SandS Of Time

The Picture

The sand hills and clay pan at Lake Everard in the outback of South Australia have been a regular overnight stop for photographer Trevern Dawes

en route from Lake Gairdner to Coober Pedy.

Over many visits, a collection of sand scapes have been captured with a few featuring in previous Light Works. The last visit was entirely different because of recent rain, dark skies and the threat of more rain. It all seemed a rather dismal prospect with the main concern being the weather that might lock up the roads for days. As it turned out some dramatic situations prevailed with one in particular emphasising the need to ‘grab it when you can’.

The Photographer

Trevern Dawes has the rare distinction of being a contributor to the very first issue of this

magazine when it was launched back in June 1979. He is still as passionate about photography now as he was back then, and continues to write about many areas of image-making, and taking pictures for both books and magazine articles.

The Equipment

Canon EOS 5D Mark II D-SLR fitted with the general-purpose wide-angle EF 17-40mm zoom. Aperture-priority auto exposure control at ISO 800 sensitivity, and manual focusing.

The Technique

Very dull lighting meant that the usual ISO 200 sensitivity setting would be too low to give the desired combination of shooting with a hand-held shutter speed and sufficient depth-of-field via a mid-range aperture of f8.0. Consequently, the sensitivity was pushed up to ISO 800, knowing that this would not cause any major concerns with image noise. A heavy tripod would have been another solution, but was not used here because of the difficulty of the terrain and the need for wet weather gear.

How It Was Done

After exploring the sand hills and working with a surface pitted with raindrops under a dark, gloomy sky, the clay pan became the final target for the day. The surface at the southern end had a most unusual pattern of drainage lines. A series of shots was taken and the following morning organised for another inspection when, hopefully, the lighting might be better. It started to rain early in the evening creating the need to move the vehicle to more stable ground near the main road. Back on location at dawn, those fascinating patterns had gone, washed away by the rain.

Tricks Of The Trade

Landscapes can be one of the most demanding and frustrating realms of photography which is why obtaining a successful shot is immensely rewarding. When a situation looks good, you must capture it immediately and never expect to be able to repeat or improve your coverage the next day, let alone the next hour. Although a location like Lake Everard normally is associated with dry weather and clear skies, you cannot always expect such circumstances. Even in the most unlikely weather, it always pays to at least check out the possibilities and use seemingly hopeless conditions to advantage. Just around the corner or beyond the next sand hill may lie something special.

Degree Of Difficulty (Out of 10)

The adverse weather conditions initially held little promise of adding more shots to the Lake Gairdner collection, yet allowed some remarkable landscapes to be captured that ought to be classified as strictly one-off. Lowangled sunlight in red sand hills can produce intense colour and striking groove patterns created by the wind, but in totally different conditions landscapes can still be found – as if to suggest – you must never be discouraged. A striking landscape to warrant a maximum rating.

Can You Try This At Home?

The prospect for pleasant photographic surprises on the home front may well be limited, but there will always be times and situations when some great shots can be organised. Be ready to respond and make the most of the opportunities.