldn’t have been an easy shot. But if you look at a lot of his work, he’s a master at low light and using it to his advantage.
I’ve been looking at his work, thanks for posting his image. I am very tempted to join one of his trips, but I daren’t look at what he charges! Low light opportunities are very challenging and you are fortunate if there’s enough light in the shadows, or that the highlights aren’t off the scale.
His trips definitely aren’t cheap but worth a bit of saving to go. I hope to go to Mongolia in 2016. Crossing my fingers.
Indeed that what we all aspire to
Wonderful tones and textures. Superb photo.
It’s so so good. Sigh…