#52weeksofnature Photo Contest Week 20 Winner
The winner of Week 20 of our #52weeksofnature photo contest is Matt Salmassian (@_mattsal). A camera, tripod and a little beginner’s luck is sometimes all you need to capture the magic of the desert. Matt has won $150 and is getting his winning image printed on a HippyTree t-shirt. Explore the Nature Photography Collective section on our site to view t-shirts of past winners.
Where was the image shot?
Colorado Desert, CA
What camera did you use and what were the settings?
Camera: Nikon D3300
Lens: Canon 18-55mm
Shutter Speed: 1/10
Aperture: f/4.0
ISO: 3200
Was there any special preparation required to capture the photo?
Not really; just a tripod, a shutter release cable and lots of beginner's luck.
How long have you been shooting?
I’ve been shooting since 2016, freshman year of high school. This photo was taken in late 2017.
What's your favorite subject matter to shoot?
I love shooting landscapes in the most remote places. While this photo doesn’t entirely show that, there’s an unexplainable satisfaction about finding a spot on your own.
Where would be your dream location to take photos?
I don’t really have that one “dream location”, but somewhere in that mix are spots I’ve searched out in the Mojave Desert and Sierra Nevada.
Who are some photographers that inspire you?
Turner Nelson (@tnellly), Thomas Heaton (@heatonthomas), Rudy Serrano (@rsphotolog) and Jakob Lilja-Ruiz (@jakob_lr).
What excites you about photography?
The places it takes me and the memories that go with every photo. You might have an idea about what you want to shoot, and get something completely different but equally as good.
