World

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

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

Believe It Or Not, This Isnt a Painting Its a Photograph

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.

Comments (157)

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  • 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.

    Report Post »  
    • 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 Post »  
  • 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.

    Report Post »  
  • ofallon
    Posted on May 22, 2011 at 10:25pm

    Exquisite and very beautiful!

    Report Post »  
  • 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.

    Report Post »  
  • 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.

    Report Post » SHOOTnCRASH  
  • islandlady
    Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:55pm

    Proof there is a God.

    Report Post » islandlady  
    • 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 Post »  
  • 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.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Report Post »  
  • sadmanwhossane
    Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:41pm

    rapture

    Report Post »  
  • 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.

    Report Post » CARBON HOG  
  • 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.

    Report Post »  
    • 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 Post »  
    • 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 Post » Bob_R_OathKeeper  
  • ShyMan
    Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:32pm

    Beautiful.

    Report Post » ShyMan  
  • 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,…

    Report Post »  
  • 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.

    Report Post » TumbleBumble  
    • BOMUSTGO
      Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:42pm

      It is a sand dune reflecting sun light.

      Report Post » BOMUSTGO  
    • 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 Post » TumbleBumble  
    • 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 Post » BOMUSTGO  
    • 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 Post » TumbleBumble  
  • cheeze is crust
    Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:25pm

    its like seeing jesus in a slice of burned toast

    Report Post » cheeze is crust  
  • 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.

    Report Post »  
  • DVT
    Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:19pm

    Pretty cool, i like when nature throws an optical curve ball.

    Report Post »  
  • 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.

    Report Post »  
  • TheWord-DH077
    Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:17pm

    What hath God wrought?

    Report Post »  
  • 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.

    Report Post »  
  • 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

    Report Post »  
  • 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!

    Report Post » bestartist  
  • KeenIncite
    Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:11pm

    Absolutely amazing!

    Report Post »  
  • freedomofspeech
    Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:09pm

    amazing

    Report Post »  
  • 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.

    Report Post » BOMUSTGO  
    • 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 Post »  
  • 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.

    Report Post »  
    • Revere1
      Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:13pm

      They’re right. I DON‘T believe it’s not a painting.

      Report Post » Revere1  
    • 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 Post » Bob_R_OathKeeper  
    • banjarmon
      Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:16pm

      would make a neat puzzle.

      Report Post » banjarmon  
    • Dustyluv
      Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:20pm

      Wow great news!!! Take a picture of my dogs ass now…Really Blaze…news????

      Report Post »  
    • Dustyluv
      Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:22pm

      Funded by the NEA? Probably…

      Report Post »  
    • 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 Post »  
    • sing it out
      Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:25pm

      I love it!

      Report Post » sing it out  
    • 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 Post » jzs  
    • 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 Post » BSdetector  
    • coladude
      Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:29pm

      Looks like a painting.

      http://politicalbowl.com – Political Videos

      Report Post »  
    • 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 Post »  
    • SlimnRanger
      Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:38pm

      Amazingly beautifull,see what the Lord hath done

      Report Post »  
    • 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 Post » 82dAirborne  
    • half pint
      Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:51pm

      @bob_r_oathkeeper

      LOVE the avatar!

      West not the rest 2012

      Report Post » half pint  
    • 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 Post »  
    • 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 Post » Robert-CA  
    • 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 Post »  
    • 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 Post » seeker9  
    • bjc535
      Posted on May 22, 2011 at 9:59pm

      The spots are rocks on the sand dune behind the trees

      Report Post »  
    • 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 Post »  
    • Armed Patriot
      Posted on May 22, 2011 at 10:10pm

      It is doctored by filters at the least, admitted to in the story.

      Report Post » Armed Patriot  
    • 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 Post » Amica  
    • 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 Post »  
    • 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 Post » Amica  
    • 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 Post » D0ntTread0nMe  
    • GONESURFING
      Posted on May 22, 2011 at 10:45pm

      Whatever it is, it looks very nice to me.

      Report Post » GONESURFING  
    • 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 Post » Showtime  
    • 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 Post »  
    • 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 Post »  
    • 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 Post » Showtime  
    • 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 Post » USAMEDIC3008  
    • 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 Post » 82dAirborne  
    • 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 Post »  
    • bobodu
      Posted on May 23, 2011 at 5:29am

      Whatsamatter….not enough hate in this story?

      Report Post »  
    • 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 Post »  
    • 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 Post » SgtHenick  
    • Cerealface
      Posted on May 23, 2011 at 9:01am

      not natural view when he’s editing contrast

      Report Post » Cerealface  
    • 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 Post »  
    • ozchambers
      Posted on May 23, 2011 at 11:26am

      Just……wow.

      Report Post » ozchambers  
    • 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 Post »  
    • thegrassroots
      Posted on May 23, 2011 at 12:30pm

      Mmmmmm! Possibly a photograph! A photograph of a school kid’s art project!

      Report Post »  
    • 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 Post »  
    • 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 Post »  
    • 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 Post »  
    • 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 Post » jzs  
    • Hisemiester
      Posted on May 23, 2011 at 5:57pm

      Aw Molly, always with the negative. You should be ashamed.

      Report Post »  
    • 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 Post » independentvoteril  
    • LittleLordFauntleroy
      Posted on May 24, 2011 at 7:21am

      That picture reminds me of the fact that Obama has a fake ssn.

      Report Post » LittleLordFauntleroy  
    • 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 Post » Janice  
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