What are some of the challenges shooting in a country like Namibia?
“Wind, heat, cold and lots of sand – we had all the elements thrown at us. We thought it would be pretty hot, but instead it was the opposite. It was pretty cold most of the time with lots of wind. After leaving the camp we were pretty much alone out there, and getting around was a huge challenge. Our crew took us around and played a huge part in getting us to good locations and keeping us safe.”
Did all your gear make it out alive?
“The gear was pretty wrecked with sand. I’m actually still taking sand out of my gear and bags from that trip. Iain Weir and Anton Nelson who joined us on the trip often send me pics of sand coming out of random places while they’re packing.”
How often do you use the multi-tool?
“The multi-tool goes all over the world with me. Actually, each bag I own has its own multi-tool. Sounds weird, but I like gadgets – I use them all the time to fix things, cook, etc. Someone on the team will always need one, so I never leave it behind.”
Looking back, what other items do you wish you had with you?
“More snacks and beer! Haha! I think we had all our bases covered in teams of gear. Although… we were limited in terms of power to charge the gear. We only had power for about 6 hours a day, so I think we should have have taken our own generator with.”
Craig’s full gear list:
Fstop Ajna pack, this was the prototype
Nikon D4s
Nikon D800
Nikon D750
Nikon 70-200
Nikon 24-70
Nikon 14-24
Nikon 16mm
Nikon 50mm
Speedlight
Pocket Wizards
Peak Design strap
Lexar Memory Cards
Leatherman
Headlamp
Spare batteries
SeatoSummit DryBag
Salomon windshell
Cadence Gels
Llama Bar snacks
Salomon Hydration bottles
Solar Panel and power bank
Red Bull
View the entire 'Duneriders Namibia' gallery at Red Bull Photography. For more of Craig’s awesome shots, head to his website. And for more on the man himself, visit Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
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Craig Kolesky: What's in the bag?
Last year, Red Bull photographer Craig Kolesky joined top biker Oliver Munnik and freeski pro Fabio Struder to tackle the barren dunes of the Namib Desert. Here’s what Craig used to capture the action.

© Craig Kolesky / Red Bull Content Pool