Wide establishing shots of Tatooine's vast desert landscape were captured across Chott El Jerid's expansive salt flats. As Africa's largest salt flat, this otherworldly terrain provided the perfect backdrop for the desert planet's desolate environment. These sweeping vistas established the harsh, isolated world where Luke Skywalker grew up, emphasizing the planet's remoteness and the epic scale of the galaxy far, far away. The shimmering white salt crust and endless horizons created the iconic Tatooine atmosphere that defined the visual identity of Star Wars.

General Tatooine landscape shots and desert wandering sequences featuring droids and characters approaching Mos Eisley were filmed across Death Valley's Desert Mesa. These establishing shots helped create the sense of Tatooine as a vast, desolate planet where travelers could wander for days across endless dunes and rocky outcrops. The harsh desert environment provided authentic heat and lighting that enhanced the alien planet atmosphere, making Tatooine feel real and lived-in.