The Pinnacles Desert is a stunning landscape that offers photographers the chance to capture striking images of ancient limestone formations set against vibrant desert sands. Sunrise and sunset are the prime times to photograph the Pinnacles, as the soft, golden light and long shadows create dramatic and surreal scenes. Whether you’re an amateur or a seasoned photographer, these tips will help you make the most of the lighting and landscape at the Pinnacles Desert.

1. Arrive Early for Sunrise and Stay Late for Sunset

Timing is everything when it comes to sunrise and sunset photography. Arrive 30-45 minutes before sunrise or sunset to set up your equipment and scout out the best compositions. The moments before and after the sun crosses the horizon (known as the blue hour) offer soft, diffused light that can add a dreamy quality to your images. Staying a little longer after sunset can also give you beautiful twilight colors.

Tip: Use an app like PhotoPills or The Photographer’s Ephemeris to track the exact times of sunrise and sunset and plan your shots accordingly.

Image © Tourism Western Australia

2. Use the Golden Hour Light

The golden hour — the period just after sunrise and before sunset — offers soft, warm light that enhances the colors of the desert sand and limestone spires. This light is much more flattering than the harsh midday sun and brings out the textures and details of the Pinnacles.

• For sunrise: The warm light of the rising sun casts a beautiful golden glow over the desert, creating soft shadows and emphasizing the natural color of the Pinnacles.
• For sunset: As the sun sets, the light becomes even warmer, casting deep, dramatic shadows and turning the landscape into a palette of reds, oranges, and purples.

Tip: Shoot with the sun low in the sky to take advantage of the long shadows it creates, adding depth and contrast to your photos.

3. Play with Shadows and Contrast

The Pinnacles Desert is particularly striking due to the way the limestone formations cast long shadows on the sand. At sunrise and sunset, the shadows are elongated, creating a dramatic interplay between light and dark that can add a sense of depth and mystery to your images.

• Experiment with side lighting: Position yourself so the sun is hitting the Pinnacles from the side, which will highlight the textures and create dynamic shadows.
• Use backlighting: Capture the sun behind the Pinnacles for a silhouette effect, particularly when the sky is full of colors at sunrise or sunset. This can create powerful, dramatic images with the spires outlined against a glowing sky.

Tip: Focus on using shadows to emphasize the shapes and forms of the Pinnacles, and experiment with different angles to find the most dramatic compositions.

4. Shoot in Manual Mode for Control

Shooting in manual mode gives you greater control over your exposure settings, allowing you to adjust for changing light conditions during sunrise and sunset. Here are some key settings to consider:

• Aperture (f-stop): Use a smaller aperture (higher f-stop, such as f/8 to f/16) to increase the depth of field, ensuring that both the Pinnacles and the distant horizon are in focus.
• Shutter speed: Adjust your shutter speed based on the available light. During the golden hour, you can use slower shutter speeds to capture the soft light, but as it gets darker, you may need to increase the ISO or use a tripod for longer exposures.
• ISO: Keep the ISO as low as possible (ISO 100-400) to avoid noise in your images, especially during the bright part of the golden hour. Increase it only when necessary, such as during the blue hour.

Tip: Bracket your shots (take multiple exposures) to capture the full dynamic range of light during sunrise and sunset, then blend them in post-processing.

5. Use a Tripod for Stability

A tripod is essential for sunrise and sunset photography, as it allows you to use slower shutter speeds without introducing camera shake. This is especially important as the light fades after sunset or before sunrise when longer exposures are needed.

• Long exposures: With a tripod, you can experiment with long exposures to capture the smooth transition of light or even create star trails if you're staying for night photography.
• HDR: If you want to capture both the bright highlights of the sky and the darker foreground, using a tripod will enable you to take multiple bracketed exposures for high dynamic range (HDR) photography.

Tip: Use a remote shutter release or the self-timer function on your camera to prevent any camera shake during long exposures.

6. Experiment with Compositions

The Pinnacles offer a variety of shapes and sizes, so take the time to explore the landscape and try different compositions. Instead of sticking to wide-angle shots, which capture the entire landscape, consider more intimate close-ups of individual formations or small groups of Pinnacles.

• Foreground interest: Look for rocks, plants, or shadows that can add foreground interest and lead the viewer’s eye into the scene.
• Leading lines: Use the shadows or natural curves in the landscape to create leading lines that guide the viewer's eye through the composition.
• Rule of thirds: Position the Pinnacles or the horizon off-center to create more dynamic and visually engaging images.

Tip: Walk around and change your perspective — crouching low or shooting from a higher angle can drastically change how the Pinnacles are framed against the sky.

7. Capture the Sky and Clouds

The desert sky at sunrise and sunset is often full of vibrant colors, from deep oranges and reds to purples and pinks. Incorporating the sky into your composition can enhance your photos and create a beautiful backdrop for the Pinnacles.

• Clouds: Clouds can add drama and texture to your images. Broken clouds, in particular, reflect the golden light of the rising or setting sun and can create a spectacular scene.
• Starbursts: If you’re photographing the sun as it rises or sets just behind a Pinnacle, try narrowing your aperture (f/16 or higher) to create a starburst effect, where the sun appears as a sharp, radiating star.

Tip: Use a graduated neutral density (ND) filter to balance the exposure between the bright sky and the darker foreground, allowing you to capture both without overexposing the sky or underexposing the Pinnacles.

Image © Tourism Western Australia

8. Stay for Astrophotography

The Pinnacles Desert is a fantastic location for astrophotography due to its remote location and low light pollution. If you're visiting at sunset, consider staying after dark to capture the Milky Way or star trails over the eerie landscape.

• Milky Way: The Milky Way is often visible in the night sky, especially during the months from April to September. Capture it rising above the Pinnacles for a truly magical shot.
• Star trails: For a creative effect, try shooting long exposures (several minutes or even hours) to capture the movement of the stars across the sky.

Tip: Use a wide-angle lens with a large aperture (f/2.8 or lower) for astrophotography, and increase your ISO (around 1600-3200) to capture the light of the stars. Use a long exposure (15-30 seconds) to capture as much detail as possible.

9. Post-Processing Tips

Once you’ve captured your images, post-processing can help enhance the colors, contrast, and details in your photos. For sunrise and sunset shots, you may want to focus on:

• Adjusting exposure: Use software like Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop to fine-tune the exposure and bring out details in the shadows without blowing out the highlights.
• Enhancing colors: Boost the vibrancy or saturation to emphasize the warm tones of the sky and desert. Be careful not to overdo it, as this can make the image look unnatural.
• Sharpening: Sharpen the edges of the Pinnacles and the textures in the sand to make them stand out.

Tip: If you've bracketed your exposures, use HDR techniques to blend the images and create a balanced exposure that retains details in both the shadows and highlights.

Image © Grahame Kelaher

Final Thoughts

Capturing the Pinnacles Desert at sunrise and sunset provides an opportunity to create breathtaking, dramatic photographs of one of Australia’s most unique landscapes. By using the right equipment, experimenting with composition, and taking advantage of the soft, golden light, you can turn your visit to the Pinnacles into a memorable photography adventure.