‘Cosmic Coincidence’ Photos of Sunset and Moonset Were Years in the Making
A photographer and dancer collaborated on a brilliant “Cosmic Coincidence” diptych that embraces the sunset and moonset in two harmonious images.
Photographer Eric Paré and contemporary dancer Kim Henry made the new images in the salt flats of Uyuni in Bolivia, which Paré describes as “our favorite place on Earth.” The photos representing opposite moments were shot at the exact location with a 400mm lens and photographed about 12 hours apart.
“We did something we never thought would be possible. We used a 400mm lens during the Moonset (full Moon!) and matched that shot with the Sunset later on the same day,” Paré tells PetaPixel over email.
The photographer explains that one of the most challenging parts of the photos, aside from the below-freezing temperatures at 3,700 meters above sea level, was nailing the exact alignment, as Henry had only “a few seconds” to recreate her first pose before the Sun’s position would no longer work.
Paré also needed to nail his camera settings, as the two scenes were very different in terms of color and light. The moonset image was shot at an f/5.6 aperture, 1/800s shutter speed, and ISO 3200, while the sunset photo was captured using an f/14 aperture, 1/8,000s exposure, and ISO 100 sensitivity.
The photos were also years in the making, as the creative duo had previously tried the same shots in 2018 but the weather conditions didn’t cooperate. It is unusual to have clear skies at sunset and moonset during the rainy season, which is needed to create the reflective foreground on the salt flats.
“This trip was filled with unexpected elements like clear skies & unusual colors such as vibrant red and pink after the sunset,” Paré explains. “When we go to Bolivia, we know we have to hope for the best and prepare for the worst. This time, we encountered the best for the most part, and the mere fact that we were able to achieve this goal attests to our luck: opportunity meeting preparation.”
As shown in the video above, Paré and Henry spent nearly 20 days in Bolivia, capturing many stunning photos, including many with the pair’s iconic light painting techniques. Seven of the fantastic photographs are featured in the Instagram post above.
More of Paré and Henry’s work is available on Eric Paré’s website and Instagram.
Image credits: Photographs by Eric Paré featuring Kim Henry.
