Hi, I am Sig (junge1),
I was born in Dominikus- Krankenhaus in Berlin-Hermsdorf, Bezirk Reinickendorf in December 1939. Bezirk Reinickendorf was one of 20 Bezirke that made up Gross-Berlin before World War II and one of 12 Bezirke that made up former West-Berlin, the other 8 Bezirke were Russian occupied and became East-Berlin after the war. Moved from Berlin to Neurohlau (Nova Role) Sudetenland (now Czech Republic), in August 1943 (our entire block of apartment buildings was bombed out in November 1943) and returned back to Berlin in November 1945. Saw my dad the first time in my life in August/September 1946 after he returned from POW camp. Attended elementary school in Berlin-Waidmannslust, high school in Berlin-Hermsdorf, and trade school in Berlin-Kreuzberg. Was an apprentice for the trade of Klischeeaetzer (photo engraver) at Burrath & Schmidt on Friedrichstrasse between U-Bahnhof Kochstrasse (near to what later became Checkpoint Charlie) and Hallisches Tor.
While watching Allied planes supplying West-Berlin by air during the Berliner Luftbruecke in 1948-49 I developed my love for aircraft. I guess I could be considered a 'Berliner Grosschnauze", or at least I used to be.
'Wanderlust' led me to leave Berlin in summer 1960 to emigrate to Toronto, Canada and in February 1962 to move from Canada to New York City, NY, USA. In January 1963 I joined the United States Air Force, one step ahead of Uncle Sam drafting me. Became a United States citizen within 7 weeks after it became a security issue because of my military career. One day after I was sworn in as a citizen in Seattle, my entire unit left for Southeast Asia in June 1966. After nearly 5 years of active duty (extended 11 months to make it an 18 months overseas deployment) I got discharged and moved to New York City. In 1973 I moved to Phoenix, Arizona and two years later joined the Arizona Air National Guard.
Received my higher education at Arizona State University and the University of Georgia and worked for 22 years for the Arizona Department of Water Resources in various capacities. Upon military retirement in 1999 and State retirement in 2005 I looked at a number of things to keep me occupied. Traveling and joining 'renderosity' in September 2007 were a couple of them,
Sig..
Comments (42)
lucindawind
I would love to visit here .. its a beautiful area ...hot but beautiful :)
lizzibell
Beautiful view...
tallpindo
There is some sort of park ranger evening program out there in the dunes at night in the cooler periods. It was not on when I was there.
jeroni
Beautiful photo
bebert
superb shot !!
jocko500
those people show how big the place is and gives it depth. very cool shot
Richardphotos
excellent capture. I tried to find access to a dune in Nevada but never found the entrance
kgb224
Excellent capture my friend.
MrsRatbag
Beautiful capture, I'd love to get closer to those dunes...
Mousson
evocative image!
kenwas
Amazing country indeed. Fine capture.
flora-crassella
....wie man sieht, kann auch eine Wüste schön sein! Wundervolles Foto!
JeffG7BRJ
Those folks don't look to well prepared for going for a walk out there Sig, I know I wouldn't leave the hard top without at least one bottle of water. I would have to carry gloucose with me as well. It looks nice and serene, can't see any 4x4 tracks anywhere. Excellent capture, thanks for sharing. Bravo!!!!!
THROBBE
Nice capture!
junge1
@JeffG7BRJ. Jeff, the guy has water. He came back to the car (parked on the road) to get some. This is a National Park and off-road driving is not permitted. There are plenty of gravel roads that lead away from the highway. I have been on those before, this was my 4th visit in 35 years. This place is awe inspiring but deadly. I would not go there during the summer months. I read somewhere that when tire manufacturers tested new tires on the roads in Death Valley the surface temperature of the asphalt pavement was 200F.
Suncat1
Another beautiful shot! I love the clear sky and the way the dunes frame the mountains in the distance!
Fidelity2
Your image is very special. Thank you. 5+!!!!
dbrv6
That looks like it would be some very hard walking out there without the heat even. Great Image.
cherokee1961
Wow, so desolate looking - great capture!
Hendesse
Looks hot and dry there. Excellent shot, what a fantastic view.
virginiese
I have read that they have acted a Star Wars scene in Death Valley. Is that there? Great dunes ! It reminds White Sands National Park
junge1
@virginiese. I don't know Virginie. The first Star War movie had scenes in it that were shot in Cappadocia, Eastern Turkey!
Thelby
WHat a Humongous place. FOr someone like me that likes dry arid landscapes this is Very Inspirational!!!! 10+++++
carlx
Wonderful vista!!!
durleybeachbum
What a place! The folk show the huge scale!
emmecielle
Wonderful place and fantastic photo!!! :)
fredster66
Excellent landscape image... impressive!
Janiss
A gorgeous view Sig!
thevolunteer
So many different terrains here. Sand, mountains, trees, rocks... A little bit of everything, except WATER. Nice shot. Aloha
leanndra
A desolate looking place but beautifully captured! In reading the other comments up here, I think one of the movies had a scene that was shot around there somewhere. Perhaps in Return of the Jedi. I can't remember!