Desert Culture amuschik-7613-2
Part of a fantastic shoot day in the desert in Idaho
Part of a fantastic shoot day in the desert in Idaho
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Feb, 2014Views
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Awards
Chatter Award
Contender in the Visual Poetry Project
Contest Finalist in Ballet Photo Contest
Top Shot Award
Outstanding Creativity
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Absolute Masterpiece
Peer Award
Genius
Magnificent Capture
Emotions
Impressed
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
I flew to Idaho for this fantastic shoot day in the desert that was organised with a small group of photographers. I am always trying to learn more and shooting alongside some very talented photographers was a wonderful and valuable learning experience for me.Time
This shot was taken mid-day in July 2013 at 1:30 in the afternoon. The sun was high and bright, and I still remember the way I felt when I heard the music playing out there. It was surreal.Lighting
The lighting was harsh in the desert sun. I had my Canon 580EX II speedlite on the camera that day, to help fill in harsh shadows from the bright sun.Equipment
Canon EOS Rebel Xsi, with Canon kit lens18-55 f/3.5-5.6. The exposure was 1/200 at f/5.0. I had the speedlite on but was probably too far back for it to have made an impact in this shot.Inspiration
We all bounced ideas around online prior to the shoot day. This is only one theme from a very wide variety of concepts we worked on that day. Collaborating with other photographers is a great way to find artistic growth. We arrived for a 6am start, and the number of models and themes lined up dictated a long day. I am very fair skinned and the desert sun in Idaho was extremely hot and unforgiving. The wind blew sand in my eyes constantly, to the point I could hardly continue shooting. We left the shoot location at about 10pm that night and I can’t remember a time I have been more tired, but it was an amazing day of really fantastic, creative shooting.Editing
All the processing was done in Lightroom. I have some colour shots from this series that I also love, and I struggled with the decision, but in the end I felt the Black and white processing added to the classical artistry of the performers against the desolate scenery. A little bit of vignette was added to concentrate the focus on the centre.In my camera bag
I was once told that you should stick with the camera you have to improve your skills until you start to bump up against the cameras limitations. I followed that wise advice, sticking with my entry level DSL until I recently upgraded to a Canon 6D which has more flexibility in lower lighting situations. My go to lens is the Canon 24-105 f/4L. I find this lens so versatile that it can handle most general use situations from portraits to landscapes, so it is on my 6D body and ready to go. I also carry the Canon 70-300 f/4-5.6 and the Canon 50mm f/1.8 II. My bag also contains a Canon 580EX II speedlite which I find very useful and would not want to be without.Feedback
The desert sun is harsh so be prepared for the heat and the wind. The blowing sand was gritty on burnt skin and very hard on the eyes. Protect your skin and eyes, have a shade tent, and lots of water. Think about your footwear as well. I had to stop from time to time because my shoes became so packed full of sand that I could not walk anymore. If you want to plan a shoot in an area such as this, you will usually need to apply for a permit in advance. Keep in mind that the sands shift so if you scout a spot, it may not look the same when you come back.
