Deep inside the Namibian desert lies a place that seems to be from another world: Dead Vlei - a former oasis, now a parched salt pan, framed by gigantic orange-coloured sand dunes whose edges glow almost surreally in the sunlight. The picture shows one of the typical dead camelthorn trees, framed by glowing sand, dark shadows and an intense blue sky. The scene looks like a composition of contrasts - and this is precisely where its power lies.
The tree stands as if frozen in time. Its branches reach upwards as if trying to hold on to something that has long since passed. Due to the extreme dryness, it has been preserved for centuries - not alive, but present. Its gnarled structure tells stories: of heat, of change, of duration. The sun casts long shadows on the light-coloured ground, creating depth. Light and dark together create what we call "silence".
Namibia is home to Dead Vlei, one of the most visually impressive motifs in Africa. Hardly any other place manages to capture the theme of transience and permanence so aesthetically. The landscape is barren - and yet full of colour. There is no chaos here, but a clear order in reduction.
Photographically, this scene is a masterpiece of composition: the contrast between sky, sand, tree and shadow creates an almost graphic image - an interplay of surfaces, shapes and symbolism. Nature photography condenses here into a kind of silent meditation.
As a mural, this motif appeals to people who are looking for depth, clarity and space - for example in living rooms, galleries, surgeries, hotels, offices or meditation rooms. It does not call out loudly - but it remains in the memory.
I have always enjoyed photography. Even when I was young, I took photos with the Beirette. It even happened to me once that I inserted a film twice ... and the photos I took were very interesting.
I then bought my digital SLR camera in 2014. The first photos..
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