Honorable Mention
Desert Devotion
DESCRIPTION
A young couple shares a special moment at Deadvlei in the Namib Desert. It's almost impossible to avoid people when photographing at Deadvlei these days as it has become such a popular spot for tourists visiting Namibia. I first saw the remarkable natural phenomena in 2002 and I had the place to myself then but this image was captured in 2025 as hundreds of people descended on the now famous salt pan. I was composing this shot of the dead tree skeletons with a telephoto lens but the young couple walked into the scene and embraced. They were dressed in white in what must have been a special occasion for them - perhaps an engagement celebration? I snapped off a couple of frames regardless and was pleasantly surprised on reviewing the photos on how much they added to the mood and feel of my intended image. Not only did they provide a sense of scale, but they added emotion and intrigue. The brightly clad, embracing couple contrasted with the dark and ominous shapes of the twin trees. The living vs the dead. The red hue of the dunes (slightly enhanced) convey a feeling of love and connection between the pictured man and woman and their presumed love for the natural world in which they are celebrating. AUTHOR
I am a professional photographer based in Wellington, New Zealand, specialising in images of the built environment - residential, commercial and community spaces. Photography is also a hobby, although sadly neglected in recent years I must admit. For me, the latter is a means of more authentic and creative expression and an opportunity to connect with the natural world. That's the way I got into photography in the first place, almost 30 years ago now. It helped me to navigate the turbulent waters of early adulthood as I struggled to find and ground myself. It gave me purpose and a way to connect with the world that was not so analytical, or thought based if you like - learning to see the physical world as shapes, lines and textures was a revelation to me, instead of just objects with conceptual labels. It was many years later before I started working as a professional photographer, after trying and failing to live in the 9 to 5 world with my science and technology background and I feel much more balanced as a result. But I miss those early days of experimentation and discovery. Earlier this year and after a long absence, I travelled to my spiritual home of Southern Africa, where I grew up and rediscovered some of that earlier magic of photographing for the joy of it. All of the images submitted here are from this recent trip. 