Camera Labs

Hi everyone, forum member Telexstar's forthcoming round the world trip reminded me how much I enjoyed a similar trip a couple of years back. One of the more spectacular places I visited during that trip was the Bolivian Altiplano where you can take a 4WD tour around some pretty amazing scenery.

This trip typically starts at Uyuni where your bus (normally from La Paz) arrives very early in the morning. You're met by a load of tour operators, but it's not a hard sell and easy to get away for a think... Most offer the same thing: 1, 2, 3 or 4 day tours around the altiplano in a 4WD with about 6 passengers.

You pay a fixed fee which includes transport, fuel, food (basic) and accommodation (very basic! And cold too as you're very high up). We paid $55 USD for three days / two nights, dropping us off with a connection to San Pedro in Chile. An absolute bargain - and here's the photos to say why!

But one quick note - if you do find yourself in Uyuni, you must check out the legendary Minuteman pizza restaurant, where Chris from Masachusets will cook you an incredibly tasty pizza - or breakfast.



Above: Canon EOS 5D with 17-40mm at 17mm. These salt flats are only half an hour from Uyuni, and the conditions are probably brighter than anywhere I've ever been. Big mistake: I had no sunglasses. Big escape: only visiting the Salt hotel, not staying at it!




Above: Canon EOS 5D with 17-40mm at 17mm. Crazy rock formations, and - ahem - perhaps a little over-use of the old polarising filter!




Above: Canon EOS 5D with 17-40mm at 17mm. Crazy vegetation! And er, more polarising...




Above: Canon EOS 5D with 17-40mm at 27mm. Now this place is just mad. It really is that colour, not the white balance going crazy. if the BBC were in Bolivia, you can bet all those early episodes of Doctor Who and Blakes Seven would have been filmed here...




Above: Canon EOS 5D with 70-300mm DO at 70mm. Amazing at it seems, this is the same place a bit further on - a series of mountain lakes with perfect reflections and stacks of flamingos wandering around.

Those three days have to be some of the most photogenic I've ever experienced, and if you're not affected by high elevations (up to 15,500 feet) and don't mind roughing it for a couple of nights, I can't recommend it highly enough.

Just don't forget the sunscreen - this place has just about the highest UV levels in the world - even worse than New Zealand!

Gordon

WOW! Those are great photographs Gordon! I really like them all, but as favorite I'll pick #3. I like the colors. If is not secret, which software do U use when converting RAW to JPEG.

Cheers!

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Canon 400D + 18-55mm | Hama Star 63 | Lowepro Off Trail 1
Nikon D80 + 18-135mm
My Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/17959284@N03/
My Sony H1 gallery:
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Nice photos Gordon, I quite like the effect of the polarising filter.

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Graham
Flickr

Same with me, I like number 3 as well I think the sky looks great but the first photo... My mind just can't understand what that is? Like i know it's salt and the salt looks real but everything else just doesn't look right. At first I thought it was one of thoes computer done picture but gees odd looking picture.

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Camera: Canon 40D, 17-85mm IS
Knowledge of Photography: Hours of reading and videos.
Computer: iMac 24inch 3.06Ghz 4gb ram 500gb HD Nvidia 8800 GS 512mb

Thanks guys!

Drazen Gal, I normally use ACR, but these are JPEGs straight from the camera with no processing.

Grahamnp, I like the polarising effect too, but I do it too often, so most of my photos are big ultra-wides which almost turn black in the corners!

I'm a repeat offendor too - just see pics 2 and 5 in this gallery!

http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Canon ... age5.shtml

I like those too!

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Graham
Flickr

JPEG straight from camera and no processing! I have no words! Excellent job, excellent!!!

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Canon 400D + 18-55mm | Hama Star 63 | Lowepro Off Trail 1
Nikon D80 + 18-135mm
My Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/17959284@N03/
My Sony H1 gallery:
http://picasaweb.google.com/DrazenGall

Looks like a photographer's paradise. The vibrant colors (#4) and the reflection (#5) are fantastic. I guess going off the beaten track really pays off.

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Leica M9, Nikon D300s, Leica X1, Canon S95, Zero Image 6x9

What a stunning place. Great photos mate. No problems with the polarizer either, if it works so be it.

Zorro

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http://zorrofox4.deviantart.com/



Various lenses, SB800 & Manfrotto 190 with 460MG head

Stunning place Gordon!!! Amazingly vivid colours and great shots.

Mark

Stunning photos Gordon, thanks for sharing them with us. I've been saying for years that South America is one of those places I'd love to go to...still haven't got there! Going to Peru and visiting Macchu Picchu is my dream.....maybe one day

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Mark
Nikon D300 / Sigma 10-20mm / Nikkor 17-55 f2.8 / Nikkor 18-200mm VR / Nikkor 50mm f1.8 / SB600 Speedlight
Mark Amy Photography
My Squidoo lens - Images of China

Stunning photos Gordon. The polarised ones are my favourite of the lot. You've definitely sold me on that 4WD trip too! I'll look into that when we're there. Thanks!

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My Flickr

Thanks everyone! The amazing thing about that place is you really could have closed your eyes, pointed the camera anywhere and still got a decent shot. It was incredibly photogenic.

South America has some wonderful sights. I'd also recommend the very bottom in Patagonia (the Glaciers park and Torres del Paine being highlights!), and if you're doing a round the world trip, you can often add a stop-over to Easter Island at relatively low cost between your Santiago and Auckland leg... and that place is something else!

But anyway I'm glad you guys didn't punish me for over-using the polariser! I find the effect addictive and do get kind of carried away with it at times. On my most recent trip, I deliberately took shots with and without it in case the ones with were a bit too much!

Telexstar, glad you're looking into the Altiplano trip - it's really good, and three days / two nights was sufficient - and remember they can also drop you at a connection to Chile if required.

Absolutely amazing Gordon! What a place...I'll definately put it on to "to visit" list!

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Nikon D40 / Nikon D5100

Visit my photograph portfolio and personal blog

18-55 VR f/3.5-5.6
55-200 f/4-5.6
50 f/1.8

Follow me on Twitter: @stevesayskanpai

Absolutely amazing Gordon! What a place...I'll definately put it on to "to visit" list!

_________________
Nikon D40 / Nikon D5100

Visit my photograph portfolio and personal blog

18-55 VR f/3.5-5.6
55-200 f/4-5.6
50 f/1.8

Follow me on Twitter: @stevesayskanpai