On The Horizon
A sandstorm in The Nasmbung National Park, white sand desert. It was evening, so the shadows were beginning to lengthen and so I took a creative look at a self ...
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A sandstorm in The Nasmbung National Park, white sand desert. It was evening, so the shadows were beginning to lengthen and so I took a creative look at a self portrait and also to get some sense of scale for the shot.
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Jan, 2015Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo back in 2015 when I was living in Perth, Western Australia. It was taken in Nambung National Park. The park is about a 2 and a half hour drive north of Perth and is famous for the Pinnacles - thousands of very unusual and icon stone structures in the desert.Time
You can see by the sculpting effect of the shadows that the sun was getting low. It was taken around 6pm an hour or so before the sun was due to set over the sea.Lighting
One of the wonderful things about the lighting in early dusk is the long shadows, but it is always a challenge, keeping myself and the tripod out of the shot. I generally prefer shots without any trace of the human element, but as I walked along the ridge, my shadow followed me. I thought that was justification enough for including it in the shot. I think it adds to the mood and gives a sense of scale, which otherwise would be missing. Although the sun was quite low, the white sand was still incredibly bright and while wearing my shades, the sky so rich and deep in blue. I hope the elemental character of the place shows through in the shot.Equipment
I always compose using a tripod and for this shot, I used my old Canon 1DS Mark II. The lens, which rarely gets swapped from the camera body is the Canon wide angle 16 - 35mm. Of course, I used a CPL to darken and bring out the deep blues in the sky.Inspiration
I think what inspired me to take the shot, was how abstract the scene looked along with the thought that it wouldn't make sense to anyone but me - or at least wouldn't make sense to anyone who hadn't been there. With my shadow following me, that gave some kind of constant reference point, that I thought made for a convenient and simple solution. Also thinking that if I were to do a self portrait, that my shadow would have to play a part in it.Editing
In Photoshop, I exposed the sky and land separately. I wanted to bring out the difference and elemental nature of the place.In my camera bag
I always bring a tripod, three or more batteries - just in case and my Canon 16mm - 35mm Wide Angle Lens.As these shots in the desert are quite a challenge on the body, I always carry fly spray, sun block and a bottle of water. Without the water, it's too dangerous to be out for more than an hour. I generally shot from early afternoon until dusk and then make my way back to the car. It is very strenuous and guaranteed, you will get very hungry. I take a bar of chocolate with me as it is light enough but can give me the energy I need, quickly and easily.Feedback
Out in the white desert is tough on the body. The inspiration is easy, but you'll need to come equipped with fly spray, sunblock and enough water. Drink at least a litre of water before you leave your car and carry another with you. The sand is so bright, you will need to wear shades. What you see through the camera lens will also be too bright, so you will have to use your imagination a lot when composing. Bracket your shots, so you can recover any blown highlights.
