Looking back 20 years I think photographing in Namibia is some of the best shooting I’ve ever done
Namibia is known for its desert—huge dunes, orange sand, and vast, empty expanses. I had dreamt of photographing in Namibia ever since visiting Egypt. The Western Desert in Egypt fascinated me, and I thought, I’m going to be a desert photographer. Looking back, it’s interesting to see how little I understood about the opportunities, skills, and challenges involved. Looking back, I realize how little I understood about the power of excitement, novelty, and solitude as key ingredients for creating compelling photographs, particularly the solitude.
Visiting Namibia was a great decision. The dunes offer stunning forms to photograph, and the contrast of life against the desert is endlessly captivating. Sossusvlei, or “Sweet Water Pan,” is a kind of oasis within the Namib Sand Sea, accessible by vehicle via a long, single-lane road with a sandy stretch at the end. Once there, you have the opportunity to scale massive dunes deep in the desert—something that would be a major undertaking to reach by any other means. Here’s my Sossusvlei dune collection:
The dunes aren’t the only attraction here. The Spitzkoppe mountain rises dramatically out of vast, wide-open vistas. The Skeleton Coast is strange, bleak, adventurous, and otherworldly. Kaokoland and Damaraland transport you away from the developed world entirely, immersing you in the land of nomadic peoples and untouched wilderness. Etosha National Park is a celebration of wildlife, while the Kalahari is home to its own unique and remarkable communities. Stay tuned for the next part of the journey!
