Sand Dunes

Gallery: LandscapePosted November 12, 2012248 views16 comments

I've been away from NPN for awhile, but the time has been well spent adjusting to life in Colorado. We are loving it. The first trip to the Great Sand Dunes NP last summer was a delight. Can't wait to make this trip a habit. Even my dog made it into this shot. A rider in the sky.
D300s, Nikon 70-200 f2.8, 1/320 @5.6 ISO 200 Hand held due to shear laziness, but VR on.

Comments

16 comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on November 12, 2012 at 8:03 PM

Really like the color congruence between the dues and sky. The overall warmth here is appealing to me.

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

Comment posted by Jim Greenwood on November 12, 2012 at 8:08 PM

The sky is really intense and dramatic. I like the shadows on the higher dunes that help to separate the dunes from the sky. Nice effort!

I'd bet that Stan Rose made it into this shot somewhere too.

Registered on November 9, 2003, 229 Posts, 1523 Comments

Comment posted by Chad Merrell on November 12, 2012 at 8:10 PM

Russ--I like this. Nice composition and good job on the exposure. Did you get permission from Stan to photograph his dunes?

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

Comment posted by Russell Colletta on November 12, 2012 at 8:15 PM

Thanks Tony, this was typical summer afternoon light and I would really like to see it illuminated differently. The different forms in the clouds and the dunes are what appealed to me, complementing and conflicting at the same time. Yup Chad, I'm told I need to apply for a passport from Stan to get back in the park. Jim, that's Stan under the tree!

Registered on October 31, 2009, 114 Posts, 1008 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on November 12, 2012 at 8:57 PM

Lots of drama with those clouds and shadows. Looks like an amazing place, you've captured it well.

Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on November 12, 2012 at 9:20 PM

The sky is underexposed. Otherwise a nice composition.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 474 Posts, 5555 Comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on November 12, 2012 at 9:51 PM

Exceptional, Russell, with plenty of drama.

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

Comment posted by Robert Dayton on November 12, 2012 at 10:43 PM

Well composed with just the right amount of FG. That does look like a dog's head.

Registered on November 11, 2008, 281 Posts, 3958 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on November 12, 2012 at 11:35 PM

LOL--passport approved!

I love the dog! Thats the great thing about the dunes, the light and sky always are changing, so you can photograph the same scene many times and it will always be a bit different. I like the warmness here.

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

Comment posted by John Williams on November 12, 2012 at 11:59 PM

Mucho drama Russ, that's a great cloud. Others haven't mentioned it, so maybe my eyes are fried, but it looks like it has a yellow/magenta cast to me.

Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments

Comment posted by Rudy Ruberti on November 13, 2012 at 12:07 AM

What a great scene and I really like the sky. I also agree with Youssef, as there seems to be a lot of contrast, but still a image.

Registered on October 28, 2008, 179 Posts, 1875 Comments

Comment posted by Ant on November 13, 2012 at 2:18 AM

A great dune scene, with an intriguing texture contrast between the dunes and the clouds... A good image to illustrate the paterns of nature. I also see a magenta warm dominant but it fits well with the subject...

Registered on April 13, 2009, 27 Posts, 474 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on November 13, 2012 at 10:02 AM

The contrast both in the dunes and in the clouds really makes this stunning. Great shot.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on November 13, 2012 at 1:21 PM

Russell,

You know how long I looked to try and spot your dog on the dunes or in the foreground?

Then I got a clue.

Terrific landscape of the Great Sand Dunes. Great moment with the clouds - and light rays. No nits from me.

Lon

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

Comment posted by Morris McClung on November 13, 2012 at 8:08 PM

You've brought out a ton of detail in the sky and dunes. The clouds look a little brown on my monitor, but it is a dinosaur.

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on November 13, 2012 at 9:22 PM

Russell, This is very impressive! Wonderful light and shadows here. That sky is fantastic! and I like your dog...

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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