الشروق والغروب .. لقطات ممتعة في الصحاري .. مجلة فن التصوير اللبنانية _ ع٢٢

Sunrise and sunset shots are fun in the deserts

In the field of photography between jungles and in various natural and geographical conditions, we reach deserts, to review the most important foundations and obstacles in photographic work within desert conditions, and how to deal with our subjects, including animals, insects, and landscapes in deserts of all kinds, taking into account the role of weather in this field.

The simplified definition of deserts usually includes areas that receive less than 25 cubic centimeters of rain per year, about ten inches - but the fact confirms that irregular rainfall is the real influence of the control of the desert reality over a specific area, as it can be said that a very small percentage of Rain - ten percent of the average - may suffice for the growth and flowering of plants in a particular area, if the rain falls regularly throughout the year.

From here it can be confirmed that one of the important advantages of desert life is the ability to deal effectively with the advent and decline of moisture in sudden forms.
There are, for example, many dry regions that get their share of rain water as a result of sudden storms.
In spite of the fact that the usual appearance of the desert is drought and lack of activity, but it is the rare and unpredictable outbursts that preserve life and give the desert nature its advantages. These water outbursts suppress the plants grow quickly and the desert animals are active, although there are some deserts that do not know rainfall at all. This does not mean the absence of life at all, as these types of deserts are provided with the required moisture from the sea mist.
Here, we find that the natural life of these arid conditions depends on utilizing the water to the maximum extent ... An example of this is the mud frog
The desert, which is distinguished by its shivering feet, and which lives in the deserts of southwestern United States of America. This frog has adapted to live underground most of the day, as there is a coldness in the ground, and it does not go out to hunt moderately and search for its food except at night.
With the onset of rain, these frogs enter into a rapid mating and reproduction cycle, where the eggs are laid in water ponds that last only a short time, then the hatching is sterilized within two or three days, and then they turn into complete frogs after a month and a half.
This is the case of many desert dwellers, who work to seize the short opportunities that rain brings...

With reference to the existence of other organisms that were and still are able to reduce their need for surface water to a minimum, including the kangaroo rat, which was mainly dependent for its life on moisture, as is the case with its species, but it has now adapted to lose only a little of its body fluids, as it does not He sweats and his kidneys are five times more effective than the human kidneys, and from here he can retain most of the little water he gets so that he lives on the little moisture he derives from his diet based on dry seeds, and he never needs to drink water.

Photographic dilemmas

The active photography of the daily life of most desert animals is usually confined to the early morning and late afternoon periods, due to the heat dominating the daily life of the desert, and with the presence of animals of the species that go about their lives at night. Night photography methods can be used.
But deserts lack good coverage conditions such as in forests or some mountains makes it difficult, as it is also impossible to create hideouts, and we also point out that with the presence of the best climatic conditions in the desert, it is not possible to meet groups of desert animals at all, and it can be said that the activity It is almost non-existent in the middle of the day, which is fortunate, because the temperatures
The high level may cause serious damage to the film, equipment, and even the photographer himself.

Desert lighting
One of the most important difficulties that we will face in desert photography is the lighting problem with the open sky in general and with the sand and sparkling rocks that give very high levels of illumination, which may cause confusion and confusion from the visual point of view. Here we find that reading the number of light falling on the site is often more useful than the readings Direct exposure of the meter through the lens, as the situation here is similar to the case of photographing in a snow-covered nature, as it causes a weak exposure even when working with extreme accuracy.
At distances, thermal haze can reduce the light contrast ratio, resulting in a similarity in the color gradient with fuzzy images. In extreme cases, a visible defect may occur in the air over hot sand. Hence, when working with a lens with an extra focal length, we have to use a strong ultraviolet filter or a polarizing filter in order to improve the color saturation. We mention that heat haze and glare are more annoying in the middle of the day, when The lighting is also less attractive, with the sun directly above the head and with the lack of active animals, as mentioned above, and from here it can be said that the best solution is to avoid photographing at this time of the day.
With sunrise or sunset, deserts take on a pleasing beauty to look at, as the oblique solar rays emphasize the emergence of shapes and surfaces of sand and barren rocks...
The best photographs can be obtained during these periods of the day, within the desert conditions, to obtain sandy ripples - or even single grains of sand - that are very prominent, clear and aesthetic.

Film and equipment care
In spite of the many obstacles that we talked about during the rainy conditions, and the resulting damage to the cameras through the moisture seeping into the equipment, it cannot be said that with the conditions of the desert drought, we will find our cameras, films, and equipment safe from damages. With the absence of moisture, the air becomes laden with dust and sand, even if that Just a slight breeze, it will cause damage to the mechanical parts of the camera and its interior. Even dust particles can stick to the surface of the exposure film, which spoils the image, and this dust can also stick between the sensitive layer and any other surface, which leads to the appearance of horizontal scratches.
From here, photographers cover joints and cracks with adhesive tapes during photography in deserts. To prevent spare parts from leaking into the camera, as is the case with the same method to prevent moisture and water leakage.. It is also advisable in these circumstances to carry cameras in a sealed bag whenever they are unused, as the grains of sand that are thrown from the air can effectively wound the equipment.

It is also necessary to protect the front end of the lens, which will be subject to damage in particular, and the solution here is to use a UV filter all the time, because this filter can be replaced at a small cost, when it is exposed to damage instead of the lens. The biggest disaster of working in desert conditions is when we have to photograph during a sand storm. Here, it is possible to work using a nylon bag that wraps the camera and does not affect the work of the lens, according to the same method used for photography on the seashore or facing sea water.
Many deserts are exposed to extreme temperatures during the day, as the ratio in the defects exceeds 39 degrees Celsius - 100 degrees Fahrenheit - while it reaches 56 degrees in the open - 134 degrees Fahrenheit - here. Regardless of the difficulties faced by the photographer himself. The glue of the lens can also be spoiled or weakened, and the grease in the camera can flow as well, while the colored film will acquire a prominent color tinge, and with structures larger than 35 mm. The base of the film can warp under the influence of heat, pushing parts of the image out of focus.
However, most of the precautions that may be taken against heat do not exceed two phrases, avoid direct sunlight, and work to keep equipment in the coolest places available... It should be noted here that black things absorb heat more quickly, which calls us to protect the black surfaces of cameras and lenses from Hence, we have to choose camera bags that are characterized by white or metallic reflective surfaces, and among these bags are cold boxes coated with polystyrene styrofoam, of the type available as picnic bags. It is also possible to use a damp cloth that is placed on top of the camera bag and works to cool it to a limited extent. Good ventilation is also important in this area, and the film and equipment should be high off the ground whenever possible.