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Believe It Or Not, This Isn’t a Painting — It’s a Photograph

May. 22, 2011 9:00pm Jonathon M. Seidl

It may be hard to believe, but the picture below is NOT a painting. It’s actually a National Geographic photo:

What you’re seeing are camel thorn trees in Namibia’s Namib-Naukluft Park. It’s the incredible work of NatGeo photographer Frans Lanting.

Brian Barrett over at Gizmodo explains (and describes) the picture perfectly:

That orange backdrop? That’s a dune reflecting Namibia’s rising sun. And while the trees themselves look like etchings of a dream, they’re a very real part of one of the country’s largest national parks. It’s beautiful, it’s serene, it’s surreal. And it’s still almost impossible to believe that the only paintbrush used was nature’s.

Lanting himself goes into more detail in a NatGeo blog post:

Here’s a short summary about the making of the photo. It was made at dawn when the warm light of the morning sun was illuminating a huge red sand dune dotted with white grasses while the white floor of the clay pan was still in shade. It looks blue because it reflects the color of the sky above. Because of the contrast between the shady foreground and the sunlit background I used a two-stop graduated filter which reduced the contrast. The perfect moment came when the sun reached all the way down to the bottom of the sand dune just before it reached the desert floor. I used a long telephoto lens and stopped it all the way down to compress the perspective.

Click on the photo to enlarge it and get a better view. And then sit and stare in awe.

You can download it as your wallpaper here.

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Comments (157)

Liberty7
Posted on May 22, 2011 at 10:31pm
Truly one of the most incredible photos I have ever seen. I saw this a few days ago on another site and immediately made it my wallpaper. God is Great.

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- 4blackhorses
  Posted on May 23, 2011 at 6:28pm
  @Liberty7;
  I agree, the beauty of all God’s creations are awesome and I have recognized this from when I was a child when I started drawing, eventually becoming an accomplished artist. I, because of partial handicaps, can no longer draw but I will not bore you with that.
  
  I have noted with some humor while reading the comments of our fellow commentators here at the Blaze that the further down the list I’ve gotten, the more dis-connected to the actual facts of the story behind the photograph the commentors are.
  
  Talk about short attention span!?!
  
  Report this comment
chips1
Posted on May 22, 2011 at 10:27pm
I think I found the problem with Africa. They can’t even grow trees that have leaves.

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ofallon
Posted on May 22, 2011 at 10:25pm
Exquisite and very beautiful!

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lannah
Posted on May 22, 2011 at 10:17pm
If you click the National Geographic link at the top of the story, you can see in much clearer detail that this is in fact a photograph. The rocks are the lighter areas…it’s stunning.

For those who consider this a “non” story…. when we look with appreciation on God’s creations…it brings to mind ten fold the reasons we are here in the first place and, for me at least, reminds me to give thanks.

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SHOOTnCRASH
Posted on May 22, 2011 at 10:07pm
Some of you need to loosen up a bit. You’re sounding a bit like a bunch of rabid liberals. I welcome a bit of a breather once in a while.

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islandlady
Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:55pm
Proof there is a God.

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- Ugly Myfanwy
  Posted on May 23, 2011 at 4:41pm
  I would disagree, but even if it is, it definitely proves that God has bad taste.
  
  Report this comment
Quagaar Warrior
Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:41pm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Open your eyes, people.
The yellow spots are rocks & boulders and the orange background is sand.
The blue along the bottom is shaded sand.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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- vivrobbins
  Posted on May 23, 2011 at 7:49am
  I think the piece said that the white areas is grass.
  
  Report this comment
sadmanwhossane
Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:41pm
rapture

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CARBON HOG
Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:38pm
Nat Geo use to be all about naked jungle women…………this is boring compared to that.

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niki
Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:37pm
WOW!! STUNNING. LOVE IT!!! You know, to all of you out there that don’t like this, “news” doesn’t always have to be political, or something shocking. This is great stuff. Frankly, Obama is starting to get old. He’s a thief, liar, embarrassment to me and my country, a horrible employee, lazy, suck up, condescending, and I’m sure more. I’m just starting to get bored with him. We all know what kind of person he is. Nothing shocks me anymore.

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- Mosell
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:51pm
  I agree Nikki, All others, (as said in Stripes) “Lighten up Francis” Not every news story has to be earth shattering stories of how this or that is going to end us all.
  
  Report this comment
- Bob_R_OathKeeper
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 10:51pm
  It’s always been my understanding, if you don’t like something, look away, same for a place, don’t like it, then leave, common sense but very few lack it, it must not like them so it went away.
  
  Report this comment
ShyMan
Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:32pm
Beautiful.

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chris3
Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:28pm
dusty really?,please not all storys have to be negative,this actualy looks like graphics from brutal legend, almost sureal,…

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TumbleBumble
Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:26pm
I am trying hard to understand the orange background. My brain will not comprehend it. It is said to be a ‘real’ photo, yet “I used a long telephoto lens and stopped it all the way down to compress the perspective.” So compressing the perspective… is that another word for altering reality?

It is cool. I like it. Would like to have it hanging somewhere in my house – probably my enclosed porch.

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- BOMUSTGO
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:42pm
  It is a sand dune reflecting sun light.
  
  Report this comment
- TumbleBumble
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:50pm
  BOMUSTGO ~
  
  Okay, so the sand dune is taller than the trees? Or is this picture comprised of two separate photos pieced together?
  
  Report this comment
- BOMUSTGO
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 10:00pm
  The sand dune is behind the trees. Look close you see rocks in the dune.
  
  Report this comment
- TumbleBumble
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 10:36pm
  All right – thank you! :) I think what throws me off is that both the trees in the foreground and the sand in the back are in focus. Our eyes cannot do that, so it looks ‘wrong’.
  
  Thanks so much for taking your time to help me see.
  
  Report this comment
cheeze is crust
Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:25pm
its like seeing jesus in a slice of burned toast

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- gbo
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 10:41pm
  Yes, exactly! Except for the part about toast. And Jesus.
  
  Report this comment
- Bob_R_OathKeeper
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 10:47pm
  GBO, thanks for that laugh!
  
  Report this comment
TantumDicVerbo
Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:24pm
Sheesh, guys, lighten up. There’s still plenty of time to bemoan globalist conspiracies if we stop occasionally to look at something amazing.

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DVT
Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:19pm
Pretty cool, i like when nature throws an optical curve ball.

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338lapua
Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:19pm
It took a bit of staring to see it, but this is SO cool!
Thanks Jon, this IS a story.

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TheWord-DH077
Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:17pm
What hath God wrought?

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RealityCheck
Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:15pm
“And it‘s still almost impossible to believe that the only paintbrush used was nature’s.”

I just love nature’s two-stop graduated filter, and long telephoto lens and stopped it all the way down to compress the perspective. Nature really pulled a fast one, morons.

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chris3
Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:12pm
this is one of those things that reminds me god is good, life is wonderfull,and beyond my understanding

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- RealityCheck
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:18pm
  Understanding a filter and lens is way out there in IQ land.
  
  Report this comment
bestartist
Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:11pm
Hooray, I love this.
It’s such a delightful relief to have a mini vacation from the All Obama All the time Suck the Oxygen from the Planet news!

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KeenIncite
Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:11pm
Absolutely amazing!

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freedomofspeech
Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:09pm
amazing

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BOMUSTGO
Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:07pm
That does look like a painting. Incredible! One of my many hobbies is painting with acrylics.The Rock-em Sock-em robot picture at left is one of them.

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- Jabber
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 11:57pm
  It’s even better/creepier/more amazing if you actually click on the image and use the ctrl + function to zoom in on it. Once you do you can even see the bark on the trees. Surreal.
  
  Love the robots!
  
  Report this comment
MOLLYPITCHER
Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:06pm
I guess its ok. I wouldn’t buy a photograph like that. I think it’s more weird than beautiful.
This is another non- story.

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- Revere1
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:13pm
  They’re right. I DON’T believe it’s not a painting.
  
  Report this comment
- Bob_R_OathKeeper
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:16pm
  Yep a Non-Story, just like Obama’s Non-War.
  
  Love the photo, our world is amazing but very few see it.
  
  Report this comment
- banjarmon
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:16pm
  would make a neat puzzle.
  
  Report this comment
- Dustyluv
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:20pm
  Wow great news!!! Take a picture of my dogs ass now…Really Blaze…news????
  
  Report this comment
- Dustyluv
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:22pm
  Funded by the NEA? Probably…
  
  Report this comment
- chris3
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:24pm
  As someone who suffers from cnsap,and trigemenal neurallgy,(can’t spell it sorry) I find stuff like this refreshing, we can’t crawl in a hole and die. and things like this can be a distraction in a good way
  
  Report this comment
- sing it out
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:25pm
  I love it!
  
  Report this comment
- jzs
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:25pm
  Okay, the photograph was taken after the sun was up. So what are those spots in the sky? Not stars. Cool photograph, even though the colors were altered with lenses (it’s not what you’d see if you were standing there). But those aren’t stars, that’s for sure.
  
  Report this comment
- BSdetector
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:26pm
  Have to agree with Revere1 on this one, I DON’T believe it’s not a painting.
  
  Report this comment
- coladude
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:29pm
  Looks like a painting.
  
  http://politicalbowl.com – Political Videos
  
  Report this comment
- nosycophant
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:31pm
  Where is Charlie Browns pumpkin patch?
- Quagaar Warrior
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:36pm
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  @MOLLYPITCHER & DUSTYLUV,
  There’s more to life than, “Stories”.
  Variety is the spice of life!
  Get yourselves a life, then enjoy it in all it’s spicy splendor!
  That’s assuming your brains can handle more than one story at a time.
  Shall I slow my typing down so you can understand it?
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  
  Report this comment
- SlimnRanger
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:38pm
  Amazingly beautifull,see what the Lord hath done
  
  Report this comment
- 82dAirborne
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:44pm
  @JZS
  
  You might want to brush up on your reading skills. That isn’t “sky” it’s grass trying to grow in a sand dune.
  
  Hope this helps! (I typed as slowly as possible.)
  
  Report this comment
- half pint
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:51pm
  @bob_r_oathkeeper
  
  LOVE the avatar!
  
  West not the rest 2012
  
  Report this comment
- bjc535
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:51pm
  Took me a few minutes to see it, but if you put your eyes just right you can tell it is a photo…..with the explanation…..
  
  Although it is cool that it looks like a painting, i wouldn’t buy it either…just because something is deceiving doesn’t make it cool…we all know what that is like…….and it is by National Geographic….i wouldnt support them in any way…..i hate the global warming propaganda channel…lol
  
  Report this comment
- Robert-CA
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:53pm
  BOB_R_OATHKEEPER
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:16pm
  Yep a Non-Story, just like Obama’s Non-War.
  
  Love the photo, our world is amazing but very few see it.
  ____________________________________________
  You’re right there’s a lot of beautiful places here in the US for people to see & Yellowstone is one of them I drove 2800 miles to see it .
  
  Report this comment
- veruca salt
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:54pm
  I think I’ve figured out the Blaze’s algorithm for success: 0.33 parts anti-Soros or Piven : 1 part anti-Obama : 2.5 parts anti-MSNBC : 0.4 parts Beck’s proselytism/self-promotion du jour : 3 parts “some random white kid gets persecuted for waving the flag or thumping the Bible” : 4 parts Ripley’s Believe It or Not : 0.15 parts meaningful news. Apply daily and repeat.
  
  Report this comment
- seeker9
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:58pm
  @82
  
  Give JZS a break. He has a severe case of brain flatulence tonight. He made up a word in another post – “reliqued”. Your guess is as good as mine.
  
  Report this comment
- bjc535
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:59pm
  The spots are rocks on the sand dune behind the trees
  
  Report this comment
- APatriotFirst
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 10:09pm
  jzs
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:25pm
  Okay, the photograph was taken after the sun was up. So what are those spots in the sky? Not stars. Cool photograph, even though the colors were altered with lenses (it‘s not what you’d see if you were standing there). But those aren’t stars, that’s for sure.
  
  READ THE DAMN STORY!!!!!!!
  
  Report this comment
- Armed Patriot
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 10:10pm
  It is doctored by filters at the least, admitted to in the story.
  
  Report this comment
- Amica
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 10:19pm
  Quagaar:
  Thank you! I get so sick of the “that’s not news” comments. Every newspaper, magazine, or newsite has general interest or “fluff” stories. Can you imagine a conversation with one of these people?
  
  “My what a beautiful sunset!”
  “Sunset??? Who cares? Don’t you have anything IMPORTANT to say?”
  
  Report this comment
- Dustyluv
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 10:24pm
  Quafaar…Nero fiddled while Rome burned…This story is full of fiddle playing…Enjoy it as your Nation burns to the ground…..idiot.
  
  Report this comment
- Amica
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 10:34pm
  Dustyluv:
  It sure seems worth you clicking the link, reading the story, taking the time to post a comment, reading the comments, and taking the time to write and post another comment.
  
  If a story doesn’t seem important to you (it’s pretty obvious by the headline) don’t even waste your obviously very valuable time reading it.
  
  Report this comment
- D0ntTread0nMe
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 10:37pm
  Am I a hater if I say I don’t like it, photo or not?
  http://www.mythoughtsfromthemiddle.blogspot.com
  
  Report this comment
- GONESURFING
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 10:45pm
  Whatever it is, it looks very nice to me.
  
  Report this comment
- Showtime
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 10:45pm
  It is a beautiful example of God’s artwork.
  
  I took photographs of an Albin trawler down at Myrtle Beach at sunset, and the boat appeared to be a light shade of gold. Just gorgeous. Nature is not a photography studio where light, composition, and color can be adjusted or Photoshopped. Nature is what it is.
  
  We are to give thanks unto God for all things always, according to what Ephesians 5:20 tells us. For those of us who enjoy a seascape, we won’t find it where there are no oceans to meet the shores. For those of us who enjoy snow scenes, we won’t likely find snow in the desert. Skylines of cities, with all the lights, are beautiful. And, for those who enjoy the unusual, thought-provoking image such as is presented above, there is an appreciation for the colors, unusual effect, and simplicity not found in other scenes.
  
  I am an artist and photographer, and I study everyone’s art — and learn something, every time. Perhaps I might not understand it, but I appreciate it and learn from it.
  
  Report this comment
- Oil_Robb
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 10:45pm
  It looks like the Isreal country side three days after Obama hands the keys over to his first love.. the MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD
  
  Report this comment
- Quagaar Warrior
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 10:48pm
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  AMICA,
  A conversation with one of these people wouldn’t last long anyway. Take DUSTYLUV for example; He, she or it can only handle one topic at a time. By the time the conversation was over and we moved on to another subject or two, he, she, or it would still be trying to comprehend what was discussed in the first conversation. He, she or it must be a victim of the public school system. Pity!
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  
  Report this comment
- Showtime
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 10:53pm
  Jonathan said that it is actually a National Geographic photograph.
  
  I don’t know what N.G. photographers use today, in view of the prevalence of digital cameras; but they used to use Fiji ASA 100 film, which is a slower film used to absorb color better than ASA 400 or faster.
  
  Report this comment
- USAMEDIC3008
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 11:09pm
  DUSTYLUV
  I have a picture of your dogs ass
  where is my glasses,
  nevermind it’s a picture of my brothers X wife…
  
  Report this comment
- 82dAirborne
  Posted on May 22, 2011 at 11:29pm
  @Showtime
  
  I have been taking photographs since I was 8 or 9 years old. I love it also. But back in the day NatGeo used Kodachrome 25 almost exclusively. MAYBE Extachrome in a low light situation.
  
  Report this comment
- Luckywon
  Posted on May 23, 2011 at 12:14am
  What a cool picture. At first I couldn’t believe it wasn’t doctored.. I mean, really… there is no way those colors were natural, the sky couldn’t be orange. But then I read the story, clicked on the link to download it as wallpaper to see it better, and sure enough… you can tell this picture is absolutely real and not doctored. Beautiful.
  
  Report this comment
- bobodu
  Posted on May 23, 2011 at 5:29am
  Whatsamatter….not enough hate in this story?
  
  Report this comment
- Mannax
  Posted on May 23, 2011 at 6:42am
  Very interesting picture. The “Stars” are probably light reflecting off of silica crystals (which sand is made from). As for the trees, I would guess that there was probably a photo effect (adjustment in contrast and brightness settings on the camera) or some retouching done with photoshop.
  
  All in all, I would not pay for a picture like that but it is interesting to look at.
  
  Report this comment
- SgtHenick
  Posted on May 23, 2011 at 8:24am
  Those arent stars, they are clumps of white grass growing on the sand dune you are looking at…there is no sky in this picture
  
  Report this comment
- Cerealface
  Posted on May 23, 2011 at 9:01am
  not natural view when he’s editing contrast
  
  Report this comment
- joyfulmom
  Posted on May 23, 2011 at 9:52am
  I’ll just take this time to give the gospel of Jesus Christ, for all have sinned, we are born into sin and there is none righteous no not one, we’ve broken all of God’s commands, just ask the question, have you ever told a lie? All have. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us on the cross for our sins, He took the punishment that we deserve on Himself and when we repent and believe on Him for the forgiveness of sins then He will give us a new heart, new creatures in Christ and write His laws on our heart. We must repent, turn for our sins and believe on Jesus Christ, fall on your knees and cry out to God for mercy and for Him to open your eyes to TRUTH…amen.
  
  Report this comment
- ozchambers
  Posted on May 23, 2011 at 11:26am
  Just……wow.
  
  Report this comment
- tgp42rhr
  Posted on May 23, 2011 at 11:49am
  The wonders of nature and Natures GOD are far from a “non-story” We all need to be reminded in this world that nature is full of wonder and awe.
  
  Report this comment
- thegrassroots
  Posted on May 23, 2011 at 12:30pm
  Mmmmmm! Possibly a photograph! A photograph of a school kid’s art project!
  
  Report this comment
- thegrassroots
  Posted on May 23, 2011 at 12:52pm
  I’d find it more believable if there was a photo next to it of this same area in the harsh light of day.
  
  There was a day when folks would toss a pie tin in the air, snap a photo of it, call it a flying saucer, and people would believe them.
  
  Imho, there needs to be more proof that this isn’t a photo of a drawing or a painting.
  
  Report this comment
- ecso828
  Posted on May 23, 2011 at 2:58pm
  Please define “non-story.”
  
  I mean, if you think a “non-story” is just a story on a topic that you aren’t interested in, then you need to learn that the world doesn’t revolve around you. Other people might be interested in things like this.
  
  If you think a “non-story” is a story on any topic that isn’t about politics or war or law, then you need to get a life. Lighten up some, learn to enjoy life and stop crying so much.
  
  Report this comment
- iamconcernedgrandma
  Posted on May 23, 2011 at 4:09pm
  There is more to life than politics.. “In the beginning God created”… Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and thankfully we can find it anywhere if we just look…
  Great picture…
  
  Report this comment
- jzs
  Posted on May 23, 2011 at 5:17pm
  82dAirborne, oops, I see you’re right. And I think your quip about typing slowly is great.
  
  You’re right, I was wrong.
  
  Okay, let’s go back to being enemies now.
  
  Report this comment
- Hisemiester
  Posted on May 23, 2011 at 5:57pm
  Aw Molly, always with the negative. You should be ashamed.
  
  Report this comment
- independentvoteril
  Posted on May 23, 2011 at 7:39pm
  It’s amazing the way the sun makes the leaves look as those they are part of the background making the trees look bare… we just bought a new camera and a lens that would do that.. NOW I have to learn to work it.. while it’s not a real story .. the picture IS amazing.
  
  Report this comment
- LittleLordFauntleroy
  Posted on May 24, 2011 at 7:21am
  That picture reminds me of the fact that Obama has a fake ssn.
  
  Report this comment
- Janice
  Posted on May 24, 2011 at 10:05am
  Come on people…where’s your sense of wonder?? News can be inspiring…something “new” hence the word news! I think this picture is amazing and major cudos to the photographer! Thanks for sharing, Blaze!
  
  Report this comment

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