Partners Content – 8th March 2013
Blog
Ask any photographer what they think of Namibia, and you're bound to catch a twinkle in
their eye or a cheeky smile on their face. With boundless landscapes, contrasting colours,
wondering wildlife and hardly any people in sight, it is certainly a photographer's
paradise.
But trying to capture the sheer magnitude and constantly changing light can be a tricky
business. We got in touch with professional nature photographers from around the world
who have had the pleasure of travelling to Namibia. Each week we will interview one of
them, to get the tips and tricks of Namibia photography.
CAPTURE NAMIBIA: Photography Tips from Marsel van Oosten
Marsel van Oosten is a nature photographer from The Netherlands. You might know
him from his spellbinding timelapse video "Namibian Nights", in which he compiled
16,000 night time images shot over a two year period. A spectacular feat. And his
other photographs are just as impressive. We tapped Marsel for the secret to
shooting such incredible photos in Namibia and found out why he keeps coming
back for more.
Tell us about your most unforgettable moment while shooting in Namibia.
I've got two unforgettable moments in Namibia. The first time I flew over the red sand
dunes near Sossusvlei in a microlight airplane was spectacular. So spectacular actually,
that scenic flights over the dunes have been part of our Namibia photo tour ever since.
Another unforgettable moment was my first night shoot in Namibia. Never before had I
seen so many stars - truly mesmerizing. Night photography is also an important part of
our tour, as Namibia is simply perfect for it.
Photo by ©Marsel van Oosten | Squiver Photo Tours | squiver.com
How does Namibia compare to other places you’ve photographed?
Namibia is very different from all the other countries in Southern Africa. It's one of the
least densely populated countries in the world, and that doesn't go unnoticed - it's
usually very quiet once you're away from the cities. As a result, there is also very little
light pollution, and that is good for night photography. Politically, it is one of the most
stable countries in the region and the people are very friendly. Prices are very
reasonable and the infrastructure is very good and well maintained. In terms of
landscapes, Namibia is unrivaled. The fairytale-like quivertrees in the south, the surreal
desert ghost town near the coast, the highest red sand dunes in the world near
Sossusvlei, and the hauntingly beautiful valley Deadvlei. Also, the wildlife viewing at
Etosha is also very good, so Namibia has a lot to offer. The challenges are similar to
those in other African countries - it can be brutally hot, distances between primary
locations are often big, and in some places it can be very dusty. Nothing bad enough to
keep us away though.
Photo by ©Marsel van Oosten | Squiver Photo Tours | squiver.com
Which photos shot in Namibia are you most proud of?
My first star trail image from Deadvlei is one of my favorites because the star trails fit so
well with the surreal location, and I was only the second photographer in the world to
have shot star trails there. As a result it is also one of my most popular images - it has
been published countless times, and it is part of a series of photographs that won me the
title International Nature Photographer Of The Year at the International Photography
Awards in the US. I do a lot of night photography in Namibia, and over the years many
people have started to do the same. When people start copying you, you know you're
doing good.
Photo by ©Marsel van Oosten | Squiver Photo Tours | squiver.com
In an effort to create something truly unique again, my wife Daniella and I shot a night
timelapse video in Namibia - the first ever made. It took us two years to shoot, it was a
lot of work, but it was all worth it when we won First Prize at the Travel Photographer
Of The Year awards with it.
Video by ©Marsel van Oosten | Squiver Photo Tours | squiver.com
The third shot that I'm still very proud of, is a photograph of a blue room filled with sand
that I took in the deserted diamond mining town Kolmanskop. It's rather
straightforward, but the timing is perfect and so is the light. It was published as a double
page spread in National Geographic magazine and it is without a doubt my most copied
shot.
Photo by ©Marsel van Oosten | Squiver Photo Tours | squiver.com
When going on a Namibian photographic expedition, what is your equipment of
choice? And what do you never leave home without?
I always bring two or three camera bodies and four lenses, all Nikon; a 14-24/2.8, a 2470/2.8, a 70-200/2.8 and a 200-400/4. A tripod with a good ballhead is also essential. I
never leave home without my iPhone - for weather predictions, sunrise, moonrise,
sunset and moonset times, and for calculating the position of the stars at any given time.
A photographer friend is desperate to capture the best of Namibia. What top 3 tips
would you give them?
#1 First determine what you want to photograph. For wildlife, you need to go in the dry
season. If you want spectacular clouds, you need to go in the rainy season. If you don't
like the heat, you should not visit in summer, etc. There's a best time and place for every
subject.
#2 Take your time. Namibia is a big country and it has a lot to offer. Distances are often
quite big between destinations, so you won't be able to see the whole country in two
weeks. From my experience it's nicer to spend more time at fewer locations than to rush
from highlight to highlight.
#3 If you want your visit to be efficient and productive, just join us on our Namibia
Untamed photo tour. You'll travel with a small group of like-minded enthusiasts, and we
will make sure that you're standing in the perfect spot at the right time. We will also
make sure you return with stunning images through location briefings, in the field tips,
image reviews and night photography instructions.
Photo by ©Marsel van Oosten | Squiver Photo Tours | squiver.com
About Marsel van Oosten
Marsel van Oosten is a professional nature photographer
from The Netherlands. His images are featured in galleries and
museums, he is a regular contributor for National Geographic,
and he recently won the title International Nature Photographer
Of The Year for the second year in a row. Marsel and his wife
Daniella run specialized wildlife and landscape photography
tours and workshops for small groups of all experience levels to
spectacular locations worldwide. For more information
visit www.squiver.com
Facebook
"In terms of landscapes Namibia is unrivalled" Professional nature
photographer, Marsel van Oosten Photography, shares tips & stunning images from his
travels to Namibia. Read this, the first in a series of posts on how to Capture Namibia,
here: http://bit.ly/YPFliS
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World Nomads are in filming in Namibia, getting to hear the stories and meet the
people that make this country so fascinating. See more here http://bit.ly/XqEbcA
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Whip up your own taste of Namibia with this African-Portuguese inspired Namibian
dish (now that's a mouthful!)
Recipe here: http://bit.ly/17gH1F1
Taken from My Hungry Heart: Notes from a Namibian kitchen by Antoinette de
Chavonnes Vrug, Photo by Hentie Burger
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A Shebeen in Northern Namibia - The north is a culturally rich and fascinating region,
often forgotten by tourists. Learn more about it and the Owambo
people http://bit.ly/10v2Rjf
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With scenery this beautiful it’s no surprise Namibia features in The Best Luxury Safari
Packages for 2013. Read more here: http://su.pr/35NCuk
Photo by Tala.com.na
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Namibia is home to the world’s largest populations of free-roaming black rhinos. Just
one of many conservation accomplishments to be proud of. More here:
http://bit.ly/YzQnI6
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"In terms of landscapes, Namibia is unrivaled" Tips & #photography by Marsel
van Oosten @Squiver http://bit.ly/YPFliS
WIKA time! A taste of German culture in Namibia, complete with beer & oompah
music http://ow.ly/jRxO2 #carnival via @TravelNewsNamibia
"The endless openness of Namibia" a traveller's perspective
http://bit.ly/W2LtlJ via @thejohnnysierra
If anyone can do "remote" its Namibia! Nominate & vote for your favourite
remote Namibian hotel @CNTraveler http://ow.ly/jZLsX
Klaus Brandstaetter captures the Namib sky at its best
http://bit.ly/16WFFwj via @500px_up
Herero woman uses cellphone to run her craft business in very remote area
pic.twitter.com/tJAJAAxHYA via @InvestorPumba
#ThreeWordsSheWantsToHear "Wedding in Namibia!"
http://ow.ly/i/1RpPX #wedding #weddingdestination #honeymoon
#Namibia in The best luxury safari packages for 2013 http://su.pr/35NCuk via
@placestogoblog
"Lions on your right!" http://ow.ly/jV1Iw Etosha #wildlife photo blog via
@WildJunket
Behind the scenes with @WorldNomads in Namibia http://bit.ly/XqEbcA
Love #lions? Walk from Windhoek to Gaberone with @Walkingforlions
http://ow.ly/jTDxs
The grace and beauty of the running cheetah in Namibia via @nezakos
http://fb.me/23Hvmk5AK
RT @EmmaOdendaal Scorching hot day in Sossusvlei. I'm dusty, sweaty, tired
and completely in love with Namibia #greatnamibianescape
pic.twitter.com/zJxgFLiaE4