Ghost Door
Life Through a Lens LLC
Life Through a Lens LLC
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Aug, 2014Views
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Contest Finalist in A Frame in a Frame Photo Contest
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Christian Moore
August 25, 2014
I love this! Is there any way you could tell me where this was taken? It looks like such an amazing location for photos. :)
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janland
January 12, 2015
Fantastic capture! Such power in the shot and obviously the storm. Well done POV! Congrats!
Ultimate
andrei_duman
January 16, 2015
Thank you all for your kind messages. I loved the place and shooting it. It was a great experience
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
This was taken in the diamond ghost town of Kolmanskop in Namibia in 2014Time
It was in the late afternoon as I had found from the day before that the light in the early morning was too hard against the sand. The afternoon was a great deal softer.Lighting
I waited around 3 hours to get the right light that day. This was after being awake at around 5am to make it on time for the sunrise at the door. I saw the entire light transition and shadows engulfing the door. I certainly shot a great deal and I simply loved the way that the light hit the back door. I think that's where the magic really happened. The first door frame was just the screening for the real show behind.Equipment
I used a Canon 5D Mark III with a TS-E 17mm f/4 L lens, no flash, Gitzo Traveller tripod with the 2750 QR Gitzo ballhead. The settings were as follows: - focal was 17mm as its a prime lens - ISO 200 - shutter speed 1/50 - aperture was f/7.1Inspiration
I managed to arrange to have exclusive access to certain parts of the town both in terms of locations and the time I could shoot and being there for 3 days, I wanted to make sure that I capture it in its entirety. Although the buildings were decaying and falling apart, there was also a great deal of beauty. The sand, through time, has managed to break doors from their hinges, crawl up staircases and meticulously position itself in wonderful patterns amongst the rubble of pretty much all the houses. Finding the right light was the biggest challenge throughout the day because of open space which allowed for the sun to create prominent shadows from all directions. I found the best time to shoot the location was in the late afternoon when the glow from the sand was not as dominant. Shooting this particular entryway was my main priority from the outset and it took me about a day and a half to actually find it. Asking the guides in the ghost town and the local photographer who had shot it in the past for National Geographic did not get me any closer. Its as if they did not want to give up its secret location. After crawling on my belly through a broken window three quarters covered in sand and navigated through some tight, closed corridors, I thought it would also get me to yet another dead end. It only showed itself when I turned around to make my way back the way I had come. It really is quite a sight when you first see it. The initial door frame frames the second one perfectly and the dilapidated door with the green in the background makes it a very unique composition. Getting the equipment though the maze was a challenge but I believe worth the effort. It was a hauntingly beautiful and surreal experience to be there and take it all in.Editing
Straightened the door frame as it was distorted with the wide angle lens and used masking for the background colors. Took some of the noise out also.In my camera bag
Canon 5D Mark III TS-E 17mm f/4L 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM 35mm f/1.4L USM 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM Also use Extender EF 1.4X III Tripod I use Gitzo Traveler Tripod 6X Series with a Jobu Heavy Duty MK IV ballhead.Feedback
I think it is really important to do your research before you even turn up at the location. You should know as much about it as possible. You may not have all the time in the world to shoot so having that info about which way the sun will move, any access restrictions or what time of year it is best suited will make or break the image. Also knowing the limits of your equipment inside out is also crucial. Again because you may not have all the time to shoot, knowing how your camera, lenses and ballhead functions in different conditions could get you the right shot. Finally, just shoot and keep making the mistakes....its the best way to get better and get that unforgettable shot. Good Luck all!!!
