Lord of the Dunes

Gallery: LandscapePosted September 1, 2010676 views61 comments

Since there seems to be a lot of atmospheric phenomena popping up in today's gallery, here's another one, shot in the Great Sand Dunes yesterday afternoon. I got an email informing me that the sunflower crop was the best in years, so i sped out to the park to catch the show. In between flowers, i couldn't overlook the nice crepuscular rays to the west. The wind was screaming, i thought the sand would blast the skin off my neck, so this shot (a quick two exposures is all i had time for) took three attempts--i was standing on a crest and the sand blasting was so intense that i was forced to retreat on my first two tries. Im still digging sand out of my ears...
5D; 70-300; 2exp blend at f/20
C&C welcome!

Comments

61 comments

Comment posted by Daniel Ewert on September 1, 2010 at 7:32 PM

The illumination here is outstanding, Stan. I love how the light hits those dunes in the distance.

Registered on June 2, 2009, 103 Posts, 1500 Comments

Comment posted by Jeremy Kessler on September 1, 2010 at 7:42 PM

This is awesome! One of your best images imho. Great work.

Registered on September 13, 2007, 36 Posts, 1283 Comments

Comment posted by Carol Nichols on September 1, 2010 at 7:47 PM

Stan, I think this is my favorite of your sand dune images. Truly outstanding in every way.

Registered on November 7, 2007, 161 Posts, 1420 Comments

Comment posted by Art Escobado on September 1, 2010 at 7:52 PM

Very very nice-I agree this is one of your best!!

Registered on January 7, 2007, 0 Posts, 775 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Dayton on September 1, 2010 at 8:01 PM

I've only been to the Great Sand Dunes once. This encourages me
to return. The light is spectacular. Thanks for sharing, Stan.

Registered on November 11, 2008, 281 Posts, 3958 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on September 1, 2010 at 8:04 PM

Thanks, folks! I was thinking this was probably a top-ten dune shot for me, so i was hoping i wasnt fooling myself. The conditions were just great yesterday.

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Rodney Dugmore on September 1, 2010 at 8:08 PM

Top shot Stan.
Lots of atmosphere magic!

Registered on January 3, 2004, 76 Posts, 1028 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on September 1, 2010 at 8:18 PM

Stan, this is lovely. I don't have the words. It's a privilege to see this.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by John Mumaw on September 1, 2010 at 8:20 PM

As said, truly one of your best from here.
In fact, this could possibly be the cover of your book!

Registered on September 9, 2005, 62 Posts, 2289 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Lowe on September 1, 2010 at 8:25 PM

Flat out awesome light, Stan!

Ed

Registered on February 7, 2004, 414 Posts, 7115 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on September 1, 2010 at 8:32 PM

I really like the drama of the rays, the color, the light, and the flow (probably due to the intense wind you describe). A really beautiful capture Stan! One of my favorites from you. I experience the same feeling of the drama I sence on my favorite ocean beaches in NS and ME. Really hits home for me even though an inland scene. That should speak volumes on how much I lke this. I am enveloped in this scene.

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

Comment posted by Erik Stensland on September 1, 2010 at 8:37 PM

Bravo! Great image Stan! I love the rays and the movement of the blowing sand. Thanks for enduring the torture to bring us this beauty!

Registered on September 27, 2004, 121 Posts, 718 Comments

Comment posted by Arnab Banerjee on September 1, 2010 at 8:59 PM

awesome shot Stan. sometimes all you need is great condition - and a quick exposure does the trick

Registered on January 3, 2007, 313 Posts, 2270 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on September 1, 2010 at 9:01 PM

This will deserve a place of high prominence in the "Dunes" gallery you will open someday!

Those Godbeams take this one to a level all by itself. Fantastic,
Muad' Dib!
And I feel you, about the sand in the ears!

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on September 1, 2010 at 9:18 PM

Stan,

I really like the warmth of this image. In spite of the blasting sand, it looks very inviting.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 474 Posts, 5555 Comments

Comment posted by Don Grall on September 1, 2010 at 9:34 PM

Wow, and Wow, the light and the comp makes this beauty really pop......

This needs to be printed billboard size!!!

Registered on November 18, 2003, 16 Posts, 132 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Jones on September 1, 2010 at 9:55 PM

FANTASTIC! The beams and illumination make this one special, and I get the sense of blowing sand, too. A wonderful combination of the serene light and the dynamic feel of the wind.

Registered on April 18, 2007, 953 Posts, 6435 Comments

Comment posted by Koveh Tavakkol on September 1, 2010 at 10:17 PM

Fantastic lighting Stan!

Registered on September 1, 2009, 41 Posts, 608 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Duval on September 1, 2010 at 10:28 PM

As long as you don't have to dig it out of your camera it was worth it. Great subject and wonderful light show Stan.

Paul

Registered on June 30, 2009, 508 Posts, 1907 Comments

Comment posted by Greg Cope on September 1, 2010 at 10:32 PM

Nice. What light to have to endure :) All in all while I like the foreground, for me this screams pano with a crop off the bottom. There's also a bit of noise coming through the shadows. Suggestions aside, I love it.

Registered on January 22, 2007, 212 Posts, 2737 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Budliger on September 1, 2010 at 10:38 PM

Well worth the suffering if you ask me as this is a damn nice image!

Registered on June 11, 2006, 113 Posts, 2116 Comments

Comment posted by Nicolaus Wegner on September 1, 2010 at 11:06 PM

Very cool shot Stan. I know how intense those sandstorms can be, and I feel your pain. Looks like it totally paid off though. Wicked shot. The rays really do work on this one.

Registered on February 21, 2010, 133 Posts, 1509 Comments

Comment posted by Rajeev Thomas on September 1, 2010 at 11:49 PM

Stan..awesome image... beautiful colors and spectacular light captured so well! You rock!

Registered on February 20, 2008, 0 Posts, 291 Comments

Comment posted by Jeffrey Sipress on September 1, 2010 at 11:53 PM

Nice image, Stan. This is soothing.

Registered on February 17, 2004, 236 Posts, 1197 Comments

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on September 1, 2010 at 11:58 PM

It's pretty Stan but I'm not personally feeling like it's one of your best. The composition is adequate though there's little for strong lines and the foreground takes me one way - into a dark spot while the light is on the other side. Sorry. Please just disregard my comment in favor of the others who clearly love this one as you do - you know it's a good thing we all don't see things the same way!

Registered on September 17, 2005, 780 Posts, 8091 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on September 2, 2010 at 1:12 AM

Absolutely, Marc--i appreciate your comment! I wasnt really concerned too much for the composition here (just surviving the wind), my main interest here was just showing the combo of lines of wind (as seen in the blowing sand) and lines of light (as seen in the rays, from grains of water instead of earth) Any impact beyond that is just gravy...

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Anil Rao on September 2, 2010 at 1:47 AM

Very very attractive Stan. The overall darkness of the distant dunes is actually quite stunning and a wonderful component of the overall composition. The light and the effect of the flying sand is aptly portrayed here. I really enjoyed viewing this picture.

Registered on November 15, 2003, 234 Posts, 4923 Comments

Comment posted by Wade Hardy on September 2, 2010 at 2:11 AM

Extraordinary light & image!!!!!!!

Registered on May 2, 2006, 121 Posts, 1824 Comments

Comment posted by Carl Donohue on September 2, 2010 at 2:36 AM

Hey Stan

Gorgeous.

Cheers

Carl

Registered on November 1, 2003, 46 Posts, 589 Comments

Comment posted by Abdullaziz Bin Ali on September 2, 2010 at 5:10 AM

Very nice picture
I love the exposure Stan
I feel the FG needs more texture
Otherwise, it is perfect

Registered on May 31, 2009, 112 Posts, 1590 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Wegemann on September 2, 2010 at 7:12 AM

Thanks for enduring the conditions to bring us this, Stan. Absolutely incredible!

Registered on December 14, 2006, 58 Posts, 1888 Comments

Comment posted by Muhammad Zaid Wani on September 2, 2010 at 8:09 AM

Outstanding!

Registered on August 18, 2005, 23 Posts, 1406 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on September 2, 2010 at 8:44 AM

Oh man, this is sweet - love those rays and the FG ripples. Very nice comp too.

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by Soubhik Patranabis on September 2, 2010 at 10:16 AM

Wow Stan ! This is mindblowing.

Registered on January 25, 2010, 54 Posts, 610 Comments

Comment posted by Aleksandra Miesak on September 2, 2010 at 10:47 AM

Incredible light and that sand does look fierce! It's been way too long since I've been down there.

Registered on March 1, 2009, 15 Posts, 133 Comments

Comment posted by Kent Mearig on September 2, 2010 at 10:47 AM

Self proclaimed, eh Stan?

It turned out fantastic despite the rushed effort.

Registered on September 4, 2006, 237 Posts, 4748 Comments

Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on September 2, 2010 at 12:21 PM

I like this a whole lot, Stan. The light is killer, as is the glow from the blowing sand. I'd say this could be in the top ten, but it's not really one of my favorites from you. You know, you set the Dune-bar extremely high.

Registered on July 26, 2007, 244 Posts, 2807 Comments

Comment posted by Nicolas Belokurov on September 2, 2010 at 12:35 PM

Reminds me of Dune; quite a light show you have there. I really like the subtle sand textures in the foreground.

Registered on July 22, 2009, 41 Posts, 533 Comments

Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on September 2, 2010 at 1:48 PM

Excellent work, Stan. I read through a lot of the comments and I agree with those who would put this among your better/best shots from this location. You have quite a few that are superb. There's a bit of an otherwordly feel to this--the result, I suppose, of the slightly darkened landscape even with the bright sun still well above the horizon--that makes it unique. I really enjoy it.

Registered on August 24, 2009, 123 Posts, 3099 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on September 2, 2010 at 2:08 PM

Wow, great job on this one Stan!

Mark

Registered on June 19, 2009, 276 Posts, 6240 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Cameron on September 2, 2010 at 3:09 PM

Hi Stan

I have been following your dune shots and this is most definitely the best and most interesting I have seen from you yet. The lighting is quite fascinating and the haze of sand in the mid band certainly tells me it's windy. I think the composition is just fine though generally with these God beams I prefer a dark band across the sky to contain the light source. The lighting makes these much more three dimensional than some of your other shots.

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

Comment posted by Paolo De Faveri on September 2, 2010 at 6:51 PM

Fantastic work Stan, definitely one of your best. There's a lot to enjoy here, the shapes, colours, contrast, the patches of light on the distant dunes. And what I like the best is the blown sand in the middle ground catching the light in such a wonderful way, it really sets this apart from any other desert picture I've seen so far.

Congratulations on a top notch image.

Paolo

Registered on August 29, 2007, 318 Posts, 1651 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Baumbach on September 2, 2010 at 8:29 PM

This is beautiful, Stan. It might be my favorite of your dune photos.

- Dan.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 473 Posts, 7980 Comments

Comment posted by John Williams on September 2, 2010 at 8:34 PM

I too think this is one of your better shots from here. That's saying something. I agree that the bright mid-band really brings the dissonant parts of the comp together.

Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments

Comment posted by Kent Mearig on September 2, 2010 at 8:54 PM

By the way, I'm totally on board with a "top ten" credential, but saying this is "the one", as some have, is not fair to your body of work from this place. Although, to each their own.

Registered on September 4, 2006, 237 Posts, 4748 Comments

Comment posted by Jay Nielsen on September 2, 2010 at 9:22 PM

Absolutly beautiful light on the dunes topped off spectacularly with the rays, great shot!!

Registered on October 6, 2008, 137 Posts, 720 Comments

Comment posted by Russell Colletta on September 2, 2010 at 11:01 PM

I'm very late to the party of those enjoying this spectacular image, not much else to say but wow! This image has "soul" and it's a beautiful one.

Registered on October 31, 2009, 114 Posts, 1008 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on September 2, 2010 at 11:06 PM

If you don't count the four or five alternates, this does make the top ten!!! For me it does anyway. But I won't try and list them in any order though. I think the light, and blowing sand here are dramatic enough to forgive you a little on the comp. I'm not even sure there is any weakness there to worry about either. Looks great to me!

Chris

Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments

Comment posted by Ay Ling HAN on September 3, 2010 at 10:14 AM

Wow, this is awesome, Stan. I love everything about it. The light and shadows ~ the tonal range ~ the subtlety of its hues complemented by the clarity in its contrasts ~ the variety of the gracefulness of the lines of the mounds and in the sand, as well as the strong straight ones of the rays. I LOVE your photograph.

Your description of the wind sounds like it's one of those images that is best enjoyed in photos than in reality, unless you have gear protecting your senses and body.

Thanks.

Ay Ling

Registered on December 22, 2009, 0 Posts, 5 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Koepsel on September 3, 2010 at 10:34 AM

Stan, I like how the blowing sand softens the edge of the near dune, especially with the light giving it a sllight glow, and seeing the streams of blowing sand and yet the ripples in the foreground. The sunrays add quite a bit, as I tried envisioning the image without them. Along the top edge near center, the small bit of darker cloud catches my eye.

Registered on April 1, 2010, 196 Posts, 1592 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on September 3, 2010 at 11:49 AM

Wow! All has been said. Super shot with great feeling and depth.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Cory O'Neill on September 3, 2010 at 12:02 PM

Great control of the dynamic range, Stan! This is a beautiful image, definitely one of my favorites from your collection. Awesome!

Registered on October 4, 2008, 28 Posts, 273 Comments

Comment posted by Jeff Loomis on September 3, 2010 at 12:37 PM

Absolutely stunning! Definitely an eye-popping WOW image if I ever saw one.

Congrats and thanks for sharing.

Registered on January 26, 2010, 68 Posts, 719 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on September 3, 2010 at 2:52 PM

Absolutely Beautiful!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on September 3, 2010 at 6:19 PM

Thanks for all the kind comments, folks! Ive ogt one more from this trip that i really like--will post that next week probably. Will post something a little more challenging today

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on September 4, 2010 at 1:08 AM

the dappled light really makes this one for me stan, with the softness and subtle lines of the FG dune because of the blowing sand. i disagree with comments saying this is your best dunes shot: for me, some of your other extraordinarily well contructed compositions are your outstanding dune photos. still, it is undoubtedly very nice.

Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments

Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on September 4, 2010 at 1:50 AM

What exceptional lighting! Not bad comp either, and the God rays top this off beautifully. All the elements are here and you took full advantage. Thanks for subjecting yourself to the harsh elements to catch this. Print it large!

Registered on March 23, 2006, 1111 Posts, 6531 Comments

Comment posted by Wendy Blanchard on September 4, 2010 at 1:16 PM

Just beautiful! I love the lighting and soft sand.

Registered on June 11, 2006, 58 Posts, 647 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on September 4, 2010 at 6:55 PM

Stan,

Just wanted to post a comment so you could get to 62.

Congrats, a glorious image.

Lon

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

Comment posted by Ricardo La Piettra on September 4, 2010 at 6:57 PM

63. Sorry for the late reply. AMAZING scene Stan, just beautiful. Congrats.

Registered on July 22, 2009, 62 Posts, 730 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on September 7, 2010 at 12:27 PM

When im 64....

Thanks for all the nice comments, folks!

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments