very nice! this is interesting

I love that - the sense of scale is quite stunning. Compared to middle england where I live, the vastness of the landscape in the photo is breathtaking, even more so when realising that so much of that vastness seems to have been shaped / marked / utlised by man.

Hang in there bro, feel your pain, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

And I love your shot for today. Nice colors and subject.

Stunning. . .
Color and detail are amazing - wow.
Looks like a painting.

awesome. Very funny story, and good luck tomorrow ;)

It takes on an abstract quality - very nice photo.

Wear something waterproof tomorrow, you'll probably need it. :-)

But, but, but middle earth is in New Zealand not China!

Seriously this is one of the best out-the-window shots I have ever seen. Its almost like you are in a little single hanging out the window to take the shot (except its too hight). How did you manage to get seated next to a clear window with no moisture, no ice buildup, etc.

And definitely good luck for tomorrow.

I love the colors...and it looks like mountains all over...so odd! Wonder how high up you were...its very pretty.

And a song from monty python keeps popping into my mind....

"If life seems jolly rotten
There's something you've forgotten
And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing.
When you're feeling in the dumps
Don't be silly chumps
Just purse your lips and whistle - that's the thing.

And...always look on the bright side of life...
Always look on the light side of life... "

We all have bad days, yours just seems to last a bit longer than others.

This is very different from you Dave....and I like it...nice color gradation..

You do amuse. This image really makes you stare. I fail to comprehend quite what the subject is but what I would say is this looks like a piece of modern art in oils. I love the texture and of course the colours.

Wonderful picture! I've been amazed by the sharpness of your shots, considering the fact that you were sitting in an airplane! You always seem to get these wonderful sharp shots in impossible situations. Well done!

I got a bit scared by your scenario for tomorrow, so I assembled a list of useful things for a day like that on my photoblog. http://myrtillus.se/markus/?showimage=58

Take care. Cheers.

Your best shot so far. The texture, the colour - amazing.
All the best - and remember: Things can only get better. Keep smiling.
isabel

Great shot as usual even if you are having a not so good day. Great work.

Stunning.
Yann Arthus-Bertrand couldn't have done better and he uses private flying machines!
And of course the best China shot was colour!

Don't break your leg, or drown, I don't imagine there are too many wolves in your neck of the woods but electrocution by phone should be fun. Low voltage - enough to live and you should make a few quid from one of the wealthy mobile manufacturers ;-)

Very rugged, very dangerous, very primitive. Very lovely. The striations formed from the mountain ridges are so beautiful. Thank you Dave, and may the best of luck be with you and your family. I hope things turn around quickly, and you can put the mess behind you.

WOW

amazing! :>

Hang in there Mr. Nightingale. May your day go well tomorrow.

This could be mistaken with a abstract painting. Amazing colors and textures. We only give importance to the beauty of our planet when we see photos like this.

And good luck with tomorrow shots. Don't get caught by a located earthquake where you will photograph. : )

Sorry to hear your bad luck story. Don't worry, Chinese has a phrase that goes like this (direct translation) "When Rain is Over, the Sky will be Clear". Those bad luck will over eventually, and good luck will come greeting you. Always looks the bright side, right? ;)

By the way, this shot is fantastic! It's like a satellite shot. Amazing to see the landscape of China.

I didn't know Chinese flights let you hang out on the wing to take pictures!

Don't let the streak of bad luck get you down too much. After all, it will soon be winter (take that however you like)

Well, after a few minutes of staring at this, I finally correctly guessed at what it was. I guess that's from all the flying I do for work. And, I usually prefer a window seat for just such views.

As others have stated, I'm amzed at the sharpness and rich colors obtained through an aircraft window. And, I'm guessing you got some interesting looks when you pulled the camera out onboard and started shooting.

Hope your day goes well tomorrow, and I hope that the light at the end of the tunnel (as mentioned by a previous commenter) isn't an oncoming train! But, if it is, I feel damn sure you'll get a nice photo of it to share with us on Saturday! :-)

superb, as always.

Just stumbled onto your stunning photolog. Your images are incredible...

It's a lovely shot. Bon courage Dave for the days to come

may the force be with you my friend

Amazing landscape. great colours, and it is very sharp, I know this sounds daft but maybe a little too sharp, the cracks in the mountains look too contrasty, and that maybe an artifact of to much sharpening in photoshop. Maybe thats just how bright it was.

Love the image anyway.

As I read your tale of woe, I thought that the pic may have been ice on the car windscreen (a bit early in the year I know!). As it is the shot is amazing. Is the clour natural or a result of post processing, and how much did you have to crop (if any) to get a clear view from the plane?

Stunning image, the patterns in the land are amazing. That is a bit of a bad week, maybe you should pre-warn the coastguard of your trip to the beach, just in case :-)

i never knew earth is multicolored like the skies :)

Comfort yourself with the thought of the people grinding a living from those terraces, 30,000 ft down there. It would surprise me if they were having an easy time of it, either. Good luck tomorrow!

colorfull, very interesting.

Difficult to be original. So just said that a very interesting shot. It make me thinking to paint on crumple paper.Fine. Good luck for your tomorrow pict.

Awww Dave - you sound so grumpy :/ On the bright side I think this is a fantastic shot! So much to look at, and fantastic colouring and textures! I wanted to get out today with my camera because it was beautiful at 8.30 this morning, but it's clouded over now. I was going to take your advice and have a treck along to the area around Edale too.

wow

Good luck the next few days! And the photo is surreal!!!

Good luck from now on!
I like this picture a lot, since I can see how it changes from blue to the orange.

Simply stunning Dave,
It looks like a super-macro shot of a tortoise shell.
Well worth waiting for.
I agree with Armoks about the fine colour gradation.
Superb.

It's remarkable how pictures from China, no matter how or where they are taken, look so...Chinese. Maybe it's because the field patterns look so much like bamboo strip flooring and the contours reflect their calligraphy. I was reminded of a similarly revealing moment I experienced when flying over the U.S. Badlands on a perfectly clear day with raking light like this. Astonishing.

Roy: I don't see how it looks "so... Chinese". Perhaps your thoughts were skewed because you knew it was China? But otherwise I could not think of a better word for this photo; astonising is it.

The gradation of the colors from blues on the right and oranges on the left keep the eye moving. Whilst the details of the photo hit the viewer, to suddenly realize theres a very micro level of the farms, moutains and lives that we don't get to see. You're right, it's astonishing.

What a perspective.

Excellent shot - the best this week but get some more wine in and some of those other niggles will disappear!

Good lord man, the recent technical problems must have been annoying. But only one bottle of wine in the fridge? on a Friday?!!

Oh dear. That must be rectified immediately!

the patchwork of the fields in all the different orientations are lovely. They add to the sense of depth in the land as you can imagine the contours of the ground defined by their changing directions. Great shot!

Sorry to hear. Sniff.
Stupendous photo though. Nice work.

Thanks everyone.

wooow! :-)

Wow! what great texture - it looks like a painting.

man, not only your photos are an enjoyment, but you are a great writer too. it was fun too read the info for this one. good luck ;)

Now THAT'S a landscape! Fantastic! Hope things start getting better soon, Dave ... :)

Ahhhhhhhh technology does your head in. Just as you were starting to like it and think you understand it, even rely on it and take it for granted that it will work. Normally a full system meltdown is preceeded by you liking your kit, you feeling happy and it looking stable. That thing with the windscreen wipers ahhhh! Ive had that in a rental car in a tropical storm. Its enough to make you never want to go near technology ever again....and I DO have a pacemaker.
Great image as ever. I like the double take at first: is it a closeup of a surface? Or a view from the heavens? Fantastic texture and is that the Great Wall?

HI,
my old roomate used to say that when these "communications" failures happened it was due to the alignment of certain planets, MErcury and maybe MArs were involved in the mischief. mmmm....I listened with half a ear of course, being a skeptical person, but it stuck with me andd from that day on I started noticing that there were periods of weeks when these accidents happened and not just to me, the problems would involve many people around me. Like traffic would get worse, phones, computers and other technological means of communtication would not work, and at work and at home i'd be often misunderstood and there would be arguments because of poor communication.
I never pushed this observation further but the idea that planets and their alignments have much to do with our mortal troubles is puzzling and possible if we consider that the moon effects the tides in the oceans...
Hope this consideration distracts you from your miseries, at least until they fade away on their own. ciao

Jez: I'm not sure if this is the Great Wall or not. I kind of hope that it is though.

nikhee: I'm not a great believer in the idea that the planens influence our lives on earth, but you never know.

Looking at this excellent shot here makes me wonder what you could do with the ocean and waves. I look forward to that day :)