NAMIBIA
The Skeleton Coast
An incredible sky and golden light combine on the Skeleton Coast in Namibia
The Sand Flame
Strong winds from the east kick up sand on the top of the dune which is then backlit by the rising sun as the gusts chase the sand across the white pan of the Dead Vlei just after sunrise
The East Wind at Dead Vlei
The East Wind blowing through the Dead Vlei after sunset was pretty brutal to photograph in, blowing sand in your eyes and all over the camera, but it created some incredible dynamic scenes as it blew through the pan of the Dead Vlei, the dust backlit by the rising sun.
The “Squiggle” Dune
The curves of the dunes create wonderful abstracts as the light gets lower, dropping the other side into deep shadow and painting the sand a deep red just before the sun sets
Cracks
The rain in the previous week had quickly drained away leaving these wonderful cracked tile shapes in the mud and clay.
Dune Spine
The last light of the day picks out the curves of the mountainous dunes
Deadvlei Mist
On my second sunrise visit to Deadvlei we were incredibly lucky to get mist, which is incredibly rare and happens perhaps once in a decade. The combination of mist with the trees against the dunes as the first light cut across the pan made for really simple compositions
Deadvlei Mist II
The first touch of light starts to fall across a misty Deadvlei
Deadvlei Mist III
Abstract shapes and simple colours on a misty morning in Deadvlei
Deadvlei Mist IV
Abstract shapes and simple colours on a misty morning in Deadvlei
Dune Abstractions
An abstract play of lines and light on the mountainous dunes of Sossusvlei, Namibia.
It’s impossible to really show in images how imposing these dunes are as the line up along the north and south sides of the valley. The dunes in this image are more than a kilometre away and yet still fill the frame of a telephoto lens.
This is an unusual scene in that generally the dunes here are captured facing the spine of the dune with strong contrast as the sun lights up one side and leaves the other in shadow, but this scene in the last light of day is shot directly into the light, reducing the contrast and leaving the wind-shaped contours on the side of the dunes barely visible.
Windswept Sossusvlei
When the wind swept down the valley, combined with the haze of the last light of the day when looking directly into the light, some beautiful high key scenes were revealed.
Sossusvlei Haze
Early morning haze and strong wind combine to particularly obscure this massive dune in the Sosssusvlei valley
Dawn Light on the Dunes
The first light of day picks out the ridges in the sand, which was also being whipped across the face of the dune by a strong wind
Light & Dust
Wind blows through the valley of Sossusvlei
Skeleton Coast Sunset
The shipwreck of the Shawnee on the Skeleton Coast, captured just after sunset on an absolutely wonderful evening in Namibia.
Sossusvlei Sunrise
Gentlle colour and soft light before the dawn on Sossusvlei’s incredible dunes
Sossusvlei Sunrise II
Gentlle colour and soft light before the dawn on Sossusvlei’s incredible dunes
The Oryx & The Dune
An Oryx beneath a dune on a windy afternoon in Sossusvlei
Oryx
The unseasoned rains turned the valleys yellow with grass and brought out so many Oryx
Oryx
An Oryx wandering through the grass in the last light of day
Oryx Pair
A pair of Oryx in the Sossusvlei valley
Ribs
The last light of day picks out the shape and texture of the dunes in the valley of Sossusvlei
Sossusvlei Light
The low morning sun creates incredible abstract shapes amongst the dunes of Sossusvlei
Sossusvlei Light I
And late afternoon light creates the same effect from the other side amongst the dunes of Sossusvle
Deadvlei
Late light fall on Deadvlei and the petrified camel thorn trees
Deadvlei Morning
After the mist had cleared the dawn light poured into the Deadvlei pan bringing with it incredible colour
Deadvlei 3
The petrified remains of two camelthorn trees on the Deadvlei in Namibia
The Skeleton Coast II
We headed deep into where the dunes meet the ocean on Namibia’s coast and camped next to this shipwreck. What an incredible place to spend the night.
The Skeleton Coast Dunes
The infinite dunes of the Skeleton Coast
The Skeleton Coast Boulders
Late light across boulders deep in the desert wilderness of the Skeleton Coast
Quiver Trees
The Milky Way rises above the Quiver Tree forest in Namibia
Quiver Tree Forest
Gentle early morning light in the Quiver Tree forest
Cheetah
A cheetah finds some shade beneath a Camelthorn tree in Namibia
KOLMANSKOPP
The town of Kolmanskopp was built to house diamond mine workers in the early 20th Century. When the diamonds dried up the town was abandoned and since the 1950s has been being slowly reclaimed by the desert sands. Exploring the empty buildings is incredibly atmospheric.
Kolmanskopp Dawn
First light comes through the windows of the dune filled houses of Kolmanskopp
Kolmanskopp 2
Kolmanskopp Light
The old diamond mining town of Kolmanskopp, abandoned for over half a century, is slowly being reclaimed by the desert
Kolmanskop Light II
Light and dust in the deserted mining town of Kolmanskop
Kolmanskopp 3
Kolmanskop 4
Kolmanskopp 5
Kolmanskopp 6
Kolmanskopp 7
Kolmanskopp 8
Kolmanskopp Dawn 2
AERIALS
Namibia is a beautiful country, but from the air it’s even more spectacular as a land of abstract shapes and texture is revealed. Helicopter trips with the doors off are an incredible experience and give an entirely different perspective on these stunning landscapes.
Namib-Rand Aerial
The mountains of the Namib Rand from the air just after take off
The Devil’s Pitchfork
Taking a helicopter flight with the doors off above the dunes at sunrise in Sossusvlei
Sossusvlei Aerial I
As the sun rises it creates incredibly strong contrasts that really bring out the abstract shapes and colour of the dunes that can be seen from the air
Dune 42 Aerial
First light creates a play of shadow and light on the dunes of Sossusvlei captured from the air.
Sossusvlei Aerial II
Taking a helicopter flight with the doors off above the dunes at sunrise in Sossusvlei
Sossusvlei Aerial III
Taking a helicopter flight with the doors off above the dunes at sunrise in Sossusvlei
Namib Layers
The peaks of the Namib Rand from the air on a hazy sunrise
Sossusvlei Aerial V
Taking a helicopter flight with the doors off above the dunes at sunrise in Sossusvlei
Sossusvlei Aerial IV
Taking a helicopter flight with the doors off above the dunes at sunrise in Sossusvlei
Sossusvlei Aerial Abstract I
The abstract shapes of the dunes at first light from the air
Sossusvlei Aerial Abstract III
The abstract shapes of the dunes at first light from the air
Sossusvlei Aerial Abstract II
The abstract shapes of the dunes at first light from the air
Sossusvlei Aerial Abstract IV
The abstract shapes of the dunes at first light from the air
The Devil’s Pitchfork II
Taking a helicopter flight with the doors off above the dunes at sunrise in Sossusvlei
Sandwich Harbour Aerial
Thousands of flamingos take to the skies in Sandwich Harbour on Namibia’s coast. I captured this image from a helicopter looking down onto the river estuary