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Windscour
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Windscour

by Morris McClung

Gallery: LandscapePosted September 2, 2010389 views33 comments
The wind was blowing so hard when I visited the Great Sand Dunes, that it seemed to have scoured the sand off of this area to reveal the substrate packed sand and the lines they contained.

Comments and critiques always welcome, and thanks for looking,

Morris

Comments

33 comments
Comment posted by David W. Kelly on September 2, 2010 at 5:55 PM
Beautiful image Morris. Wonderful detail.
Registered on October 7, 2005, 883 Posts, 6590 Comments
Comment posted by Paolo De Faveri on September 2, 2010 at 6:08 PM
Wow, that sand almost looks like rock! Amazing details and a striking composition, very dynamic. I also like very much that you included those mountains in the distance covered with vegetation. You don't expect it - well, at least I don't - and it adds a lot of interest in my opinion, as when you talk about deserts, you don't expect to find trees! :wink:

By the way, the foreground alone could make a fantastic semi-abstract.

Great work Morris!

:wavey:
Paolo
Registered on August 29, 2007, 318 Posts, 1651 Comments
Comment posted by Morris McClung on September 2, 2010 at 6:11 PM
Thanks David and Paolo. And Paulo, that will be my next post. :smile:
Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments
Comment posted by John Mumaw on September 2, 2010 at 6:18 PM
I was hopin' to see this one here!
Truly excellent from top to bottom. One might even say, "..very McClungy"! :razz:
Registered on September 9, 2005, 62 Posts, 2289 Comments
Comment posted by Joseph Rossbach on September 2, 2010 at 6:25 PM
Absolutely awesome Morris!!! :toast:
Registered on November 25, 2005, 484 Posts, 1377 Comments
Comment posted by Marc Adamus on September 2, 2010 at 6:36 PM
Wonderful find. Considering the loss of the sky exposure, I'd just prefer cropping it. The foreground is more than interesting enough!
Registered on September 17, 2005, 780 Posts, 8091 Comments
Comment posted by scott lanz on September 2, 2010 at 6:55 PM
Fascinating, well composed photograph. :toast:
Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments
Comment posted by Nicolaus Wegner on September 2, 2010 at 6:57 PM
Crazy patterns...do you have any more with just them? Totally trippy and awesome!
Registered on February 21, 2010, 133 Posts, 1509 Comments
Comment posted by Stan Rose on September 2, 2010 at 7:04 PM
Very nice! Im with Marc--i prefer the bottom as an abstract (although maybe if the sky were slightly more blue...) Those patterns were great--you might recognize them in the B&W i posted in that 'other' place :wink:
Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments
Comment posted by John Williams on September 2, 2010 at 8:18 PM
Spectacular foreground Morris, I look forward to the next one.
Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments
Comment posted by Jay Nielsen on September 2, 2010 at 8:48 PM
Very awesome textures and patterns with a nice flowing lines hidden in there, great shot!!
Registered on October 6, 2008, 137 Posts, 720 Comments
Comment posted by Eva McDermott on September 2, 2010 at 8:49 PM
The patterns you have captured here are wonderful Morris. Fantastic abstract in the lower 80% of the image. Very unique!
Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments
Comment posted by Rudy Ruberti on September 2, 2010 at 9:05 PM
Cool shot Morris. The cross bedding in the sand looks just like the cross bedding in sandstone. Nice find.
Registered on October 28, 2008, 179 Posts, 1875 Comments
Comment posted by Russell Colletta on September 2, 2010 at 10:53 PM
This is a great image Morris. Facinating lines, soft light, great find at the perfect moment.
Registered on October 31, 2009, 114 Posts, 1008 Comments
Comment posted by Jeremy Kessler on September 2, 2010 at 11:54 PM
Great Image Morris. I like the crop Idea.
Registered on September 13, 2007, 36 Posts, 1283 Comments
Comment posted by Michael R Reynolds on September 3, 2010 at 12:23 AM
Morris, I like the way you've used the stridations in the sand to lead the eye into the image. Nicely done. Best Regards.
Registered on February 26, 2008, 54 Posts, 812 Comments
Comment posted by dean hebert on September 3, 2010 at 12:38 AM
I love the scoured rock beneath the sand. I could definitly see this without the BG. :toast:
Registered on August 4, 2010, 70 Posts, 1132 Comments
Comment posted by Steve Sieren on September 3, 2010 at 4:26 AM
Fantastic find Morris, the patterns are out of the ordinary. The horizon line gives you some great perspective on where you are. I am curious as to why you didin't under expose the sky, it seems to be a pattern of this forum?
Registered on January 2, 2008, 360 Posts, 5321 Comments
Comment posted by Bob Duff on September 3, 2010 at 7:26 AM
Morris I like the image as is. It gives a real sense of place. the juxtaposition of the sand dunes and the mountains/greenery is appealing. I can also see aditional images coming out of this one with equal effect. Very nicely seen and captured.
Registered on April 21, 2010, 160 Posts, 1675 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Chambers on September 3, 2010 at 8:07 AM
Great catch Morris! I like this just as is, I think the sky adds to it. A super strong composition and great use of the lines.
Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments
Comment posted by Soubhik Patranabis on September 3, 2010 at 10:50 AM
As usual, beautiful shot Morris.
Registered on January 25, 2010, 54 Posts, 610 Comments
Comment posted by Karsten Wrobel on September 3, 2010 at 11:08 AM
superb patterns, Morris. I like the comp you have chosen... staring at this, makes me feel like a fighter pilot in Star Wars racing across some planet :biggrin:
Registered on November 1, 2008, 117 Posts, 851 Comments
Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on September 3, 2010 at 11:52 AM
Beautiful image, and the foreground really holds my interest. I wouldn't go so far as to recommend cropping off the sky, as a few others have done, as I really like the depth that the distant mountains and sky add to the image. If you could bring in some detail to the clouds that would help, and for me both the sky and the shadow areas of the mountains seem a bit cyan. I'm getting real picky though to even point those things out . . . it's a superb image.
Registered on August 24, 2009, 123 Posts, 3099 Comments
Comment posted by Morris McClung on September 3, 2010 at 5:25 PM
Thanks everyone! :wavey:
Steve, I reworked this one last time before posting, and I adjusted the curves and sat a touch more, and didn't notice I had lost so much detail in the clouds and sky when bringing up the mid-tones and highlights. I guess I got in too big of a hurry. I did have more detail there in this single exposure, but I also have one for just the sky. I will do a blend with that one before I consider printing this.

And once more, I do have comps without the mountains and sky, and I will post one at the next opportunity.
Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments
Comment posted by Nick Bristol on September 3, 2010 at 6:08 PM
This is really nice, Morris. The tecture and patterns in the sand are awesome, and so is the color of it. I like the mountains in the background alot, and if you do a blend with the other sky exposure for your print it should be wonderful! Nice work!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments
Comment posted by Steve Sieren on September 3, 2010 at 8:50 PM
I was just asking because I do see some great landscape artwork where the sky is slightly overexposed.
Registered on January 2, 2008, 360 Posts, 5321 Comments
Comment posted by Morris McClung on September 3, 2010 at 9:01 PM
Steve, I haven't noticed that as yet, but probably will now and think of your comment. :biggrin: No worries.
Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Metternich on September 3, 2010 at 11:23 PM
Morris,

Excellent way to use texture to pull you in! Great shot. :toast:

I would be tempted to darken the sky a tad in a grad fashion.
Registered on June 19, 2009, 276 Posts, 6240 Comments
Comment posted by Kevin Trinkner on September 4, 2010 at 12:53 AM
Wild foreground Morris, great find. I agree the fg could work all on its own. Nice capture.
Registered on June 30, 2008, 203 Posts, 2641 Comments
Comment posted by Stuart Williams on September 4, 2010 at 1:39 AM
the FG is very strong and would work well alone and also as a b&w. i do find the mts and sky a little cramped up at the top, irrespective of exposure issues.
Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments
Comment posted by Abdullaziz Bin Ali on September 4, 2010 at 2:57 PM
Beautiful texture
Registered on May 31, 2009, 112 Posts, 1590 Comments
Comment posted by Lon Overacker on September 4, 2010 at 6:50 PM
Morris,

This fascinating and beautifully captured. This is very unique in the sense that this could portray the birth, OR the death of a dune - if that makes sense. Either all the sand is blowing away, revealing the solid earth below - or you're witnessing the creation of a new dune as the earth erodes away. Very cool.

I think you could go more abstract without the mountains and sky - which would be a completely different image. This one works as presented for the sense of place and scale.

Great work.

Lon

Love the lines leading the eye through the image as well.
Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments
Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on September 5, 2010 at 11:42 PM
Nice find! I like this just fine the way it is, but can also see a fine full abstract of just the sand and patterns too.

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