Photographing Deadvlei with Wilderness Safaris – Namibia
Departing in darkness, a slight glow simmered on the horizon, a tiny trace of the magic quickly to be revealed throughout the Namib Desert.
With Kulala Desert Lodge being the closest lodge to Sossusvlei, a brief drive led us to the Namib Naukluft National Park gate from the place the peaks of dunes grew nearer and my digital camera shortly jumped out of the bag, by no means to go away my fingers for the remainder of the day.
Despite understanding photographs from a shifting automobile don’t all the time produce the very best outcomes, I couldn’t assist myself. As the solar rose slowly within the distance, the dunes modified color and I used to be snapping out the window at something and every part that exposed one of many dunes I’d been desirous to {photograph} for years.
With me for the day I had the Olympus E-M1X and E-M1 MKII our bodies, each with impeccable climate sealing to make sure the desert mud wouldn’t be a problem. The M.Zuiko 7-14mm f2.8, 12-40mm and 40-150mm professional lenses had been additionally in my bag to make sure all bases had been lined for the scenes I imagined together with the MC-20 2x teleconverter which I used to be utilizing for the primary time to increase the focal size and attain a formidable 300mm.
The desert surroundings is such an inspiring panorama for me personally. Vast open areas of surroundings that appears to increase endlessly towards the horizon are what gas my creativity and I used to be in a cheerful place from the second I laid eyes on the primary grain of sand.
Because I do know as soon as I begin typing I’ll little question repetitively use the phrases wow, fairly, overwhelming magnificence and little question just a few WOW’s in captials too, I wish to as a substitute share my favorite photographs from this morning journey with Wilderness Safaris.
Below you’ll discover six photographs together with a bit story from behind the scenes of every shot and what digital camera settings and kit had been used to seize them.
Image #1
Gear: Olympus E-M1X + M.Zuiko 40-150mm f2.8 lens with the MC-20 2 x teleconverter
Camera Settings: f.5.6 | ISO 400 | 1/1000sec | 300mm focal size
Stopping at Dune 45, one of the crucial in style areas to climb Namibia’s monstrous dunes, we had a couple of minutes to take some photographs earlier than persevering with to make our manner in direction of Deadvlei, the meant location for the morning shoot.
Rising at 170m, the dune gives a straightforward to succeed in alternative for individuals to try to climb and see the surroundings from above…and fill their footwear with sand, heaps and many sand. Because I like my photographs to be free of individuals, I as a substitute targeted on the distant dunes, utilizing the MC-20 teleconverter to increase my 40-150mm lens to 300mm, drawing a lone tree nearer towards the star dunes behind.
While it could not look like the case, I used to be truly standing in a comparatively busy automobile park whereas taking this shot and because of the focal size, individuals might stroll in entrance and barely trigger a problem, till in fact I didn’t see them coming after which acquired a shock after I was focusing and instantly bam, particular person.
One of the advantages of getting the teleconverter with me was for moments like this after I wished to place myself in a scene additional away and in a way break away from the usual setting and seize the shot with out in fact having to hike within the excessive warmth. I’d beforehand travelled with the 300mm f4 professional lens nevertheless now that I’ve had this compact little gem with me, will most likely choose to make use of it as a substitute merely because of the dimension and ease of use.
Read extra – ‘The Benefits of Travelling with a Zoom Lens‘
Image #2
Gear: Olympus E-M1 MKII + M.Zuiko 7-14mm f2.8 lens
Camera Settings: f/2.8 | 1/16000 sec | ISO 800
Arriving at Deadvlei it turned a mission to run in direction of this stark valley of dryness earlier than the rising solar took over and the scene misplaced all shadows and depth.
Not realising how far Deadvlei was from the automobile park, inside minutes I used to be a sweaty mess (nothing to cover right here, you’ll be the identical if you happen to go to!) however so rattling desperate to take as many photographs and angles as I might earlier than the sunshine grew harsher and the crowds arrived.
Descending into the valley I shortly seen the sunshine was rising quickly and took this picture utilizing the one obtainable tree that wasn’t already in daylight. Sometimes digital camera settings have to take a again seat in an effort to seize a fast shot. This was a kind of occasions. I’m a giant believer that if you happen to get the fundamentals proper and keep away from pointless noise/blur, then composition and creativity are way more vital in reaching lovely outcomes.
While this picture isn’t precisely what I hoped for and isn’t my favorite of the day, it nonetheless offered me with an alternate shot that provides a unique view of Deadvlei. I trialled utilizing an aperture of f14 to spotlight the solar sparkle however discovered f2.8 labored a bit higher ultimately.
Image #3
Gear: Olympus E-M1 MKII + M.Zuiko 12-40mm f2.8 lens
Camera Settings: f/2.8 | 1/5000 sec | ISO 250
This is a shot I hesitated taking however, have a tiny obsession with producing reflections and a desert scene works so superbly because of the tones and minimal panorama.
Obviously, there isn’t a water in Deadvlei, it’s one of many driest areas on this planet and it was due to this that I used to be hesitant to share this picture publicly.
To take this picture I used the Olympus E-M1 MKII with the 12-40mm f2.8 lens which is good for creating a mirrored image of the sky inside the display of a cell phone. When held as much as the lens and tilted on the proper angle, the cellphone display displays any element above it and on this case, it was all blue contrasting goodness. To make sure you don’t see the sting of the cellphone display, it’s important to {photograph} with a large aperture that may blur any foreground element into the picture.
Read extra – ‘Behind the Lens: Creative Phases and My Current Obsession”
Image #4
Gear: Olympus E-M1X + M.Zuiko 40-150mm f2.8 lens
Camera Settings: f/7.1 | 1/640 sec | ISO 200
*Please notice this shot is unedited
Searching to seize a basic shot of Deadvlei I made time to take a seat and easily stare in all instructions searching for bushes that might work finest. For about 10 full minutes (so much in a location as photogenic as this!), I put my digital camera on the bottom and simply gave myself time to search out the shot.
It’s a well-liked location so quite a lot of the time you can see there could also be individuals within the scene however fortunately, if you happen to arrive early sufficient there’ll be loads of area to search out some bushes to compose inside your photographs.
These two stood out after a couple of minutes and I liked the impact the shadow on the again dune was giving depth to the body. The solar was shining utterly over the whole Deadvlei nevertheless this dune was nonetheless in shade, perfect for a contrasting tone inside the picture.
Image #5
Gear: Olympus E-M1X + M.Zuiko 40-150mm f2.8 lens
Camera Settings: f/7.1 | 1/1250 sec | ISO 200
To end up, I’ll share my favorite picture not solely of the mornings journey however my complete time within the area. After seeing so many photographs of Deadvlei and Sossusvlei on social media, generally moderately than being impressed I develop into a bit underwhelmed. While this undoubtedly wasn’t the case with this location, I did really feel that I wanted extra time to seize a shot I used to be actually proud of, possibly one other morning there and even one other ten.
While strolling again to the automobile park I used to be drawn to this distant view; the colors, layers and depth all simply turned a imaginative and prescient of prompt inspiration and I acquired these giddy vibes whereas shortly whipping out the E-M1X and 40-150mm lens I’d already packed up for the hike again to the automobile.
The actuality was that I used to be completely boiling and pink confronted, had nearly drunk my water, crowds had been rolling in sooner than clouds in a summer time storm and I believed I’d captured all that I might at Deadvlei. Wrong.
These dunes aren’t in fact Deadvlei, they’re positioned behind the carpark on the japanese aspect of the dunes nevertheless when taking the shot, I used to be standing on the trail to Deadvlei. It was fairly a humorous scene truly as I used to be photographing in the other way to the place everybody else was heading so naturally, as they handed me in my snap joyful state, they’d flip and attempt to see what the heck I used to be seeing.
This was the primary picture I took of the scene and naturally, like most individuals I took tonnes extra with assorted focal lengths and compositions however love that each time I view this shot I’m taken again to my time in Namibia, wowed by the overwhelming pure magnificence. I advised you I’d use the phrases wow and overwhelming!
Hello! I’m the founder and photographer behind The Wandering Lens.
With 17+yrs expertise as knowledgeable journey and panorama photographer, all recommendation discovered on this website is from my private expertise on the street. I hope it’s helpful to your personal travels and would love to listen to within the feedback about your journeys and experiences world wide.