My 1st Visit to Great Sand Dunes and Sunset Shot

On the way to Aspen Friday night from Santa Fe, the timing worked out perfectly for us to make our first brief visit to Great Sand Dunes at sunset. The light was great (but western clouds stopped the sky from going pink), so we headed to the entry area to do the classic photograph. What a great view! We will certainly be returning many times, as I now understand the pull of that place.

I can only echo the same sentiment, in fact I think I actually said "whoa!" aloud. Awesome shot

Is this using a telephoto from the road? Beautiful shot.

Congratulations Brian. This is a beautiful photo. I also like the peaks very much. I wonder what focal length you used here?

I am looking forward to your other photos as well. Thanks for posting!

This is spectacular Brian. One would think you'd been shooting there for years.

I too am curious about which length you used.

Sweet shot, Brian. The snow up there made for some great photography. I was there this weekend also, but got setup Friday night just as the sun was dipping below those western clouds. I was racing up the road wishing the speed limit was 120! The next morning made up for it though!

Were you parked on the side of the road near the general store?

Yes, Rick, parked near the General Store. Taken from off the road about a 100-feet or so.

Thanks for the comments everyone! I used the 70-200 f4. All check actuall focal distance tonight.

And Momo, I should have a pano you'll like from this spot if I get the time to get it put together.

Really great shot, Brian. Love all the layers.

Well done Brian - a very impressive image no matter how many times you've been there! The glowing snowy mountains and menacing sky really cap off the layered effect that you composed.

Brian, way to go! The clouds and white mtns with the light really make this one glow. Fantastic.

Craig

All I can say is WOW!!
Each of the layers give the photo a cool 3D feel to it.

Brian

This is a beautiful image!

Brian, I've seen enough of the standard dunes photos to be a little complacent with them. but this is actually REALLY nice and oustanding. I was curious of the lens you used?

The photo was taken with my 5D and a 70-200 lens. I'll have to check the focal distance tonight, but if I recall it was somewhere near 150mm I've also cropped the shot a bit tighter, so it probably would be the equivalent of 200mm, if not a bit more.

I wonder: did the clouds glow red later on (with the glow reflecting down)? Any more photos? I hope you add more photos to your website.

Really awesome shot Brian. One of the best sunset shots I have seen from that vantage point without question!!!

The snow on the peaks brings this one over the top. Wow.

Simply stunning! This is gorgeous and should be printed large!!

It's hard to even make a suggestion on such work, but have you tried cropping the grassy foreground?

I agree about the snow being the icing on the cake, but I think without it it would still be beautiful.

Nice work!

Great shot! The snow on the peaks pushes this one over the top.

Brian I love the snow with the sand and even the clouds look great with the low light. Fantastic shot!!

Again, thanks everyone for the comments.

I shot this at 200mm. It's cropped in some as well, so I guess it would be closer 250mm. Man, do I need to get the 1.4 ext.

I'll just add another "oooh, ahhhh".
Great shot!!

Gorgeous shot, Brian! Love the clarity of the dunes and mountains; it was not so well-defined where/when I was there this weekend. Beautiful - a keeper and something that ought be printed in large sizes.