The shore of the Dead Sea, at more than 1,400 feet below sea level, is the lowest land on earth and the water of the lake is ten times as salty as the ocean. Not only do people float in water that dense, but it has a completely different feel, and it moves and reacts differently than fresh water, or even the water of the ocean. It seems to move more slowly, to slide on the skin a bit like baby oil. Of course, the temperature in summer is punishing, and in winter a bit cold. Late February to April and November are probably the best months for shooting.
Where and How
As the name suggests, the Dead Sea is a huge body of water. There are many locations along the shore where one could set up a shoot. We choose Neve Zohar, in the far south, as the higher salinity in the southern portion of the sea results in the formation of the iconic salt islands, often called “mushrooms.” Another advantage of the southern portion of the lake is the development, with hotels, stores, and restaurants in Neve Zohar and Ein Bokek. We also considered shooting at the Dead Sea Hot Springs, where hot water bubbles up on the shore of the sea and in the Metsoke Dragot area, which is known as an informal nude beach. Both are much more rustic and both have potential for an adventure shoot, but in both cases serious preparation would be necessary.
One issue to keep in mind around the Dead Sea is the instability of the land and the appearance and growth of sink holes. Anyone exploring the area needs to be extremely careful and cautious.
The Demanding Environment
Shooting at the Dead Sea demands some special attention, especially to the comfort and well-being of the model. While the water has special properties which make it interesting to work with (crystal clarity, a tendency to present a smooth surface, a luxurious syrupy feel) its high salinity and chemical composition also means that it can be irritating to the skin or eyes. The following are key recommendations:
- Limit exposure to the water to 20 minutes at a time.
- Keep yourself hydrated – drink plenty of water.
- Do not allow water to get in the eyes of the model.
- Do not enter the water with open sores.
- Do not shave for two days before getting into the water.
- Use lots of lotion, before and after. On a sunny day, use lots of sunscreen.
- Water shoes, water socks, or flip flops are necessary.
- A white towel or handcloth helps protect the model.
- Touch up makeup frequently.
- Protect your gear and clean it immediately after the shoot.
It’s a two-hour drive from Tel Aviv to Neve Zohar on the Dead Sea, and we were slowed by torrential rains as we left the city, so we missed the sunrise over the water. Upon arrival, we set up Taty’s makeup operation on the side of the lake and she did Michal’s makeup while I scouted for locations.
By the time the makeup was done, I’d found a nice area at the end of the beach. We set up our mobile changing booth for Michal and then got right to it. We were lucky to get some nice sunlight slanting in under the broken cloud cover at this first location.
We moved a bit north for a second segment of the shoot. The cloud cover was increasing, so light was a bit flatter and the drama of the background was lost, but we found a nice area with some salt mushrooms to shoot on and around.
