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Death Valley Dream
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Death Valley Dream

by Zack Schnepf

Gallery: 10 Years of NPNPosted April 4, 2010623 views19 comments
This is a new one, but is still my second favorite image of all time and already very popular with print sales. This one will always have special meaning to me because of how close I came to missing this moment. I had to make a mad dash to make it to this spot in time. I shot this handheld, and barely had time to get my camera out of my bag and change the settings to capture this moment before it was gone. I was dripping sweat from my sprint, and was breathing hard. After this shot I set up my tripod and captured many more images, but none were nearly this good, the light was very special for just one moment.

It's late now, but I'll get around to posting on all the other wonderful images in this gallery tomorrow.

Cheers

Comments

19 comments
Comment posted by Jonathan Sinclair on April 4, 2010 at 3:02 AM
absolutely breathtaking! the lighting is just wonderful! It always feels so good to get that perfect shot!
Registered on February 11, 2010, 35 Posts, 39 Comments
Comment posted by Stan Rose on April 4, 2010 at 12:52 PM
Terrific shot, Zack! Yep, its moments like this that make all the sweat and gear worrries worthwhile. Thanks for sharing (now we got to get you to CO to see some real dunes :wink: )
Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments
Comment posted by Helio Cristovao on April 4, 2010 at 12:57 PM
Zack, this is awesome. Dramatic light and sky, along with the tones you´ve captured in the lit dunes, just great. Worth the effort!
Registered on September 15, 2009, 83 Posts, 434 Comments
Comment posted by Andrius Pašukonis on April 4, 2010 at 9:48 PM
just stunning :toast: :toast:
Registered on July 23, 2005, 111 Posts, 408 Comments
Comment posted by István Molnár on April 6, 2010 at 12:57 PM
Wow!!
:toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast:
Registered on January 7, 2010, 114 Posts, 704 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Greenwood on April 6, 2010 at 7:44 PM
As a grand scenic, this is outstanding!

Have you considered a more intimate landscape pano crop of just the sinuous dune in the foreground? Cropped to just below the border between the sand and the background on the left edge, this has an appealing abstract quality.

Also, I'd suggest moving your copyright logo to the LRHC of this image.
Registered on November 9, 2003, 229 Posts, 1523 Comments
Comment posted by Wayne Jones on April 6, 2010 at 10:34 PM
Wow... This is one of those images that leaves me at a loss for words. Thanks for sharing another "Wow" experience.
Registered on April 18, 2007, 953 Posts, 6435 Comments
Comment posted by Jack Graham on April 6, 2010 at 11:59 PM
Zack.... powerful cloudes in DV can really make images pop. Thisnis abolut the best DV images I've seen in quite a while!
5 stars on this one!
Registered on November 26, 2003, 158 Posts, 574 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Chambers on April 8, 2010 at 8:46 AM
As I mentioned when you originally posted, I think this is one of your finest, and that's saying a lot. Just gorgeous.
Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments
Comment posted by Eva McDermott on April 8, 2010 at 9:28 PM
This is one of my favorites of yours Zack! A lot of drama going on here.
Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments
Comment posted by Morris McClung on April 9, 2010 at 1:19 PM
Just an epic shot!
Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments
Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on April 10, 2010 at 6:56 AM
Amazing. One of the top 3 Death Valley shots I've ever seen. The arrangement of shapes is just perfection.
Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments
Comment posted by Carol Nichols on April 10, 2010 at 8:47 AM
Zack, I've loved many of the photos you have posted in the 3 years that I have been visiting this forum. This image has got to be at the very top of that group. Just amazing :toast:
Registered on November 7, 2007, 161 Posts, 1420 Comments
Comment posted by Ron Pullen on April 10, 2010 at 10:23 PM
This is fantastic, awesome light and comp.. Ron :toast: :toast:
Registered on December 18, 2005, 74 Posts, 1413 Comments
Comment posted by Robert Dayton on April 10, 2010 at 11:58 PM
It's obvious why this is one of your favorites. Congratulations, Zack!
Registered on November 11, 2008, 281 Posts, 3958 Comments
Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on April 11, 2010 at 9:19 PM
It's simply gorgeous! Great colors and amazing light. :toast:
Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments
Comment posted by Verena & Georg Pop on April 14, 2010 at 11:27 AM
very, very beautiful with so much to explore for the eyes!
georg
Registered on July 5, 2006, 272 Posts, 2823 Comments
Comment posted by Buck Ward on April 17, 2010 at 2:28 PM
Creamy, dreamy dunes and dramatic sky separated and connected by a strand of rugged mountains. You caught the light just right. Great!
Registered on December 8, 2003, 96 Posts, 1917 Comments
Comment posted by Gary Minish on April 27, 2010 at 12:16 AM
You have many amazing shots, Zack, but I believe this is my favorite. The sky is absolutely incredible and the sand dunes make a beatiful base for the display. Exposure, colors and detail are all perfect. It just doesn't get any better than this. I'm glad you made it there in time so that we all get a chance to appreciate this amazing scene. :toast: :toast:
Registered on February 4, 2006, 625 Posts, 3583 Comments