Photo Story: How I Almost Lost My Gear to a Sandstorm for an “Alien” 

A sand quarry straight out of Mars, an “alien” in a silver jumpsuit, and ribbons of light twisting through the sunset. That was the game plan for a photoshoot that quickly turned into a full-blown battle against the wind and sand. Here’s the story behind the photo, what the sudden sandstorm ruined, and how much it cost to clean my camera after it was all over.

Earlier this year, I spent a month at a spa in Karlovy Vary. After a week of pampering and relaxation, I felt the creative urge once again. Once my stay was over, I hit the road to explore the area and look for interesting locations to take photos. During one of these scouting trips, I stumbled upon a place that immediately captivated me.

Discovering the sand quarry

I noticed an empty area near a body of water on the map. A quarry? I had to check it out. When I arrived, I felt like a kid in a candy store. Endless sand, giant tire tracks, and zero greenery. It looked like the African desert, or the surface of Mars. While I haven’t been to either place, this was exactly how I imagined it. 

This is what the amazing location looked like during the day. 

I snapped a quick photo and texted it to my friends Eva and Lucie, with whom I’ve collaborated on shoots before and live nearby. Their replies made me laugh: Oh yeah, that’s our local sandpit…Do you want to shoot there? We’re in!” 

The alien concept 

We headed out the very next day. We came up with an alien visitor concept: bold makeup by makeup artist Eva, a braided wig that the girls managed to find at the last minute, and a silver jumpsuit I happened to have. Perfect for an alien! 

We met up for the photoshoot just before sunset with a plan to cover two scenes. First, we shot knee-deep in mud with pyrotechnics, aiming to capture the colors and brightness of the twilight sky. Then we moved to the sand.

When the wind picked up

The beginning felt almost idyllic. Lucie was posing, Eva was helping me with the lights, and one light was on a stand. Every now and then, a light breeze would sweep through, but we were so focused on the photoshoot that we didn’t even notice. But then the wind began to interfere with our artistic vision. First, it started blowing harder, and then it blew nonstop, with sand flying at us from every direction. The girls could barely keep their eyes open. Yes, that dreamy expression in the photo was mainly because Lucie was fighting to protect her eyes. And standing wasn’t easy either, since the wind almost knocked her over multiple times.   

Meanwhile, I had to keep picking up the light stand because it fell over at least five times, and battling the wind to get a decent light trail without being blown off balance myself. At one point, I needed to switch to a wider lens, but I couldn’t even think about it in these conditions. Opening my camera bag and exposing my gear to the elements would have been a mistake.

Even so, we pushed through. The girls were troopers and handled the entire photoshoot with admirable dedication. They even thanked me afterward for an unforgettable experience. Fortunately, as the sandstorm began to die down, I was able to review my results. It was worth it! I ended up with a series of images that we were all happy with. This particular photo is one of my favorites. The ribbons of light float around our alien, and their glow contrasts against the harsh, otherworldly landscape. This is exactly the atmosphere I dreamed of for this shoot. 

Every adventure has its price

Every adventure comes at a price. And sometimes that price can be measured. Sand was everywhere—in my backpack, my bag, my pockets, my underwear, on the light brushes, and in every tiny crevice of the camera body. The sand didn’t just settle on its exterior; it covered the entire chamber. It’s probably stuck in my zoom lens forever, and when I got home, the tripod threads were so stiff they felt like grinding flour in a mill.

As soon as I got back to Prague, I took my camera to a service center. I found out that cleaning the inside of the camera would cost me about 2,500czk (USD$115). I didn’t even dare to ask how much it would cost to clean the zoom lens. At that point, buying a replacement would probably be cheaper, plus a new camera body while I’m at it. Still, I have no regrets. The photos you remember long after pressing the shutter button are sometimes the ones taken precisely when things get a little out of control. That’s also how some of the greatest friendships are formed. And this sandpit gave us not only a great series of shots, but also a story we’ll be telling for years to come.

What about you? What’s the highest price you’ve paid for a photograph? Broken gear, ruined clothing, a tripod covered in mud, or worse? Share your stories below—I can’t be the only one!