The landscapes of Xinjiang
Xinjiang is a province we have wanted to visit for many years. We had intended to visit two and a half years ago when we did our silk road trip but we only got as far as Dunhuang as Eleanor was just too young to go any further.
We loved our trip on the Silk Road and we had long thought about going further west to explore Xinjiang province. We had no idea just how magnificent the Landscapes would be until we embarked on our trip from Kashgar down the G314 towards the Pamir Mountains. The taxi driver who picked us up from the airport offered to take us on the 4-hour trip from Kashgar to our hotel which was 2,000 m above sea level and surrounded by enormous snow-covered peaks. We had a huge downpour of snow within a few hours of our arrival which took us by surprise considering it was early April.
The snow transformed what was already a spectacular landscape into a magical one. My only regret was that we only had a few days to see just a small portion of this magnificent place. We definitely want to visit again and spend more time there in the future. Possibly one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited.
Here, I present 12 photographs to try and highlight Xinjiang's beauty, inviting you to experience what I saw. While I am happy with the photos they really do not do the place justice. Anyway I hope you enjoy exploring Xinjiang through my photos.
On the road to the Pamir Mountains, Nikon Z7 II, 54mm, F6.3, 1/500th of a second, ISO 160
This photo shows our trip from Kashgar to the Pamir Mountains on the G314 highway, which runs by the Tajikistan border into Pakistan. I had to act fast with my camera since we were in a car. I love how the light hits the mountains and how the road leads toward them. Camels frequently cross the road, adding interest to the foreground, and the car provides scale to the scene.
Yaks grazing at the foot of the Mountain, Nikon Z7 II, 145mm, F8, 1/640th of a second, ISO 64
I chose to photograph a small section of the mountain to include the yaks and a car on the road for context and scale. I appreciate the sharp lines of the mountain, and leaving out the full view encourages us to use our imagination to picture the rest.
Village at the foot of the Mountain, Nikon Z7 II, 160mm, F10, 1/500th of a second, ISO 64
I took this as a panorama image as there was no way I could get the whole scene in a single shot. I decided to use a telephoto lens to do this as although a wide angle would have done it in fewer shots I would have had to include a lot more of the lake and the mountain and village would have become less significant parts of the scene.
My goal was to highlight the mountain's size and the village's isolation at its base. I also like how the clouds hide the mountain's peak, adding a sense of mystery.
Mountain riders, Nikon Z7 II, 98mm, F10, 1/500th of a second, ISO 64
I saw these people riding horses gracefully out of the local village, and I wanted to make sure I captured a striking photo of them, as I wanted to illustrate how this is a unique place where people genuinely live and interact with their surroundings. I purposefully kept the prominent tops of the mountains intentionally out of view to add a bit of intrigue and mystery, and I also wanted to exclude the expansive sky from the frame. This choice helped me focus on keeping the riders and the majestic mountains as the only two compelling subjects in my photograph, highlighting their connection to this amazing landscape.
Reflections on the shore of Kala Kule Lake, Nikon Z7 II, 80mm, F8, 1/800th of a second, ISO 64
What I tried to capture in this particular photo is the individual who appeared to be quietly reflecting on their thoughts while sitting by the serene side of the lake. This tranquil setting is itself in perfect harmony with the stunning reflections of the beautiful landscape, which can be seen mirrored in the calm waters of the lake.
Yak and Rider, Nikon Z7 II, 32mm, F8, 1/320th of a second, ISO 110
When I took this photo, I did not think much about it at the time, but now, upon reflection, I really appreciate it and regret not making more of the scene in front of me. I truly enjoy the quiet and calm feeling that I derive from this particular photograph. The two solitary figures stand out against the backdrop, combined with the peacefulness of the water, the gentle ripples in the lake, and, of course, the stunning scenery that looms in the background. What I particularly regret is missing the chance to capture the perfect mirror reflection of the yak in the lake. Looking back, I realize that I did not experiment with more compositions that included this captivating, mirror-like reflection.
Glacial waters and reflections , Nikon Z7 II, 33mm, F8, 1/500th of a second, ISO 72
I’m much happier with this photo compared to the one above. I invested time and effort into its composition, which shows in the final result. I aimed to highlight the clear waters, the textures and colours of the rocks in front, and the mountain's reflection in the background. I had to find the right angle to capture both the rocks and the reflection while keeping the horizon level. I decided to take a panorama because my wide-angle lens made the mountains appear too distant, and I wanted to maintain their prominence. Overall, I’m very pleased with the final photo.
Road to Muztag Ata , Nikon Zf, 93mm, F8, 1/1000th of a second, ISO 100
This is my first photo of Muztagh Ata, often referred to as the Ice Father, which proudly holds the title of the tallest mountain in this region at an impressive height of over 7,500 meters. It distinctly stands out in the expansive landscape, commanding attention with its majesty. I captured this image from an elevated vantage point to effectively highlight the gentle curve of the road leading up to Muztagh Ata. Additionally, I patiently waited for a car to drive down the winding road, as this provided a sense of the scale of the mountain.
Yaks grazing in the foothills, Nikon Z7 II, 80mm, F8, 1/640th of a second, ISO 80
I was drawn to this captivating scene for several compelling reasons. First, the majestic, snow-covered mountain loomed in the background, commanding attention with its grandeur. Additionally, the yaks peacefully grazing in the foreground added a sense of life and tranquillity to the landscape. Lastly, the striking contrast in colours, the pure white of the snow, the blues of the still-frozen pools of water, and the warm orange-brown hues of the earth, created an interesting photo as the spring snow had just begun to slowly melt away.
A view from a nearby Village , Nikon Z7 II, 30mm, F8, 1/640th of a second, ISO 80
This was taken near the end of our visit before our long trip back to Kashgar. I reflected on not using the Yak's reflection in an earlier photo, so I used a wide-angle lens and lay in the snow for a low angle. I aimed for perfectly still water, but this was the best I got. Upon reflection I appreciate the water's movement and frost patches, reflecting the sudden weather change. I focus stacked the image to highlight the snow texture in the foreground. I'm very happy with this photo and wish I could have just a bit more time here to play with other compositions.
Two Yaks grazing in the foothills of Muztagata , Nikon Z7 II, 84mm, F8, 1/640th of a second, ISO 80
This is one of those photos that makes me think I need to print more and the limitations of viewing a photo on a screen. The reason I say this is that this is a panorama taken of many photos to try and capture all of the scene. When I look at all of the details up close on a print I love it as you can see all of the details which helps me get a better sense of wonder than I had when I was walking along this mountain road trying to take in all of the majesty of the scenes around me. Alternatively, I need to get better at capturing such scenes. I think that probably both are true.
Dramatic light and receding snow , Nikon Z7 II, 120mm, F8, 1/160th of a second, ISO 64
One challenge I had with photographing in this stunning location was the considerable wait for both sunrise and sunset. As all of China operates within a single time zone, meant that I had to wake up extremely early in the morning to try to capture the beauty of a sunrise and then stay out super late at night to catch a sunset. Although I was not entirely satisfied with the quality of any of the photos I managed to capture during those specific times, I do particularly like this one. It was taken a little while before sunset, and the very harsh directional light creates a striking contrast that beautifully highlights the interesting shapes of the mountain peaks as well as the warm, inviting colours at the base of the mountain.
