Another Dunes Interpretation

I am impressed with Jack Brauer's images from Great Sand Dunes National Park. I am also most impressed that he hiked around the dunes and spent four days out there. My forays were in for morning and back for evening. Climbing in the sand took all that my 66-year-old body could give. I very much enjoyed the experience and hope I can contribute a couple of worthy images to the forum.

Here is a morning shot from the highway into the Dunes.

Rod, that first image is stunning! I might boost the contrast a little or at least increase the highlights, but otherwise terrific! The second image seems either un-sharpened or out of focus. It could just be that I'm tired and not focusing myself.

I really like that second one, although it seems the telephoto has reduced the focal range to cover only the dunes. Not that everything would need to be in focus, but it seems the mountains should be. Regardless, a fine image and I absolutely love how those wispy clouds impact the image.

Erik, Thanks for your kind words. I shot the second image with my Nikon 28-200 mm @ 200mm. It was tripod mounted, of course, but the wind was blowing and the autofocus had difficulty locking in. I shot this at f/11 so there should have been plenty of DOF. I am guessing that the autofocus difficulty is the villain. I can't see well enough to tell when the image is perfectly sharp. I have a couple others that I will post tomorrow.

I like the contrast in textures in the first one, and I love the colors and light in the second.
Both seem to have some sharpening issues in your presentation here. Hopefully your files are sharp, because these are both excellent.

I like both. The second stands out for the wave clouds in the background mimicking the dune structure.

I like 'em both very much. As noted, both have softness issues, but that aside you had some good light and your compositions are very good.

Nice work Rod! I am headed there myself this comming week. One thing about the Dunes they are always changing and that is what I like about them... no end to the photo ops!

Aside from the already mentioned softness, I like these both, especially the first one. You caught some wonderful light on the dunes.

I especially like the first one with leading lines of the ripples deadending into the flow of the dunes, the 2nd appears soft as if too much noise reduction was used but it could also look that way if the wind was blowing sand across the dunes.

Rod.... great job!! The first and second are beautiful stuff.

I really like both images but it is the first that is the most captivating visually to me. The lines, texture and lightplay throughout are great.

Hi Rod, I really like the first one, with its zig-zagging lines of light going into the background.

Really like the texture of the dunes in the first image.