My sand dunes adventure

After several days of relentlessly warm, clear weather and uneven colors earlier this week, I was getting kind of bummed on the whole fall colors thing. So I decided that since I was up here in Colorado, I should expand my horizons. Inspired by great the work I'd seen on this forum, I decided to check out the Great Sand Dunes National Park. I arrived after sunset and really liked their undulating, sinuous shapes and patters in the evening gloom.

The next morning I went out well before sunrise to try some low-light photography. First things first - those suckers are HUGE! And walking on sand (especially uphill) - well, it's an awesome workout. I figured out quickly that you try to walk on the wet (darker) sand, and the trick is to keep your feet flat, not push off with your toes. But still, you're going to sink and slide around. I wonder how snowshoes would work on the sand??

I made it to one of the higher dunes by sunrise. I find myself drawn to abstract shapes, so I was in heaven there!

A little later in the morning...

And a closeup, with animal tracks!

Last abstract shot, I promise...

I came back in the afternoon. By then, the wind was howling out of the northeast. Cool, I thought - maybe I'll be able to get some blowing sand shots! So I set out. Before I got to the dunes proper, I met a couple photographing. The wife was wearing shorts and complained that the sand was stinging her legs. I should have taken that as a warning! (I was in jeans and didn't feel anything at that point.) Sure enough, I got some blowing sand shots.

But I thought it would be cool to go ahead and get closer to the action - you know, be in the middle of the blowing sands. So off I climbed. The higher I got, the harder the wind blew. Mostly, the sand stayed close to the ground. Mostly. At times, the wind was so strong that I literally almost was swept off my feet. As I got higher, the swirling wind and sand felt like a living entity set on tearing me apart. Sand stung my hands and face. I had to keep my head facing away from the sand, turning only enough to see where I was going. I had my camera tucked under my windbreaker in an effort to protect it. However, I did manage to get a few snaps from inside the sandstorm. Changing lenses was out of the question in those conditions, so all the photos I took were with a 70-200 that was on the camera when I started.

Sandstorm intimate...

Sometimes I am too stubborn for my own good, and this was one of those times. I made it all the way to the top of one of the higher dunes - took me about two hours. The sun was setting by then, and I made a few more record shots and came to my senses and headed back. Back meant going into the wind, but at least it was downhill! I am still getting sand out of my shoes, windbreaker pockets, hair, nose, and ears! But my camera seems none the worse for the wear, thank goodness!

Last one, sunset from inside the sandstorm...

Probably not the smartest thing I've ever done, but it was certainly an adventure!

These were all taken with my Canon 5D (the original, not the Mk II) and mostly a 70-200 f/2.8 lens. The star shot was six minutes with a 24mm f/2.8 lens, and I do have noise issues as a result.

That's a great set documenting your adventure. I especially like the animal tracks abstract.

I'm amazed that your 70-200 doesn't have that sickening grating sound as you zoom!
Maybe the blowing pebbles were too large to get into the barrel.

Quite a set, Erik! My favorites are "Little later in the morning" and the animal tracks. The last two are very strong as well, particularly the second-to-last. It's not often that a shot both approaches abstraction and captures intensity and natures harshness at the same time!

A nice set. I also particularly like the ones Jackson mentioned.

Erik, I admire you for braving those conditions. I gave up on a similar day. I love the set but favorites are 2, 3 and the "last abstract." Great work. Happy camera cleaning.

Erik...these are wicked cool! The conditions look crazy....but love how you captured them. I am a huge abstract fan, so don't be sorry and keep them coming. The 4th , 5th and 6th are my favorites!

I love all the blowing sand shots. I'd be scared to death to take my gear into that, which is why I have no dunes images. Nice work.

Wow....what an adventure! And a fine pictorial along with it.
Wouldn't have been surprising if you had come home empty handed under these conditions, but you got some outstanding intimates here. My favorites are #'s 3-6, with those windy shots right behind.

Nice collection of images.

Fantastic set with 4 and 5 my favorites and the wind shots are right there with those! Way to persevere in crazy conditions!

#4 is outstanding!

Thanks, everyone, for your comments. Not sure I'd ever deliberately put myself (and my gear) in those kind of conditions again! But I'd love to spend some more time at the dunes, maybe in late spring / early summer with snow on the mountains and Mendano Creek flowing.

Great stuff, Erik--i really love 4,9, 11 especially! My telephoto is about to lose its AF thanks to the sand...it is definitely russian roulette shooting in the dunes with your gear, let me tell you, you never know when the sand will catch up to you I went to the dunes for some fall colors over the weekend (see latest post )

Wow - that is so cool , fantastic set of images.