Atacama
In the fall of 2014, I took a trip to Chile and made sure to visit the Atacama Desert. My primary goal was to see and document the star-studded skies, known as one of the clearest and brightest on the planet due to its minimal light pollution and atmospheric conditions.
But I was even more surprised when exploring other attractions in the region. I capture breathtaking images of the cosmos, but also gained a deep appreciation for the desert’s natural beauty and its importance as a location for astronomical observation. Did you know that 3 million years ago, parts of what is now the Atacama Desert were still under the ocean?!
In the opening shot you can see golden tufts of grass called ‘paja brava’, found in the high-altitude regions of the Andes and known for its resilience in extreme conditions. Notice the volcanic peaks in the background, they are part of the Andean volcanic belt which extends from Colombia to Chile, containing over 180 active volcanoes and it’s one of the world’s most extensive volcanic chains!
The picture of a tourist bus features one of the two sinkholes known as ‘Ojos del Salar’. Different from the saltier lagoons nearby, these pools are partially fed by fresh water, giving them this greenish hue.
I love how the pastel colors and minimalistic compositions in these pictures came together to create such unforgettable moments.
Camera: Nikon D5200
Lenses: Tokina AT-X Pro 11-16mm f/2.8 DX II and Nikon AF NIKKOR 80-200mm
Filter: Graduated Neutral Density
