AV News 193 - August 2013
The Sands of Time
Adri Van Oudheusden FPSSA
The Alexandria coastal dunefield is a sensitive and specialised habitat, an
eco-system with complex dune types which is constantly shaped by the wind,
rainfall, temperature and salinity. The sand has fascinating attributes, patterns,
colours and shapes.
The images for this AV were taken over a two day period. Just when I got
tired of photographing what felt to me as 'the same old thing', I would challenge
myself to really 'see', instead of just looking. Constantly, I made comparisons,
such as, 'Oh, this looks like . . ', or 'it could be . .' I changed my viewpoint and
perspective. The patterns, textures and colours kept me focused. The sun wasn't
too harsh and I photographed throughout the two days, keeping in mind the
direction the light was coming from. Changing lenses was a challenge, as the
wind would whip up the sand every now and again, but by turning my back to
the wind and using protective gear, it was possible to avoid getting sand into
the camera. The dunes lie perpendicular to the sea, which made for excellent
photography from the top of the dunes in the morning. The grasses and dune
vegetation at the top offered enough protection from the early morning breezes.
I photographed with Mozart's Clarinet Concerto in mind - I could hear the music
in the wind! This is my favourite piece of music when we travel, so I know it
well. This is very helpful when putting an AV together.
Putting the AV together was a challenge. I had to keep in mind the position
of the horizon lines, the colours, shapes and textures. Some third images did
not work, so I had to change many images around, which then had a domino
effect. (A third image comes about as the result of the length and type of
transition between two or more images - in itself resulting in an image that does
not exist, but one that is fleetingly perceived).
It is always a good idea to have a storyboard, similar to an essay. The little
feather on top of the dune, right at the end, summarised the whole AV for me.
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