2022-04-02, 11:16 AM
I follow talented landscape photographer Ben Horne and highly recommend viewing the first thirty seconds of his latest episode of photographing Death Valley. This is one of my all time favorite short video segments out of hundreds that I've enjoyed over the years. I suggest that you view and listen carefully with your volume turned up a notch to these first thirty seconds here at this link before you read my explanation below of why I love it so much.
I loved the entire episode however I keep rewinding to view and listen to the first 30 seconds over and over again. Why?
With no dialog Ben has communicated the essence of Death Valley better than any other prior segment/episode on his entire YouTube channel. How?
Ben mixes his scene composition skills with his audio engineering skills. The introduction fades from black while the soundtrack kicks in enticing the viewer's curiosity as a perfect balance of the background wind with the tink, tink, tink, of the teabag tag tapping the mug which draws one into the dawn light softly framing as Ben’s hand reaches in from the side, pulling the steamy mug with a sensual sandpaper scraping while dragging the mug towards him.
The scene cuts away to distance with the comforting crunch crunch of boots on gravel leaving one settled in for another warm episode in Death Valley. To me this epitomizes sweet Death Valley mornings. Just the best ever!
I just played it again with my eyes closed to enjoy to audio and I detected just a hint of Ben swallowing a gulp of his morning tea?
I loved the entire episode however I keep rewinding to view and listen to the first 30 seconds over and over again. Why?
With no dialog Ben has communicated the essence of Death Valley better than any other prior segment/episode on his entire YouTube channel. How?
Ben mixes his scene composition skills with his audio engineering skills. The introduction fades from black while the soundtrack kicks in enticing the viewer's curiosity as a perfect balance of the background wind with the tink, tink, tink, of the teabag tag tapping the mug which draws one into the dawn light softly framing as Ben’s hand reaches in from the side, pulling the steamy mug with a sensual sandpaper scraping while dragging the mug towards him.
The scene cuts away to distance with the comforting crunch crunch of boots on gravel leaving one settled in for another warm episode in Death Valley. To me this epitomizes sweet Death Valley mornings. Just the best ever!
I just played it again with my eyes closed to enjoy to audio and I detected just a hint of Ben swallowing a gulp of his morning tea?
Life begins in Death Valley