The beauty of Botswana
One of the many magical sunsets over the river Khwai in the Okavango Delta, Botswana.
One of the many magical sunsets over the river Khwai in the Okavango Delta, Botswana.
Read less
Read less
Apr, 2019Views
82
Likes
Awards
Judge Favorite
Summer 2020
Top Ranks
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 2Top 30 rank week 1Categories
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Discover more photos See all
Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo on the banks of the River Khwai, in the Moremi Game Reserve area of the Okavango Delta, Botswana. I am a self-taught, amateur photographer - so I learn new things every time I take pictures!Time
I love this picture, because I think it perfectly captures the magic and the colour of African sunsets. It was taken at 18:30, on a hot November evening. I was having a sundowner with friends, watching the sun slowly sink below the horizon, when I had to capture this.Lighting
I used no artificial lighting to capture this image, because I felt it had to be true to what African sunsets actually look like. I wanted to take a photo that really stood out by focusing on bright, bold colours such as the red and orange you can see in the sky. Capturing the bright sun and its reflection on the water was also important. I love how the calm water almost creates a perfect mirror image of the sky.Equipment
For this shot, I just used my iPhone 7 back camera - 3.9mm, f/1.8, ISO 20. No other equipment was used, as I wanted to keep the shot simple, and sunsets in Africa are usually very quick - there is not a lot of time to get lots of equipment out!Inspiration
I really wanted to capture an authentic African sunset. I saw so many wonderful sights during my time in Botswana, but there is something about watching the sun rise and set that is truly magical. The colours in the sky of this particular sunset were brilliant - so bright and bold, which made me think I had to capture it! Not every sunset is like this, so you have to take the opportunity when it comes! I wanted to make sure I got a good reflection of the red/orange sky and the sun in the water, but I also had to be wary that the sun didn't sink too low and disappear before I got the shot. The sun sets unbelievably quickly in Africa, so you have to be ready.Editing
Usually I do not do much post-processing, as I don't have much experience with this and I want most of my photos to be completely natural. But for this image, I wanted to bring out the bold colours in the sunset even more, so I just decreased the brilliance and the shadows.In my camera bag
As I am an amateur photographer, I don't have much equipment. But what I do have, I always take. That means: my iPhone 7, and small Panasonic DMC-FS15 (it's old but trustworthy!) I'll also bring my GoPro for those action shots, a cloth to wipe of dust and sand in hot, dry environments and a good bottle of water - I will happily wait a long time for the perfect shot!Feedback
For capturing an African / Botswana sunset, I would honestly say the biggest thing to watch out for is the speed of the sunset. The sky can go from being bright and day-like to dusk and no sun in a matter of minutes. The speed of this will definitely surprise anyone not used to it! But also, don't rush - although quick, sunset doesn't happen in the blink of an eye. Get set up before the sun starts to drop, then get ready to capture the magic!
