Rallying-The Dakar, a world of sand and solitude

Rallying-The Dakar, a world of sand and solitude

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The Dakar Rally is a race like no other, a two-week long endurance challenge across Peru and some of the harshest terrain and conditions on Earth.

This year’s event, finishing in Lima on Thursday, spanned thousands of kilometres with motorcycles, cars and trucks racing across vast deserts and towering dunes, from the Andes to the shores of the Pacific Ocean.

. Pisco, Peru. Reuters/Carlos Jasso
A helicopter propeller (top) is seen as a participant races below.

As a photographer, I have had really good access with the helicopter and used one for most of the stages of the race. I’ve been wearing a harness attached to the helicopter, with the door open in order to shoot.

. Pisco, Peru. Reuters/Carlos Jasso
Sand is blown by a motorcycle.

I like the abstract images best -- the detail created by a motorcycle accelerating, the sand thrown up and combined with beautiful light so that it looks almost like a wave.

You have to have the camera exposures pre-set to be ready for the action but the light is constantly shifting as clouds move across the sky.

You point the camera and expose for the highlights and hope the vehicle comes into the frame and drives between the shadows of the clouds.

. Lima, Peru. Reuters/Carlos Jasso
Track marks are seen on the sand.

You start reading the dunes ahead of reaching them. "Now it’s beautiful golden light, I’m going to shoot a landscape." Or "Now there are great shadows, I’m going to play with that."

You can feel like a grain of sand in these massive dunes, and everything can change so quickly. Every choice you make is a gamble -- the exposure you set, the dune you choose to climb.

. Monquegua, Peru. Reuters/Carlos Jasso
A road-sign stands in the Monquegua landscape.

You have to make a decision of where to go based on the route coordinates that the organisers give you, but that is not a guarantee, as there is not a set track.

When the car or helicopter drops you off you have to read the track marks in the sand, and predict where you will get the shot you want.

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Slideshow

Cracked mud is seen in the desert.
. Arequipa, Peru. Reuters/Carlos Jasso

Cracked mud is seen in the desert.

Tracks are seen on the Monquegua landscape.
. Monquegua, Peru. Reuters/Carlos Jasso

Tracks are seen on the Monquegua landscape.

The shadow of a helicopter moves across the sand.
. San Juan De Marcona, Peru. Reuters/Carlos Jasso

The shadow of a helicopter moves across the sand.

Sand dunes cast shadows.
. Tacna, Peru. Reuters/Carlos Jasso

Sand dunes cast shadows.

Dust from a participant is blown up from the ground.
. Monquegua, Peru. Reuters/Carlos Jasso

Dust from a participant is blown up from the ground.

Nazca lines are seen on the landscape.
. San Juan De Marcona, Peru. Reuters/Carlos Jasso

Nazca lines are seen on the landscape.

Sand ripples are seen on the landscape.
. Pisco, Peru. Reuters/Carlos Jasso

Sand ripples are seen on the landscape.

Tracks mark the sand.
. Pisco, Peru. Reuters/Carlos Jasso

Tracks mark the sand.

Smoke from a participants car is seen next to track marks.
. Pisco, Peru. Reuters/Carlos Jasso

Smoke from a participants car is seen next to track marks.

A man rest during the race.
. Pisco, Peru. Reuters/Carlos Jasso

A man rest during the race.