Free delivery on orders over £80Perspectives of Namibia
Namibia is a jewel in the crown of Africa. The nation is blessed with some of the most dramatic scenery on the continent, from the rolling dunes of the Namib Desert - the world's oldest - to the rugged coastline of the South Atlantic. "Namib" translates to "vast place" - a befitting name for one of the least crowded places on the planet.
Thanks to its progressive stance on conservation, Namibia retains much of its natural beauty and is home to a diverse range of wildlife that continues to thrive. In short, the county is a playground for adventurers looking to explore new frontiers.
In partnership with Namibian Tourism Board, Merrell teamed up with three European content creators Caroline, Gwilym C Pugh and Christian to journey across the country and document their experience. Powered by the new Merrell Zion hiker, the photographers - who were meeting for the first time - curated their own perspective of Namibia to tell their own stories of the adventure through their lens.
Drawing on themes including wildlife, landscapes, celestial objects, people and culture - the Collective members have created their own inspiring photo journals.
Gwilym Pugh, London
Instagram: @gwilymcpugh
I spend most of my free time outdoors because I enjoy the freedom and sense of insignificance it offers. The ability to switch off is invaluable especially when you spend a large percentage of time living and working in the city - it's important to break from the constant visual and audio over-stimulation of metropolitan life.
I love seeing and experiencing new things - new cultures are priceless. Namibia had been on my bucket list for some time, from previous experience I knew Africa was a magical place. Namibia is famed for being one of the least populated places on Earth and having the most incredible night skies.
My expectations didn't fall short - I was expecting it to be awesome and it truly was. The night sky was a real highlight - in the Namib it's like being the first man on Mars - looking up and seeing space come to life.
In recent years, my passion behind the camera has been wildlife - something that's bountiful in Namibia. I find the unpredictability of the subject really engaging - it's not possible to provide direction and it requires a high level of patience making the results even more rewarding. I was particularly pleased with the shot of the wolf and the seal. It's invigorating to capture such a raw, natural moment.
I often draw inspiration from other photographers' work. I'm always fascinated by what makes a good photo and try to reverse engineer the shot to find out exactly what it is I like about it. Christian and Carolin were great sources of inspiration - with each of us approaching the trip from different perspectives - it was interesting to see approaches to our subjects.
For me, the outdoors is a kind of faithful presence, it is intense and silent. It offers me a feeling of being much more grounded to the earth and connected to nature. I use the outdoors to strike the right work/life balance - it's a way to recharge the batteries and a source of energy and motivation.
Carolin Unrath, Germany
Instagram: @carounrath
When visiting foreign countries I love getting in touch with local people, their cultures and traditions. I try to dive deep into them and come home with lots of new stories to tell. I had been to Namibia before and I was excited about the nation's welcoming locals, the endless and vast horizons, the many faces of the desert and its breathtaking sunrises and sunsets.
People who have never been to the desert might expect something totally different - perhaps a homogenous, almost boring landscape. but in reality, it's the complete opposite. In the morning's everything seems very peaceful and quiet, but then, when the temperatures are rising, the scenery changes and there's a sense of hostility - it feels as though the sun is literally burning. After that part of the day, the light always gets more and more beautiful. Every sunset is unique and magical.
I work across many photographic genres including documentary, travel and adventure. I often talk about a multifaceted body of work, where aesthetic, light and contrasts to tell different stories.
It's the light that makes Namibia such a special place to photograph. Of course, the landscape is stunning and surreal, but it's crazy to see how the light changes the environment, especially the colours. It makes places much more other-worldly with the absence of light, or with the harsh, burning midday sun.
Christian Schartner, Austria
Instagram: @christianschartner.at
Nature has a powerful way of inspiring and relaxing me at the same time. Every day you spend outside is different.
I spend a lot of my time in the mountains, forests and on the slopes of my native Austria, This is where my passion for photography was born - a passion I've been fortunate enough to turn into a living. For me, photography is like a sport where you never really arrive at the top as there's always something else to learn or win. This is what inspires me.
The focal point of my photography is mainly nature and capturing striking moments. I draw inspiration from nature and light too, so for my photographic style, Namibia was the perfect place to explore these themes and offer my perspective on this beautiful country.
I was struck by the Namib desert for its sheer scale and beauty. From a photographic perspective, the sand dunes were the dream subject. The shapes and the way they dance across the skyline is awesome. Due to the bareness of the infinite landscapes, the shapes take on a greater role and the minimalism of the dunes provide the ideal canvas to experiment with form and lighting.
Beyond the desert, there are so many other areas to take inspiration from. Experimenting with night photography was incredible - I'd certainly recommend for photographers with this interest to add Namibia to their future plans. The darkness of night accentuates the sky making for incredibly dramatic photos that reveal Namibia's beauty in a different light.
Colour also played a meaningful role in the images I captured. Large parts of the country have distinctive orange and red tones that feature heavily throughout my images. Nature has a way of revealing colour palates that stop you in your tracks.
