Dreamed of White Sands

Gallery: LandscapePosted January 29, 2012657 views14 comments

White Sands has a photographer unfriendly hour. It opens at 7:00am, while the sun rise in late January is at 7:05, even later in other months!

I decided to wait at the gate early regardless. Fortunately, someone opened gate at 6:45. I stepped on the gas and took a little over 10 min to reach the trail head, while watching the sky to turn red. I grabbed my gears and started to run up the dune. When I reach the dune I wanted to photograph - I was there the night before, I only had a couple of minutes before the light completely disappear. It was a rainy day the whole day.

We should all send letters to national park service to ask them to change hours. Otherwise, they will find photographers having heart attacks on top of the dunes.

Comments

14 comments

Comment posted by David Chauvin on January 29, 2012 at 6:58 PM

Intense color in the sky! I think the fg could be lightened a little to bring out the texture there.

Registered on August 5, 2004, 1007 Posts, 5595 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on January 29, 2012 at 8:21 PM

Excellent color here and very nice scene. Much like a painting.

My only nit is the strength of the vignette. I would prefer it more subtle.

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

Comment posted by John Fan on January 29, 2012 at 9:56 PM

Thanks, David & Mark.

David: I tried to lighten up the fg. But because the sky is so dark, it would not look nature.

Mark: I noticed the vignette too. I did not add any. I guess it is from the lighting situation. You are right, it is a little too strong. I'll try to lighten it up a little.

Registered on August 24, 2010, 135 Posts, 489 Comments

Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on January 30, 2012 at 12:18 AM

Breathtaking sky and beautiful leading lines in the foreground. Congratulations on being there and taking us with you.

Registered on March 23, 2006, 1111 Posts, 6531 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on January 30, 2012 at 12:58 AM

The lines are nice, the sky is amazing, but unfortunately the dunes you picked were the wrong ones for this sky, cause the trademark of WS is that they generally soak up every ounce of sky color. The only thing i can figure is that the aspect of the dunes was facing a less colorful part of the sky, so no reflective light here. It's a real pretty shot, but it could have been amazing with that sky with the right fg dunes.

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

Comment posted by Shantikara Valuska on January 30, 2012 at 5:40 AM

You just need a helicopter, than you don't have to worry about gates!

Anyway, still you got a crazy wild sky here, but maybe a bit too dark. I agree on Stan, that some different dunes might have been better, but you had no time.

Registered on July 25, 2011, 38 Posts, 451 Comments

Comment posted by John Fan on January 30, 2012 at 12:02 PM

You are hard to please, Stan. I almost had a heart attack running up there. :)))

The cloud was so thick that the sky above my head was very dark with no color. That might explain the dark and flat light on the sand. If I had more time, I might be able to find a better spot.

Shantikara, helicopter is a great idea. I was told that if you pay the ranger $100, they will let you in an hour earlier. I thought that was an intentional ripoff, and did not go for it. But, $100 might be cheaper than the helicopter ride.

Registered on August 24, 2010, 135 Posts, 489 Comments

Comment posted by Michael J Greene, on January 30, 2012 at 12:39 PM

Wow - the sky is amazing John. Overall, the image seems a bit dark for print, especially in the foreground corners.

Registered on June 18, 2009, 86 Posts, 2317 Comments

Comment posted by Florian Aubin on January 30, 2012 at 5:04 PM

amazing sky, as said above i also would appreciate a bit reverse vignette.nice shot!

Registered on April 8, 2011, 8 Posts, 100 Comments

Comment posted by R.Bill Moser on January 30, 2012 at 5:20 PM

Amazing colors. Very dramatic sky.......the foreground looks a bit dark to me.......

Registered on January 29, 2010, 285 Posts, 4281 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Lowe on January 30, 2012 at 7:15 PM

Hi John. Awesome sky.

Registered on February 11, 2004, 777 Posts, 5252 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on January 30, 2012 at 7:34 PM

You are hard to please, Stan. I almost had a heart attack running up there. :)))

Been there, done that--that's why i always bring an AED with me on my shoots!

And i'm not hard to please--just send me a keg of Guinness and I' promise I'll be happy

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

Comment posted by Yiming Hu on January 30, 2012 at 8:51 PM

It's your lucky shot! The sky is just amazing.

Registered on April 28, 2011, 38 Posts, 733 Comments

Comment posted by John Fan on January 30, 2012 at 10:20 PM

Thanks, guys!

Stan: AED and Guinness are the ingredients for good photography

You were right about the light on the sand. I looked over and over again, there is no hint of any reflection of red light :(( It is a mystical place.

Registered on August 24, 2010, 135 Posts, 489 Comments