An Early Morning Deadvlei Photo Session
Dis Sondagoggend. Dis so vroeg dis nog donker buite – en in Desember kom die son baie vroeg op. Ek kort koffie. Dis al wat ek weet. Sterk koffie. Ek maak vinnig klaar, want as daar een ding is wat ek in die laaste 24uur geleer het – hierdie mense het die vermoë om baie vinnig klaar te maak. Ek het net my koffie ingegooi toe die Hilux stop. Ek gryp my kamera sak, my koffie en waai ‘n soen na die drie manne wat rustig ontwaak… ek is oppad Dooievlei toe, vir die die tweede keer in minder as 24uur. Die pasgetroudes lyk verbasend vars. Ek vermoed die ouderdom begin nou ernstig teen my tel.
Hans en Ranelda wou gister, die oggend voor hul troue, Dooievlei aan hul familie gaan wys en het vanoggend gehou vir hul couple foto’s. Dis heelwat koeler as gister se poging. Die lig is blou-blou. Skoon. Nie ‘n wolkie in sig nie. Ranelda tower ‘n hoed op en my hart bons… want sy lyk absoluut stunning en met daai hoed! Oh boy – het ek genoeg spasie op my kaarte? Is my batterye vol gelaai? En so begin die allermooiste foto sessie tussen die oranje-rooi-bruin duine van Sossusvlei. Dis asof die dooie bome in stilte saam glimlag, hande klap en die oomblik saam met my geniet. Dit wat ek op my kamera vasvang is maar net ‘n gedeelte van wat ek voor my sien.
Iewers is ‘n Duitser besig om die trou waltz vir hulle te fluit… elke nou en dan stop iemand, klap hande, wens geluk. En met elke stop en gelukwensing, glimlag Hans wyer – hierdie mooi bruid is syne! Die lug is kraak-vars-koel. Dit ruik soos dou, nat duine en Vryheid. Net voordat die son die oorlog teen die koel oggend liggie wen, wat nog in die wit vallei lê, pak ons op en begin terug stap. Oorwinning. Ek glo, nee, ek weet, hierdie vroeg oggend se opstaan, was uit en uit die moeite werd.
Where Light Meets Silence: Choosing the Right time for Deadvlei
As early as possible. As early as you can get into the park. As early as the ranger says yes… No matter the time of the year, when the sun clears Big Daddy and beats down into Dead Valley with no interference, the sweat starts pouring, and your skin dries out just after you turn into a tomato. The earlier, the crisper the air, the greater the contrast in the photos. The better you look.
What people don’t tell you is that Namibia gets so hot that we have heat waves from around 11 am, which makes the photos look blurry. There is nothing you can do about these waves. They can ruin a photo quicker than a frown. Unless you are aiming to look like a National Geographic photo with zebras walking across the salt pans in the heat of the day with simmering waves blurring their lines, this is not a time for photos in Dead Valley.
What about Golden Hour sunset photos?
Not a bad option, but the heat will be lingering in the pan where it has been cooking the whole afternoon. Those orange dunes attract and hold the heat far longer than you could think. Though the light is stunning, the skies will be changing colour – the heat may still be a factor. Also, remember that the orange of the sunset skies amplifies the orange of the dunes and reflects rather interestingly on lighter skin tones.
My vote is thus with the crispy, blue morning light before the sun turns me into a raisin and my camera into a frying pan.
Hi!
My name is Mariëtte, and I’m a bit of a storyteller. Whether it is with my camera or with a keyboard, I love a good story. I love the stories of the people who I meet. People who make an imprint on my skin. Or the people who believe in me, enough to tell their stories.
Because I love stories, I would love to tell your story. If you can picture yourself in my photos or find yourself in one of my characters, do contact me. I love to talk. And I listen even better. So let’s do it. Let’s write your story.
Let's get planning!
How can I tell your story?
follow along...
@mariette_du_toit_photography
Mariëtte du Toit
I'M A BLEND OF EDITORIAL POSING AND DOCUMENTARY STYLE — TIMELESS, PERSONAL, EFFORTLESS, AND ENTIRELY YOU.
