Death Valley Dream (crop added)

Wow! Brilliant! Some may be distracted by the blue sky at the top, but I think it adds extra dimension.

Awesome shot Zack!

Beautiful work Zack. Glad ya got there in time for the light show!

Yowza! This is gorgeous scene and the light on the dunes is incredible, can't wait to see more from your trip.

Damn! That is excellent stuff, Zack. I'm not 100% crazy about the blue along the top, but who's going to complain when everything else is looking so sweet? Very nice.

Beautiful image. Great light, great comp.

Your patience was rewarded, Zack. Great formations, lovely light,
and a superb sky.

Ya got it all, Zack, absolutely beautiful

That there is some fantastic storm light and a great capture. I love this as is and can see it also working as more of a pano with the top area of blue sky cropped out. Excellent work, start to finish!

Zack,
I'm speechless. This is stunning. How do I get one for my wall. This one is EPIC!!!! Holy Cow. I'm running out of superlatives for this shot. I'm so jealous. Can you tell us where the shot was made or is it your secret? By the way, the blue is a very nice contrast to the dark clouds. WOW

Thanks all :)

David, this is not a secret spot at all, it's actually fairly obvious, although I didn't find it till my second day exploring the dunes. It's from the west side of the dune complex. Just walk to the west side and head in from there and you'll find it.

Really remarkable conditions you photographed here, Zack. Love the warm sand dunes and that amazing sky. Great photo.

Great clouds, colors and dunes. Just a great shot, congratulations.

Stunning work, Zack! I'm getting set to head there next week, and this just makes it harder to wait!

Zack: Spectacular scene superbly rendered. I do like it a bit better with some of the sky cropped as the nearly 50/50 comp bugs me a little. That's coming from a flower guy though so just consider it a meager 2¢ nit. Beautiful shot.>=))>

Oh my, what a sky! It took a while for my eyes to look down upon the sand and dunes and they're just a breathtaking in their own as the sky is. The shapes and tones of the sand are fantastic. I can't imagine how stunning this must have been to see in person. Great shot Zack, one of your best IMO.

Thanks for everyones comments so far. Thanks Bill, I agree, I think it's one my best as well.

Here is a cropped version per the above suggestions, I personally still like the original, but I do like the pano version quite a bit as well, it makes the dunes the primary focus. I must admit the cropped version is growing on me.

Love the way the dune crest carries your eye through the image. Stormy clouds are great. Color saturation well done. I might consider a little crop off the top.

Very nice Zack, I'll go for the cropped one. I love the curve in the foreground in particular. Lots of depth here!

Awesome Zack. Incredible. Spectacular. The light and that color are beyond amazing. A real jaw dropper in my book.

Wow Zack!!! Awesome image of Death Valley, possibly the best I have ever seen!

I actually prefer the first one because of all the drama in the sky. In this case the 50/50 works great for me. The subtle light on the dunes is phenomenal/other worldly!!! And all this coming from a guy who doesn't normally like desert photos. You are making rethink my whole Just Say No to the Desert theme.

So was the wind crazy while shooting this scene? Or had it subsided? Just curious.

Derek

Thanks Derek, the wind was not bad while shooting this, but I did experience some terrible winds while shooting other days, I'll be cleaning sand out of my equipment for a while

Awesome work! I think I prefer the cropped.

outstanding - this image has it all! The crop makes it feel more balanced to me

That is some unreal luminosity in this one. Excellent color, and the drama from the storm clouds is great. The comp is also excellent.

Zack,
I've already posted on this photo but I keep coming back. I'm just blown away by this one. I like both versions but I prefer the original because I think the sky is every bit as dramatic as the mountains and the dunes and I really like the contrast that the blue gives off. I don't normally like a shot with a 50/50 top and bottom as it looks to balanced most of the time with equal weight being given to both segments. But this one works for me. Still wish I had this on my wall. Big congratulations. By the way, I've never been to Death Valley but this really makes me want to go. I know it's a huge park so can you be a little more specific as to where in the park this is. Sorry to pester you.

Thanks again David, this is the Mesquite Dunes just outside Stove Pipe Wells. It's actually not that large, only about a mile across, by maybe two miles long or so.

Dude, I keep coming back to this one also. And your story with it is great. I can just picture you running with all your camera gear to get the shot after the storm, wild wind and rain.
First tracks, quick, gooOOO!!! Its like snowboarding right after a fresh dumping of new snow. LOL...

I predict this one is going to be a Big Seller!

Derek

The cropped version really works the curve factor nicely. Great image!

Congrats on one heck of a shot. The cropped version does feel a little stronger to me.

Zack,
Thanks for the directions. I'll probably have to wait in line now to get a shot. EPIC!!! Let me know if this one goes up for sale.

David, this one is already for sale. I'll be printing one for myself this week. The master print file will be ready for all sizes after that. Send me an email if you are indeed interested in a print, I can't wait to see it printed large myself.

Awesome shot Zack. Incredible work. Just curious - did you use any filters or bracket? Was this a pano? Thanks so much for sharing. Michael

D A N G Zack. Wonderful.

Nathan

Thanks Michael, no filters were used, this is also a single frame, and has not had extensive processing. Mainly some localized contrast adjustments, and some burning.

Stunning photo Zack. The luminance in the FG dune is unbelievable. Really well worth the effort. Congratulations on getting this.

WONDERFUL!!!!!
István

light, scenery and mood and comp all work together very well here. not much more you could ask for. (a rainbow maybe....? )

georg

Wonderful combination of land and sky, Zack. The dune curve is a real eye-catcher. I like the crop as it's simpler - the blue in the original up there was a bit strong.

Holy epic. You should do a bw just for fun b/c that would be equally as mindblowing. Way to hussle up that sand :)

aF

Amazing shot, Zack. Superb composition & light I do prefer the second post.
Mauro

Incredible conditions Zack, stunning work.

Zach.. I really awesome shot. Both versions are great but I think I tend towards the cropped pano version. The blue is just so intense that it draws my eyes away from the fine interplay of light on the dunes and the drama of the storm clouds.

amazing colors !! That big huge sweep in the sand is perfect !! the shadow and tones are woderful very nicely done !!

The light here is just amazing and you found a perfect spot to photograph the graceful curves of the dunes. Beautiful!

Guy

Looking at both crops, i'd personally do something in between the two.
Beautiful shape and tone.

I'm loving it all Zack. These photos that stack very different layers into a fascinating whole are some of my favorites. Your story is cool too. These are the times when you really need a set of skills; when you can't sit there plotting for an hour beforehand. I vote for your original crop.

Simply beautiful

A high impact landscape image Zack! An amazing scene!

Awesome! Enough said.

Everything is said......it's just wonderful. i'd prefer the original.

Nice, love the light play

cropped version is so fantastic.

Awsome regards aj

Allow me to jump on the bandwagon and say this is awesome. My vote is for the cropped version

Sweet!! A great mix of light and elements...ill go with the cropped version.

Wow Zack, this is as good as your Enchanted Lakes image, only a little easier to get! Absolutely fantastic.

Haha Scott, you got that right!

Zach, I actually like the height of the clouds in the first which adds more drama imo. Great image all the way around. The dunes remind of the ones in the movie, Flight of the Phoenix.

Bulls-eye Zack, just a wonderful image.

Once again proving "the harder I work the luckier I get" . Tremendous, powerful image!

Wow this is fantastic, the curve in the foreground is perfect and the background with the subtly lit dunes is amazing. Terrific photo!

Gorgeous shot Zack,

I hope you get down this far but let me explain why Im against the cropped version. The blues in the upper portion of the sky go so well with the golden dunes. An important compliment that will look stellar in print. Keep it all

63 comments and counting…..

I like the full version. The blue sky really makes for a wonderful contrast.

Both versions work for me, Zack. Absolutely stunning image!

Unreal.... Looks like something worked up in Ps.... Nice one Zack.

Too good!

WOW, Zack! Way Fricken STUNNING! The cropped version it the ticket... congrats on this!

I love the "attitude" in the sky and the shade and light areas across the dunes look great. I was in Death Valley last fall and not a cloud in the sky and couldn't find an image on the dunes to save my soul. Great shot!!

This is the final master print file version