Read What It Is Like On A Photography Safari In Namibia

I have traveled all over this globe in the pursuit of witnessing nature in all its glory. It's constantly a goal for me to capture images that will convey the emotion I felt the very moment I clicked the shutter. I mainly do this for my family and friends back home that are not lucky enough to do what I do for a living. I want them to experience the world through my eyes.

As I sit here thinking, there are very few places that offer me that opportunity at every stop throughout a workshop. Namibia is one of those locations where the beauty that surrounds me is apparent every day of the trip – enormous sand dunes that seem to touch the sky – intimate wildlife encounters – buildings that are being swallowed up by the sands of time – night skies that reveal more stars and planets that are visible to the naked eye.

Allow me to reveal more about some of my favorite destinations that we visit on our journey through this magical country.

The swirling desert sands, pink granite mountains, and famous desert dunes have some of the world’s best scenery to explore. Watching the sun dance on the curls of the dune edges creates a stunning visual. And while you can explore this by the ground, a doors-off helicopter flight early in the morning, and late in the day offer some of the world's most incredible opportunities for abstract dune photography.

The abandoned diamond-mining town of Kolmonskop is the holy grail for abandoned enthusiasts. A once thriving town that pulled more diamonds out of the earth than anywhere else is now left for nature to reclaim her. The sands are slowly creeping through the windows and doors and dunes seem to be building from the inside out. Thus creating the opportunity to create some magical images early in the mornings, and late in the day when the sun helps you create three-dimensional images with your camera. I never get tired of visiting this location. Each visit brings another amazing location to photograph.

The otherworldly location, Deadvlei is a magical place. The first couple of times I visited this location I did what every photographer did, I went right for the Frans Lanting photo of the orange dunes behind the silhouetted dead camel thorn trees. As my photography matured, I started to admire how the sun painted the landscape with its winding shapes that seemed to draw the eye through the dead pan. The ethereal beauty that unfolds is mesmerizing. But it takes patience, and the photographic gift is one that you will surely never forget.

The lunar landscape and alien-looking trees of the Quiver Tree forest. Until I visited this location I had no idea that the naked eye could see that many stars with the naked eye. And the camera's view is even more spectacular. Photographing these unusual trees as a foreground element that is framed by some of the darkest skies on the planet is breathtaking.

Game drives in Etosha, and nighttime game viewing in Etosha National Park is all about quality over quantity. Game drives are not like they are in east Africa, they are about putting in the work to find your target species by day. By night, it's about making sure you are at the right resort where you can sit and safely admire animals like Rhinos and Elephants coming to the watering hole under the silence of the night skies. Listening to them walk, breathe and take a drink or a bath in the watering holes is a very intimate experience.

Finally, dancing, singing, and meeting the Himba people is one of my favorite photographic opportunities in Namibia. I have photographed people all over Africa, Asia, and Canada. A Himba tribe visit will forever be some of my favorite times beyond the camera with an indigenous tribe around the world. Their beauty and personalities seem to come through my images. I am sure a lot of that is that we get to know them on a personal level before we photograph them. It is the photoshoot I look forward to the most when I arrive in Namibia.

You should consider joining me in Namibia. I have started to go every year again. Check out all our Namibia workshops here.