Starlight Dunes

Gallery: LandscapePosted June 15, 2013758 views12 comments

Lencois Maranhenses Sand Dunes, Brazil.

The Milky Way rises over the dunes of Lencois Maranhenses. The long exposure picked up some of the lights of the small village of Barreirinhas in the distance. The conversion to jpeg changed the contrast a bit, so I may have to go back to work the file for the web. My preference is for a subtle milky way and I realize the image is a bit dark, but that was my experience in the dunes, so I left it that way. This is seriously one of the coolest places in the world to photograph! I'd appreciate any feedback.

Thanks!

Mike

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on June 16, 2013 at 12:17 AM

Your scenes always amaze me Mike. This is quite an eerie, almost extraterrestrial but extraordinarily beautiful scene.

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by Paul DeCesare on June 16, 2013 at 2:08 AM

Gorgeous. And what makes it is that the MW isn't the only subject, it's just a part of the overall scene, almost like it happens to be there and as long as it is it might as well look great.

Beautiful image.

Registered on August 31, 2007, 29 Posts, 202 Comments

Comment posted by Roel Wijtmans on June 16, 2013 at 2:26 AM

Now that's how I like to see the Milky Way. Quite often it is done so over the top that it loses credibility, but this is perfect! I don't mind pictures like these to be a bit dark, they are taken in darkness after all, so it is often a good thing. Nice one!

Registered on September 30, 2012, 116 Posts, 2257 Comments

Comment posted by David Edwards on June 16, 2013 at 2:27 AM

An amazing shot Mike. I love the color tones and the hint of orange glow from the village on the horizon. I also like the lines of the dunes and water lines. It is quiet a dark image, but I guess it's a fine line between preserving the mood and showing more detail.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 142 Posts, 2623 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Lundh on June 16, 2013 at 2:48 AM

This one definitely has a Mike Anderson cool/surreal feel to it. These dunes against the water are just trippy. I would love to see it one day. Great shot, as always!

Registered on April 28, 2004, 774 Posts, 4351 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Coskun on June 16, 2013 at 3:46 AM

Another masterpiece Michael! Those lines in those dunes just have such a great flow and lead perfectly to the milky way. I'm hoping my brother can take me out here one of these days as he travels to Brazil quite often.

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

Comment posted by scott lanz on June 16, 2013 at 7:23 AM

Exceptional image, Mike. What I like about this image, other then the subject and comp, is the way the landscape light, tones and color looks natural and consistent with sky and MW. Often, the night sky is obviously incongruous with the time of day the foreground was shot. This image is seamless.

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

Comment posted by Rick Turner on June 16, 2013 at 12:34 PM

Lots to love about this one Mike.

The dark nature adds to the overall mood captured..
Very well seen and processed.

Registered on February 18, 2012, 534 Posts, 2755 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on June 16, 2013 at 2:56 PM

Hey Mike,

It's always a pleasure and visual treat when you post an image here. This one is simply outstanding; special. Perhaps one of the best and most natural portrayals of the Milky Way that I've seen posted. The patterns in the dunes and the distant glow on the horizon bring this all together.

An amazing photograph. Thanks for sharing it here! Good to see a post from you.

Lon

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

Comment posted by Gary McGhee on June 16, 2013 at 3:14 PM

This looks terrific Michael, really beautifully done.

Gary.

Registered on April 15, 2010, 142 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Hamed Musharbak on June 17, 2013 at 3:25 AM

Registered on June 1, 2009, 372 Posts, 2282 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Cameron on June 17, 2013 at 4:36 AM

I still want to go here Michael and I think this dark presentation is wonderful and the splash of "city" lights entirely complementary.

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