Archives for posts with tag: desert

Desert Photography Kit List & Tips

By Quintin Lake
April 14, 2014 //
2
Mahmood & Khaled rest after trekking amongst El-Khiyam "The Tent

Mahmood & Khaled rest after trekking amongst The Tents, White Desert, Egypt

This post is written for British Exploring Society’s expedition to Namibia summer 2014 but will be of interest for anyone taking a camera into a desert for a prolonged period of time. For some examples of my desert photography see these posts from Western Desert, Egypt & Wadi Rum, Jordan

CAMERA SUGGESTIONS 

Most cameras and most lenses are
better than most photographers

If you have a camera you are happy with just bring it. You don’t need a fancy camera to take great pictures. Much more important are visual thinking and composition. Film, Lomo & disposable are all fine: just bring what you enjoy using.

best-point-and-shoot-camera-reviews-2013

If you want a Point & Shoot (type of camera shown above) you can’t go wrong with the offerings from Sony, Canon, Nikon or Panasonic. Look for manual control options if you want to get creative. £70-200.

If you want to freeze action and or have good low light performance you need a SLR or Micro Four Thirds Camera. A telephoto (long) lens helps you get closer to wildlife and the landscape. Suggested budget interchangeable lens cameras:

canon
Canon EOS 1100D with 18-55 mm lens £249.98  amazon link
Canon EF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 III Lens £105.59 amazon link

BESNamibia-064

Panasonic G5, 14-42 lens £288.99 amazon link
45-150 Lens £177.99  amazon link

Recommended 2nd hand retailer (with six warranty) mpbphotographic.co.uk

BESNamibia-065

A camera is no use unless its accessible when the light suddenly changes, or wildlife suddenly appears. Keeping the camera accessible is more important than the type of camera you carry. Think about how you get to the camera when wearing a backpack. For most of you a Point and Shoot camera with a pouch on your backpack shoulder strap is the best option.

BESNamibia-067
If you place a camera on the ground in the desert, sand and dust will enter the lens mechanism and break it. Most desert expeditions have a number of breakages in the first few days when people ignore this advice. Always put the camera back in its case when you finish actively shooting with in.

Clean the camera regularly helps prevent dust working its way into the camera. Wrap the camera in zip-lock or sandwich bag, then place in its case during dust storms.

BESNamibia-066
Some means of keeping the camera steady is useful for night photography, astro photography, video, special effects and when using long lenses – and of course being in your own photos.

KEEPING IT RUNNING

Batteries-900-100

Bring enough memory cards for a few hundred shots/ week more if you want to take video.

There are no charging facilities. Bring enough batteries. Get to know you camera but one or two per week should do.

A handful of 3rd party batteries are cheaper, easier and lighter than a solar charger.

If you want to try Solar look at Powermonkey Extreme amazon link but check eth voltage of your camera and if it can charge from usb or this won’t help you.

ANY QUESTIONS?

Any photography questions regarding desert photography/BES Namibia 2014 ask them below in the comments and I’ll answer them here so everybody can benefit.

Wadi Rum, Jordan

Wadi Rum, Jordan

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Categories Expedition Photography, Photography, TIps & Techniques, Travel Photography

Western Desert Journey, Egypt

By Quintin Lake
March 25, 2013 //
288
Footprints on a sand dune above camp near Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt

Dune above camp near Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt

Bedouin Tea, served extra sweet. Western Desert, Egypt

Bedouin Tea, served extra sweet

Early morning sunlight illuminates a sand dune Western Desert, Egypt

Early morning sunlight illuminates a sand dune, Western Desert

Landcruisers descend into a wadi in the Sahara Suda (Black Desert), Egypt

Landcruisers descend into a wadi in the Sahara Suda (Black Desert), Egypt

Sahara Suda (Black Desert) the moment after sunset, Egypt

Sahara Suda (Black Desert) the moment after sunset

A beduin guide, Mahmood contemplating the White Desert, Egypt

Our bedouin guide, Mahmood contemplating the White Desert

Trekking above a large sand dune in the White Desert), Egypt

Trekking above a sand dune in the White Desert, Egypt

Mahmood, a Bedouin guide, collecting fire wood in the White Dese

Mahmood collecting fire wood in the White Desert

Mahmood, A Bedouin guide, guides us across the White Desert

Mahmood guides us across the White Desert

Sam McConnell prepares for a night under the stars, White Desert

Sam McConnell prepares for a night under the stars, White Desert

Sand ripples at the edge of the Sahara Beida (White Desert), Egypt

Sand ripples at the edge of the Sahara Beida (White Desert)

4X4 tracks in the sand and camp in the Western Desert, Egypt

4X4 tracks at camp in the Western Desert

Khaled ties camping equipment to the top of the Landcruiser. Western Desert, Egypt

Khaled ties camping equipment to the top of the Landcruiser

Monoliths (inselbergs) of the White Desert at sunset, Egypt

Monoliths (inselbergs) of the White Desert at sunset

4x4 Landcruiser stuck in the sand in the Western Desert, Egypt

Landcruiser stuck in the sand in the Western Desert

Sam McConnell walks amongst the chalk rock formations of the Sahara Beida (White Desert), Egypt

Sam McConnell walks amongst the chalk rock formations of the White Desert

Moments before sunset at El-Khiyam "The Tents", Sahara Beida (White Desert), Egypt

Moments before sunset at El-Khiyam “The Tents”, White Desert

4X4 Camp amongst El-Khiyam "The Tents", Sahara Beida (White Des

4X4 Camp amongst El-Khiyam “The Tents”, White Desert

Mahmood & Khaled rest after trekking amongst El-Khiyam "The Tent

Mahmood & Khaled rest after trekking amongst The Tents, White Desert

Sunset abovet El-Khiyam "The Tents", Sahara Beida (White Desert), Egypt

Sunset abovet El-Khiyam “The Tents”, Sahara Beida (White Desert)

Khaled, deep in thought with a glass of sweet tea. Western Deser

Khaled, deep in thought with a glass of sweet tea. Western Desert

Wind sculpted chalk waves and sand in the Sahara Beida (White De

Wind sculpted chalk waves and sand in the White Desert

Moonlit Camp in the White Desert, Egypt

Moonlit Camp in the White Desert

Chalk sculptures catch the setting sunlight in the White Desert, Egypt

Chalk sculptures catch the setting sunlight in the White Desert

Sunset above the the chalk rock formations of the Sahara Beida (White Desert) near Farafra, Egypt

Sunset above the the chalk rock formations of the White Desert near Farafra

Aish el-Ghorab "The Mushrooms", chalk sculptures, Sahara Beida (White Desert), Egypt

Aish el-Ghorab “The Mushrooms”, chalk sculptures, White Desert, Egypt

Aish el-Ghorab "The Mushrooms", chalk sculptures, Sahara Beida (White Desert), Egypt

The Mushrooms, chalk sculptures, White Desert

Orange sunset in the White Desert, Egypt

Sunset in the White Desert, Egypt

These photographs document a trekking and 4×4 journey through the Western Desert of Egypt. Starting at Bahariya Oasis we travelled through the Sahara Suda (Black Desert) and Sahara Beida (White Desert) ending up near Farafra. As a compliment to these images I produced a second, more abstract series of photographs entitled “Sahara Sands” from the same trip.

The journey was undertaken with desert explorer Sam McConnell who runs highly recommended adventure travel expeditions to the region in collaboration with Abou Anis of Sub Sinai, off-road driver Khaled, and the bedouin of Bahariya Oasis

Signed limited edition prints of this series are available at £195 each (60x40cm). To purchase please contact me. Larger sizes also available

Edit: I’m delighted that this post is featured in Freshly Pressed. Check out “Glimpses Of Iran” which was Freshly Pressed last year. Thanks for all your likes and comments and follow my Facebook Page to see my latest work

Edit 2! I’m even more chuffed this post has been featured in Editors’ Picks of the Year: The Best of WordPress.com in 2013 thanks guys!

Edit 3! If you enjoyed this have a look at Wadi Rum Journey which was the follow up to this project

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Categories Documentary Photography, Expedition Photography, Fine Art Photography, Photography, Travel Photography

Sahara Sands

By Quintin Lake
March 18, 2013 //
28
Sahara Sands I (Western Desert, Egypt)

Sahara Sands I (Western Desert, Egypt)

Sahara Sands II (Western Desert, Egypt)

Sahara Sands II (Western Desert, Egypt)

Sahara Sands III (Western Desert, Egypt)

Sahara Sands III (Western Desert, Egypt)

Sahara Sands IV (Western Desert, Egypt)

Sahara Sands IV (Western Desert, Egypt)

Sahara Sands V (Western Desert, Egypt)

Sahara Sands V (Western Desert, Egypt)

Sahara Sands VI (Western Desert, Egypt)

Sahara Sands VI (Western Desert, Egypt)

Sahara Sands VII (Western Desert, Egypt)

Sahara Sands VII (Western Desert, Egypt)

Sahara Sands VIII (Western Desert, Egypt)

Sahara Sands VIII (Western Desert, Egypt)

Sahara Sands IX (Western Desert, Egypt)

Sahara Sands IX (Western Desert, Egypt)

Sahara Sands X (Western Desert, Egypt)

Sahara Sands X (Western Desert, Egypt)

Sahara Sands XI (Western Desert, Egypt)

Sahara Sands XI (Western Desert, Egypt)

Sahara Sands XII (Western Desert, Egypt)

Sahara Sands XII (Western Desert, Egypt)

Sahara Sands XIII (Western Desert, Egypt)

Sahara Sands XIII (Western Desert, Egypt)

Sahara Sands XIV (Western Desert, Egypt)

Sahara Sands XIV (Western Desert, Egypt)

Photographs of Egypt’s Western Desert made during a 10 day trek and 4×4 expedition with desert explorer Sam McConnell. The approach to this work is in part inspired by my earlier abstractions of the River Thames

I have always loved the desert. One sits down on a desert sand dune, sees nothing, hears nothing. Yet through the silence something throbs, and gleams…
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Signed limited edition prints available at £195 each (40x40cm). To purchase please contact me. Larger sizes also available

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Categories Fine Art Photography, Photography, Travel Photography