Hit the Accelerator!

Gallery: LandscapePosted August 14, 2010458 views44 comments

That's what you do when you're driving back towards the entrance to Great Sand Dunes National Park, and the sun that you thought had dissapeared for good behind a cloud suddenly breaks out just before sunset, permitting about 1 minute of crazy magenta light on the side of 750+ foot tall Star Dune. Fortunately, the road to the park is very straight and there was no traffic, so at 80 mph i was able to reach a pull-out just in time to take two exposures (the first one had even better color--but it wasnt even close to level!)
5Dmkii; 70-300; 1/20s atf/11; ISO 200.
C&C Welcome!

Comments

44 comments

Comment posted by Andrew Finlayson on August 14, 2010 at 4:02 AM

Love the layering in this one, and the colour on the dunes...fantastic.

Registered on July 29, 2010, 26 Posts, 404 Comments

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on August 14, 2010 at 4:06 AM

Glad you managed to pull this one off in time, Stan! This is a beauty! Looks like a giant pile of meringue.

Registered on December 19, 2008, 306 Posts, 4840 Comments

Comment posted by Mohsen Al-Dajani on August 14, 2010 at 4:28 AM

Glad you've caught it. I know those kinds of moments...it is like if we "photographers" were hit by high electric volts. The hint of detail in the dark bg is super.

Registered on August 23, 2007, 160 Posts, 432 Comments

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on August 14, 2010 at 4:47 AM

Awesome light. I love how each layer has different colours. I also like it with the sky cropped out.

Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on August 14, 2010 at 5:40 AM

Very, very nice improvised shot Stan! Love it.

My only question is, was this tripod/mirror lock up, and did you shoot at your cameras sharpest f/stop?

Registered on June 19, 2009, 276 Posts, 6240 Comments

Comment posted by Karsten Wrobel on August 14, 2010 at 6:04 AM

BEAUTIFUL layers and light... from this angle the dunes look very edible indeed

Registered on November 1, 2008, 117 Posts, 851 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on August 14, 2010 at 6:24 AM

Mark--this is MLU and sharpest f--but its handheld! I got the tripod set up for the next exposure--but the light was dead by then. Fortunately, i knew exactly how long an exposure i could get away with (with the lens braced against my car for stability!) and that's why i quickly raised the ISO to 200--cause 1/10s would have been a crapshoot. I looked carefully at this exposure at full scale and its just as sharp as any shot i took with the tripod--i lucked out in that respect.

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Pelton on August 14, 2010 at 7:43 AM

I'd say its a keeper. good work.

Registered on November 25, 2003, 380 Posts, 4647 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on August 14, 2010 at 8:44 AM

This is nice. I like this light, color and the hazy feel it has. The magenta color on the dunes looks very cool. I also like how you can see just some detail in the distant mountains. Nice picture and worth your race with the light, Stan.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Andreas Resch on August 14, 2010 at 9:58 AM

These foreground dunes are lovely and I love how the light touches them. The fading contrast towards the horizon creates some nice depth. I don't like the angled clouds though. They are just too close to the border and create a visually very strong triangle up there. As it doesn't add much to the scene I would crop them away and have the visual focus on the dunes.

Registered on November 14, 2007, 322 Posts, 6101 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on August 14, 2010 at 10:23 AM

A meringue as Floris said, but a cherry meringue. This is one delicious shot, Stan. I think I like this one most of all from your recent trip. It is a sublime shot. I would have to disagree with Andreas about the top layer. I really like the kiss of light on the clouds and they and the sky make up the last 2 of 6 layers here. Tim Fitzharris says you need 6 or 7 layers in a shot to have full depth, so I guess he would like this shot, too.

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Conway on August 14, 2010 at 10:31 AM

Wonderful, Beautiful.

Peter

Registered on June 25, 2007, 347 Posts, 3913 Comments

Comment posted by Reno DiTullio on August 14, 2010 at 10:56 AM

Stunning, great depth/layers, the dune color is striking and the hint of yellow at the bottom of frame is "candy" too, well done

Registered on November 14, 2003, 130 Posts, 1644 Comments

Comment posted by Pat Sampson on August 14, 2010 at 10:59 AM

I've seen it when it looked like this Stan but never photographed. Congrats on the capture and the image.

Pat

Registered on May 19, 2007, 953 Posts, 15989 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on August 14, 2010 at 11:31 AM

The subject has your name and light written all over it, Stan. I don't really care for the sliver of sky at the top, but the layering with the dunes in the front sure is a sweet. Great timing to get this.!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments

Comment posted by Mike Bohlander on August 14, 2010 at 12:18 PM

Long lens landscapes are tricky, but you nailed this one! The light on the dune is great.

Registered on August 22, 2008, 14 Posts, 125 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Baumbach on August 14, 2010 at 12:46 PM

I think this is killer with the sky cropped out.

- Dan

Registered on November 1, 2003, 473 Posts, 7980 Comments

Comment posted by Nicolaus Wegner on August 14, 2010 at 12:47 PM

Cool layered approach Stan. That's some very nice light on those dunes. Love the view of those peaks in the background.

Registered on February 21, 2010, 133 Posts, 1509 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Haskell on August 14, 2010 at 1:14 PM

Nice image...would prefer it with the sky cropped out too.

Ian

Registered on October 30, 2008, 24 Posts, 673 Comments

Comment posted by Derek Yow on August 14, 2010 at 2:37 PM

Really glad you were able to catch this light, Stan. This is exceptional. I like how the upper layers all pass through the frame at almost the same angle.

Registered on May 18, 2010, 26 Posts, 655 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on August 14, 2010 at 3:15 PM

Stan,

Been wonderin' when you'd be back by the dunes! No doubt it's your home away from home. What a gorgeous moment that you've managed to capture. The light is sublime - and one of the few times I won't ask someone to neutralize the magenta....

I'm torn about the sky. Having it in adds another layer to the scene and I don't think the sky detracts. Cropping it out has it's benefits as well, bringing even more emphasis to the light and dunes, so I guess it's just a matter of personal choice eh?

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Anderson on August 14, 2010 at 3:32 PM

Love the colors on that dune. This is beautiful. At least you got one great shot.

Registered on July 1, 2009, 30 Posts, 181 Comments

Comment posted by Chikku Baiju on August 14, 2010 at 4:01 PM

Lovely colors on these! The depth and scale is pretty amazing. I am pretty much driving that fast during the golden hours to get to the spot :)

Registered on January 9, 2010, 31 Posts, 246 Comments

Comment posted by Eric Good on August 14, 2010 at 4:46 PM

What a great mix of color and layers captured here. I wouldn't tell anyone, if you cloned in that upper portion of sky with clouds.

Seriously, very nice work!

Registered on March 17, 2007, 116 Posts, 4764 Comments

Comment posted by dean hebert on August 14, 2010 at 4:59 PM

Awesome! I love the lines and the layers and the light.

Registered on August 4, 2010, 70 Posts, 1132 Comments

Comment posted by Chad Merrell on August 14, 2010 at 5:10 PM

I like this a lot. I like it both ways but perhaps a little more with the sky cropped out. I have fond memories of a couple of day visits to the dunes during the year we spent in Pueblo. I would really like to go back some time and this really fuels the desire. This one should sell well for you.

Registered on July 8, 2010, 91 Posts, 304 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Lou on August 14, 2010 at 5:43 PM

Wonderful diffused light and gentle colors. I like how you left some room for the sky.

Jim

Registered on August 3, 2010, 86 Posts, 273 Comments

Comment posted by Luis Argerich on August 14, 2010 at 7:19 PM

Very nice Stan, very magical, incredible sand color!

Registered on December 22, 2009, 91 Posts, 1349 Comments

Comment posted by Vance Gese on August 14, 2010 at 7:57 PM

Fantastic juxtaposition of layers Stan. The subtle light on the dunes is phenomenal. And you handheld the camera for this?!? Hats off to you for a steady hand and excellent eye. Beautiful work.

Registered on November 13, 2008, 298 Posts, 6629 Comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on August 14, 2010 at 9:14 PM

70-300 at 1/20s? You should've been a surgeon, Stan. Looks very sharp. The light on the dunes is wonderful. I like it both with and without the sky. Great image.

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments

Comment posted by Art Escobado on August 14, 2010 at 11:06 PM

Cropped or not Stan's the Dune Master-Stan What's your schedule like? Do you have a few days off in August? Up for a photo trip?

Registered on January 7, 2007, 0 Posts, 775 Comments

Comment posted by Justin Peterson on August 15, 2010 at 12:37 AM

Love it...probably my favorite from your recent series.

Registered on January 20, 2008, 33 Posts, 298 Comments

Comment posted by Pam Colander on August 15, 2010 at 12:43 AM

Wow Stan that is some amazing color and contour! Way to step on it. I would crop just the bright bit of sky to make it perfect. Nice!

Registered on December 7, 2006, 210 Posts, 1062 Comments

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on August 15, 2010 at 1:25 AM

lovely light on those dunes stan. i'd crop out the sky - the image is much stronger without it.

Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on August 15, 2010 at 3:07 AM

Thanks folks!
Ah yes...the white sky--i went back and forth on that. I thought there'd be a split in opinion, not overwhelming against it! Im still tempted to keep it, cause: 1) its a 6th layer, as mentioned by morris 2) the angle matches the other layers 3) I like the bit of color up top 4) Unless i did major cloning--and i wont--cropping it would leave the top too tight. But, i definitely agree a crop would make the comp more 'pure'
Art--i sent you an email.

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by John&Patty Benway on August 15, 2010 at 7:56 AM

Stan, fantastic, love the light on the dunes. Beautiful work.
John

Registered on May 12, 2006, 626 Posts, 8700 Comments

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on August 15, 2010 at 12:18 PM

Shot in the Ansel Adams style...

Layers and colors look great Stan!

Registered on January 26, 2007, 360 Posts, 9876 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Shephard on August 15, 2010 at 4:45 PM

Thats fantastic Stan! I love the layering effect and the colour is awesome. I'm glad you had the chance and forethought to stop.

Registered on February 23, 2010, 62 Posts, 132 Comments

Comment posted by Jeremy Kessler on August 15, 2010 at 5:58 PM

Beautiful Image Stan, probably my favorite of your recent images.

Registered on September 13, 2007, 36 Posts, 1283 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on August 15, 2010 at 9:21 PM

To me, this is all about the dunes. Great light and color on them, but I find the remainder of the image to be unnecessary. All of my focus is on the dunes, and I wish that was the only focus of the image.

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on August 16, 2010 at 3:59 PM

Gorgeous! Glad you had enough juice to get you there in time

Registered on July 26, 2007, 244 Posts, 2807 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Cameron on August 16, 2010 at 4:19 PM

Well well magenta light Stan and I thought you hated magenta

I'd have been most happy to see this and shoot it. Just imagine if Velvia had been loaded. Extra big

Registered on August 6, 2004, 1125 Posts, 3318 Comments

Comment posted by Rafael Rojas on August 16, 2010 at 4:59 PM

WOW Stan. No nits here, this is awesome. The colour, the light, the shapes, the layers, the depth, the mystery, the complementarity of colours...

Registered on March 1, 2009, 56 Posts, 623 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on August 17, 2010 at 2:46 AM

Thanks for all the nice remarks, folks!

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments