In the dunes

Gallery: LandscapePosted November 13, 2012193 views13 comments

This is the another look at Great Sand Dunes NP, from a more iconic spot inside the dunes. I stayed as long as our schedule permitted, but really would have like to be there even later in the day. Stan approved my passport application, so that next trip will happen ASAP. This is a really amazing place. The base of the dunes is over 8000 feet in elevation. The Sangre de Christo mountains are in the background. The sand is warm in color, and constantly changing. Bought a D600 and can't wait to see how it handles a place like this.

Nikon D300s, Nikkor 16-85 @16mm, ISO 100 ploarizer, processed in Lightroom 4. Believe it or not, the saturation slider is at 0, and the vibrance is at +50. This is simply a place with great light. Hope the larger version has the detail I'm seeing.

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on November 13, 2012 at 8:56 PM

Nice! Love the big triangle here. The sky is maybe a tad too dialed back/hdr for my tastes, but definitely a keeper overall.

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

Comment posted by Morris McClung on November 13, 2012 at 8:59 PM

Ditto on the very effective comp. Great natural color and good control over the exposure. I see Stan's point, but it doesn't need to be pulled back much. Beautiful image.

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

Comment posted by Russell Colletta on November 13, 2012 at 9:01 PM

Thanks Stan, yeah I shot this with a polarizer and subsequently had a hard time controlling the sky. There's a Lightroom ND filter over the sky with the saturation slider set to -100! Don't know how this is working, unless it's just the altitude and and polarizer working.

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

Comment posted by Zack Clothier on November 13, 2012 at 9:16 PM

Nice composition, the sky looks a bit to polarized, but not bad, perhaps dodging some of the darker blues would help. In the larger version I noticed the upper portion of the sky is devoid of color, probably a result of the lightroom ND filter set to -100 sat, might want to go back and bring back some color there.

Registered on January 28, 2010, 343 Posts, 2257 Comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on November 13, 2012 at 9:20 PM

Wow, that's nice Russ. Well composed, and the clouds add a lot to the impressive dunes.

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on November 13, 2012 at 9:29 PM

Very nice! Great comp, and I just love the texture in that sand from front to back.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Peter Coskun on November 13, 2012 at 9:55 PM

Great textures in the sand. The sky does look a bit dark here, but sorta gives it some nice drama.

Registered on October 31, 2011, 170 Posts, 1240 Comments

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on November 13, 2012 at 10:56 PM

Large version is absolutely stunning. I love all that warm sand beneath the chaotic sky. Details are incredible. Nicely done

Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on November 13, 2012 at 11:20 PM

Great depth to this scene. The lines in the sand just draw you into the back of the image. Very nice.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on November 13, 2012 at 11:56 PM

I like the daylight light you captured here. The rich dark color of the sand works well against the blue sky and dynamic clouds.

Chris

Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seawell on November 14, 2012 at 1:09 AM

On point Russell! This is definitely a winner. I would probably want me sky but that means exactly nothing.

Keeper

Mark Seawell

Registered on December 5, 2011, 197 Posts, 237 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on November 14, 2012 at 3:38 AM

Russell,

I really like your chosen composition here. I think a great choice on giving all the attention to the sand dune/ripples and letting the sand lead the viewer in to the scene. I too thought the sky was a bit polarized - but then sometimes I think it just works. If anything, I wish there was a tad more sky for more of a 2/3 - 1/3 balance, but that's minor.

Lon

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

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on November 14, 2012 at 9:47 AM

Beautiful dune image with amazing clouds. I would echo the comments about the sky be a little on the polarized side, but overall the image works very, very well.

Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments