Desert Storm Brewing
A magical time in the Nambung National Park. White powdery sand whipping up. The whole place was alive, virgin and welcoming....
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A magical time in the Nambung National Park. White powdery sand whipping up. The whole place was alive, virgin and welcoming.
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Jul, 2015Views
2637
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Awards
Contest Finalist in One Is Enough Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Sand Photo Contest
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
Outstanding Creativity
Magnificent Capture
All Star
Superior Skill
Genius
Virtuoso
Emotions
Impressed
Top Ranks
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
This was shot within the Nambung National Park in Western Australia. The white sand desert is mostly just rolling sand dunes and I was shocked as I came over one hill to see this dead bush still standing. I had to photograph it.Time
Although it was mid to late afternoon, the sun was still very hot and dry. That and the strong wind made this all quite a challenge both physically and technically.Lighting
White sand is always difficult to photograph when the sun is directly overhead - you need shadows and so as the afternoon progressed, the mood of the photographs continued to deepen.To the eye, the light was blinding and I could hardly see anything along with the sand storm brewing and hitting my face rcontinually. I had to squint and do a lot of guesswork. The shot was taken very low to the ground and that helped me see the lines of the sand leading into the centre of the image, while being protected from the sand.Equipment
In the desert, I always carry my Canon 16 - 35mm wide angle lens, which helps covey the vastness of the landscape. I have been using my Canon 1DS Mark II for about the past ten years, since it was released, and yes, I am due for an upgrade soon. I always carry my Cullman tripod together with my external shutter release. In this shot, a CPL filter did the job of darkening the sky enough to see the sand as it blew across the dunes in the background.Inspiration
The desert is such an extreme environment and to see life struggling to survive here is somewhat inspiring. For me, it says something about the human condition that is beyond words.Editing
Exposure was corrected to match the visit and apart from the usual cropping and cleaning up of dust spots, I did very little to alter the image. I may have removed a few stray twigs and dark stones from the sand, but that was about it.In my camera bag
I always carry a set of 32GB SD cards, just in case. Although I mainly use my canon 16 - 35mm wide angle lens, I also carry a canon 70 - 300mm for the occassional distant landscape. I actually have 4 battery packs at all times. I have them numbered 1 to 4 so I know where I am up to. I leave 2 in the boot of the car, 1 in the camera and 1 spare in the bag - just in case. I carry my mobile, a compass, some high energy food and a bottle of water but try to minimise weight as much as possible, so i can focus on the view and the photography. I have had situations where I have been unable to find the car after exiting the desert. Sometimes it is difficult to retrace all your steps and so the GPS on my mobile has been a life saver. The mobile must be fully charged before the adventure starts.Feedback
The most important aspect of photography is being able to understand what it is about a view that you would like to capture in camera. When that is done, the next task is to do everything you can to ensure you bring that out in the photography. Being able to visualise the final finished piece, before you take the shot, for me is critical to a successful image.
