Sand Storm
Nambung National Park During Sand Storm in Black and White. Photographed in Western Australia
Nambung National Park During Sand Storm in Black and White. Photographed in Western Australia
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Jan, 2015Views
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Awards
Lucky 3 Award
Contest Finalist in Wind In Nature Photo Contest
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Behind The Lens
Location
Deep within the Nambung National Park in Western Australia are a number of disconnected white sand deserts. From a distance, they look like clouds which have dropped down from the sky and cover the desert bushland. I took this photo on the far side of one of these deserts.Time
It was taken in the late afternoon with the sun at a good angle to catch the sand being whipped up by the wind. The whole foreground was basically in shadow, which made this shot possible. Any later, when the heat of the sun would die down, so would the sandstorm and the photo would not have been possible.Lighting
Just the thin strip at the top of the sand dune was catching the sunlight directly.Equipment
My old but faithful Canon 1Ds Mark II, my super wide angle Canon 16 - 35mm lens and my Cullman tripod. I always carry a remote shutter release and a large number of SD cards. I carry the SD cards as much for security as anything. I have had cards corrupted in the past and they are extremely light and small, so it simply makes sense to stock up on them. Apart from photo equipment, I always carry water and emergency energy food. I have a compass, which thankfully I have never needed.Inspiration
Being in the desert is a unique experience for me, every time. It always feel like I am wandering around on another planet, as the first human being or something. The extreme force of the sandstorm was a great part of this journey and I wondered how I could convey this energy behind it, which is invisible. The random bush surviving in this extreme environment was the anchor for the shot. Apart from the technical and physical issues, the photo was easy to capture.Editing
The photo does not differ much from the raw shot. The contrast has been tweaked here and there. I always use LAB colour space in Photoshop as it gives me much more control.In my camera bag
Carrying additional lenses is always a concern on a long journey and photo shoot. They are large, heavy and are rarely used. My lens of preference is my Canon 16 - 35mm, but I still carry a telephoto zoom, just in case. I carry some neutral density filters and circular polarizers. A backup battery is a must, especially with my camera as it is a decade old and the battery life has diminished with time. Food and water always accompany me as it takes a lot of energy walking up and down the desert landscape.Feedback
The best way to capture the spirit of the desert is to go alone to a deserted place - that makes sense. Start taking shots, even if you know they will amount to nothing, to get a conversation going between yourself and your environment. The rest follows naturally.
