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desert compass
desert compass
tanguera


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Free Study 2014-01 (Advanced Editing VII)
Collection: 2014
Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED
Location: Edwards Air Force Base
Date: Jan 10, 2014
Date Uploaded: Jan 13, 2014

 Taken on approach to my first assignment of the year. I was hired by the architect to photograph his latest work: the NASA Facility Support Center at Edwards AFB.

At the edge of the base is Rogers Dry Lake, which contains this titanic compass rose (painted into the lake and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1985), used to guide the Space Shuttle, which would often land at Edwards. Each of those numbers is over 200 feet long. The longest lines are almost 5 miles long. To give you a sense of scale, here it is from the opposite direction, facing the base. On the extreme right, the metal structure is what they used to load the shuttle on the back of the 747. On the extreme left is the runway the shuttle used to land, which is almost 4 miles long.



This image was captured as we circled for a landing on the smaller of the two runways. We had to circle because an F16 was performing touch-and-go exercises on that runway. After landing, we had to hold our position on the tarmac because an F35 was crossing in front of us. At the end of the day, we took off on the runway used by the Shuttle. At least 10 of our little Comanches could have taken off side by side on it :)

It was an amazing day.

Statistics
Place: 30 out of 178
Avg (all users): 6.4222
Avg (commenters): 6.5000
Avg (participants): 6.3030
Avg (non-participants): 6.7500
Views since voting: 790
Views during voting: 149
Votes: 90
Comments: 8
Favorites: 1 (view)

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AuthorThread
 02/08/2014 10:50:43 AM
Love the vastness of it all Tang and also the PP.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/08/2014 05:17:33 AM
This was a favorite pic of the challenge. From the perspective, I figured it had to be big, but I didn't realize the scale of it. Thanks for putting in the notes and links. I'll live vicariously through you ;)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/08/2014 03:47:32 AM
Edwards! One of the places on Earth I would love to go to. The desert rose is breathtaking. Thanks for sharing this!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
02/07/2014 10:58:30 PM
vast.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/04/2014 01:09:50 PM
A very interesting image taken never seem this before I like how the sun bounds off the compass nice cloud co ver for effect..Well don
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/03/2014 10:51:53 AM
That's pretty cool looking. I'd like to see that someday.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2014 12:31:50 PM
WOW....very cool image. Are you in a plane to take this?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/01/2014 10:25:44 AM
that is gorgeous! where is this? 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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