Movement and life add a lot of interest to landscape imagery. While in the desert in Namibia photographing I took this image:

Other than the tree on the right there does not appear to be much life around in this place. The tree on the left has already given up the fight to survive in this harsh environment. Having both trees in the scene tell a story and speak of life and death. But what if there is no visible life in the scene to capture? How do we then show life?

          Movement shows life. Movement speaks of change. Movement brings the dune to life because the dune is walking. Slowly the dune is marching along from left to right. Movement adds action, drama and life. The very conditions that make it unpleasent for us to be there and witness this change is what makes for better photographs. Sure the wind was howling. Yes we got sand blasted. Oh, did I mention sand in our eyes and in our gear? The wind is cold. Events such as this can be outright miserable.

          But this is the very time to be there, to photograph. This is when we get to see moving dunes rather than dune statues posing as dead objects just sitting there. Brave the elements because it is then when our images show movement and life (always be safe and place safety first). Even when shooting dead sand try to show movement because movement shows life.

• Perhaps show some tracks on the sand

• Photograph a tuft of grass sticking out of the sand

• Work with the ripples in the sand

• Rejoice when the wind comes up and capture movement

• Go during windy times, stormy times (as long as it is safe to do so)

Movement and life lights up most dead scenes. Look for it and show it.