Wind Sand Light and Time
A walk through the Nambung National Park. Evening arrives with the sun setting.
A walk through the Nambung National Park. Evening arrives with the sun setting.
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Jan, 2015Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
Living in Perth, Western Australia offers a lot for photography lovers, such as myself. I often drive up and down the coastline looking for interesting photo opportunities. This photo was taken within the Nambung National Park about a 2 hour drive north of Perth. The Nambung National Park is famous for the Pinnacles National Park, but it also has a wise expanse of bushland and where this photo was taken, white sand deserts.Time
As can be seen from the hard shadows, the sun was low in the sky as late evening and sunset was approaching. This is by far the most dramatic time of day and as the window of opportunity only lasts for minutes, it adds to the excitement.Lighting
The light was perfect and hard shadows were forming all around me in every direction. I imagined that wherever I pointed my camera, something magical would result. This also left me feeling a little crazy, as it can't ever be that simple.Equipment
I mainly use my good old Canon 1DS Mark II with my wide angle, Canon 16 - 35mm. I almost only ever take shots mounted on a tripod and I use a Cullman Magnesit with a ball head. I am a lover of fine detail and so I always use mirror lock with an external shutter release.Inspiration
The desert is close to my heart and having come across this scene earlier in the day, decided I would head back and hopefully get some 'good shots' when the sun was lower in the sky. I loved the play between light and dark, all the ripples in the dry sand, evocative of ocean waves - it was quite hypnotic. The clearing beneath the ridge of sand, where old rocks had been exposed added to the drama and narrative - something like a 'stone henge' of nature. I also had the question in my head "How can I communicate the vastness and emptiness of this place? Can I communicate my joy in being here too?".Editing
The shot is a smaller section of a larger Pano, comprising 5 photos. This section covers around half of the total image as I first conceived it. The full pano was just too fast and lost some of its impact, due to the unnaturally wide angle. I simplified the final image as I always hope to get a glimpse of something elemental or primal.In my camera bag
Apart from my camera and 16 - 35mm, I also carry a telephoto zoom, however I rarely use it these day. A spare battery and spare SD cards are also essential. I also carry a compass, torch and head light, just in case I get lost or need to travel a long way back to the car at night. I always carry at least a bottle of water when I am out in the desert and some energy food, such as chocolate.Feedback
Be prepared, get a list printed and make sure you remember everything on it, before you leave. Find something you are passionate about, that is the most important thing for me. Understand the limits of your camera, get to know what it can do and can't do and work with that. Everyone sees things differently, and that is a wonderful thing - when that vision can be shared. Understand what it is you want to convey in your photography, when you compose your shots and do everything you can to bring that to light.
