Glamis Dunes...Tracks on a Soul

Gallery: Man & NaturePosted February 23, 2011386 views10 comments

Nikon D200, Nikon 80-200 AF-S 2.8. 1/4 sec @ f16, Focal length 200mm, tripod, vignette added via PS.

Glamis/Imperial Sand Dunes are probably the most popular off-road sand dune destination for off-roaders in the states. This image was captured 2/22/11, after the Presidents Day weekend.

It is very hard to find an angle here without the tracks all over the dunes.
The best time to photograph this area without the hand of man is June/July/August, when the temp hangs around 115f - be prepared!

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Soubhik Patranabis on February 23, 2011 at 3:09 PM

Nice light , interesting track impressions too ...

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

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on February 23, 2011 at 10:21 PM

It's a good image and the tracks do add additional texture. I suspect most members, myself included, would prefer to see this without it being used for a playground.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on February 24, 2011 at 4:19 PM

This is a gorgeous photo! And a wonderful telling of the tale of the struggle over land use. I feel very ambivalent about seeing the extensive "recreational" tracks throughout the landscape. Oh, man... The sandbox gets ever larger... Sigh...

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on February 24, 2011 at 7:01 PM

Beautiful use of the glow and the texturing of the tracks.

Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments

Comment posted by Bob Miller on February 24, 2011 at 7:23 PM

Soubhik, Mark, Catherine, Kah Kit- thank you for your replies-

If you look at the image, you can see a face that isn't too happy. I wasn't particularly happy either, seeing the scarring of the landscape. But with a little bit of compassion to our fellow man, and realizing that within a few weeks, without the activity, these dunes will look pristine. Sand and wind are just that way.

I thought of putting this in the Env pj Cat but it didn't seem to apply.

Registered on January 24, 2005, 152 Posts, 405 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on February 26, 2011 at 8:28 PM

Nice light and, lines Bob. A few years agoweI visited Pink Corel Sand Dunes in Utah and were very dismayed by the tracks and activity of dune buggies. We had to watch our steps not to get run over.

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

Comment posted by Basil Greber on February 27, 2011 at 4:20 PM

Ouch, those tracks hurt in the eyes. When just looking at the pattern, without thinking about what they are, there's a bizzarre form of aesthetics to this image, though. Well done.

Registered on November 8, 2005, 219 Posts, 1340 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on March 2, 2011 at 5:55 PM

Bob - love the layers, lines, and textures here.
Would also have been a good entry in the EPJ category!
Congrats on the EP!
Sandy