The Wahiba Sands are a popular desert destination in Oman. Located in the eastern part of the country, they border the Arabian Sea and are just a convenient 2-hour drive from Muscat. While there are many tourist accommodations in the area, I prefer to camp. It’s best to avoid the summer months when temperatures can soar to nearly 50 degrees Celsius. The winter months offer a more pleasant climate with cooler temperatures and less dust.
This photo was taken before dawn on a chilly December morning. I climbed a tall dune, planning to capture the rising sun. While waiting, I noticed the sand transforming into a rich red colour, illuminated by the first light of day. I quickly set up my camera with a wide-angle lens on the tripod and took a few test shots to check the exposure and depth of field. This beautiful light and sand colour lasted only for a fleeting moment.
I aimed to compose the shot to emphasise the patterns in the sand starting at my feet and leading up to the top of the dune on the left. I appreciated the “Z” shape created by the combination of the sand pattern, which ran through the middle of the frame, and the ridge of the sand dune. Using a 16mm lens on my Fujifilm APSC camera provided a nice wide view, allowing me to arrange the essential elements in the frame effectively.
Satisfied with the images I had captured, I sat down on the sand to enjoy the tranquillity of a desert sunrise.
