A Night at Mseilha Dam: Improvised Shots and Starlit Skies

 

Sometimes, the best photography stories come from the moments when things don't go exactly as planned.

On Saturday, February 28th, I headed up to the Mseilha Dam with Karim Boukarim, an absolute master of night landscape photography. Our mission for the evening was to capture the serene expanse of the dam and its famous "hole" under the night sky.

To our absolute surprise, the location was incredibly accessible. We didn't have to trek through difficult terrain; we just walked right up to this stunning vantage point. The scene was set perfectly: a calm body of water, distant hills glowing with scattered lights, and a beautiful texture of clouds parting just enough to let a few stars peek through.

I was ready to set up and start shooting alongside Karim. But then, it hit me. What is the one golden rule of shooting long exposures at night?

Bring. Your. Tripod.

Guess what I managed to leave behind? Yep. My tripod was nowhere to be found.

For a brief second, I thought the shoot was a wash for me. But as a photography enthusiast, you learn to work with what you have. I looked around and noticed the curved concrete edge of the wall overlooking the water. Carefully, I rested my camera right on the edge, hoping the wind wouldn't knock it into the reservoir, and clicked the shutter.

The result:

Looking at the final photo, I actually love the way it turned out. The water smoothed out beautifully, catching those striking red and white reflections from the distant hills. The concrete wall in the foreground actually adds a nice framing element that grounds the shot, leading your eye out toward the illuminated ridges and the deep blue of the sky.

Is it a flawless masterpiece compared to Karim's breathtaking, professional output? Definitely not! 😂 His work is on another level. But honestly, considering I was shooting totally improvised without my most important piece of gear, I am genuinely satisfied with this shot. It captures the quiet, peaceful energy of that night perfectly.

Sometimes, forgetting your gear forces you to see the landscape, and the ledges, in a whole new way.