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3.5 amazing hours, Namib Desert (#8 in series)

 

 

 

I took the featured image at 7.21 pm, 6 minutes before sunset, in the Sossusvlei area on 21 November 2022, looking south/ish from Kulala Desert Lodge.

Had I an additional pair of eyes in the back of my head, they would at that moment have been looking north/ish at a very different sight -the suddenly-silhouetted southeastern edge of the Namib’s “sand sea”.

However, even if my single pair of eyes had maintained an unmoving, “fixed focus, static camera” perspective they would have very soon delivered a beautiful example of “exactly the same, but completely different”…as this post’s final image illustrates.

Happily, I could – and did – move my head, hands, feet and camera.

The image below was taken just one minute later.

 

 

Rainbow, Namib Desert, circa 40 ks east of Sossusvlei, 7.22 pm, 21 November 2022. All photos copyright Doug Spencer.

 

 

 

Half an hour earlier, when we had emerged from “our” cottage/tent, I was very aware that wind – or rain – or windblown sand – could suddenly return.

Accordingly, I grabbed just the one camera, with telephoto lens attached, plus a “dry bag” to protect it.

I knew it would be very foolish to “juggle” two cameras, or to change lenses on one camera, and thereby risk damaging its sensor.

So, only my eyes enjoyed a wide-angle view, and you’ll just have to take my word that we were briefly treated to an enormous, full rainbow.

 

 

 

Inselberg + rainbow, Namib Desert, circa 40 ks east of Sossusvlei, 7.23 pm, 21 November 2022. All photos copyright Doug Spencer.

 

 

 

Rainbow, one minute before sunset, Namib Desert, circa 40 ks east of Sossusvlei. All photos copyright Doug Spencer.

 

 

The second of this post’s final two images is the aforementioned example of “exactly the same, but completely different”, taken just four minutes after the featured image.

 

 

 

Namib Desert, 7.25 pm – 2 minutes before sunset – 21 November 2022, circa 40 ks east of Sossusvlei. All photos copyright Doug Spencer.

 

 

 

7.25 pm, 21 November 2022 – “same as /completely different from” this post’s featured image. All photos copyright Doug Spencer.

 

This little series’ final chapter looks in the opposite direction, as this day transitioned to dusk.

Published in Americas and Eurasia and Africa nature and travel photographs