Shooting in desert

[Leadr]

Check here trickphotographyhub.com

 

[JoeW27 1]

Gonna be shooting in the desert in a few days. Any of do's and dont's? I'm afraid to get sand or dust in the camera or damage a lens, etc. Thanks!

Watch footprints. Specifically...you see a sand dune with lovely windswept patterns so you walk to the top to then shoot down the dune...except you've just marred the pattern with your footprints. In that regard it's like shooting virgin powder in a snow scene. So pay attention to footprints and other clutter in the foreground.

Shooting at high noon or mid-day....expect raccoon eyes, glare, and lots of extremes. Adjust your WB to daylight/sunny. Totally agree about the water. Since a lot of color is going to be lost with the mid-day sun, try and visualize B&W....so look for lines and patterns in nature. You'll often get some good ones if you change your perspective (and get high or get low...squat down, climb up on the car, etc.). You'll definitely want filters (UV and polarizing), maybe a GND. Look for ways to use the reflection--shoot scenes reflected off of sunglasses or the window of a vehicle. Assuming you've got the AC running full blast in the vehicle, beware your lens fogging up/condensation getting in to a cold vehicle from a hot exterior.

 

[SCraig]

18-month-old zombie thread.