Fire and Rain

Absolutely epic conditions. Killer work.

aF

Pretty fantastic capture, considering you probably could not have picked the exact comp you had wanted. Great job working with the conditions and making it work. I was wondering if you are allowed to camp out on the dunes Might allow greater flexibility in getting away from other photogs/prints and get the comp you want. Processing looks great to me.

Magical…..
Terrific work "being there".

Sweet Jared and reading the blog post gives it that extra umph. A superb picture and a great story.

Jared, This is fantastic! Love it!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

Wonderful capture Jared. I like the composition a lot and your exposures are right on the money. Excellent.

Great work, Love it!

Very nice reward for you hard work, Jared. Awesome opportunity and you took advantage of it nicely. Great work and great story. I'm amazed at how crazy things can get in the heat of the moment.

Wow! This is remarkably good for the rushed circumstances! Actually one of the better that I've seen from here.
Funny thing is that this may have come out better than any of your pre-planned compositions. Fine work, Jared!

Wow. Great story to go along with this... Glad you 'were there', and came away with something well over 'decent'!

I love this image. Read your blog - very enlightening. Your choice of a 2:1 ratio couldn't be better.

Beautiful! Sweet light and gorgeous scene.

Nicely done! I know that frustration of seeing footprints in front of you, and I can just imagine you running to the top of that dune. Good work on all parts of this: comp, exposure, and processing. It shows "Nature", and I think that's partly what makes it so powerful.

Fantastic. Nuff said.

Thanks, all, for the comments!

Harry, I think camping on the dunes would be frowned upon, but there there are campsites a couple miles away (I had made my base farther away). But basically it helps to park a half mile north or south of the main parking area and explore, or just walk farther than others have, or work the less frequented dunes like Ibex or Eureka (I didn't make it that far).

John, I think you're right - circumstances drove me to a spot I likely wouldn't have picked on my own, and it worked out really well. Brings to mind a saying I've heard… something to do with a blind squirrel....

Great light and a wonderful shot Jared.

Stunning light Jared! No nits from me.

What extraordinary light, Jared!!

I like the bold contrast and the composition is very nice. The bright sun is a nice counterpoint to the deep shadows on the LHS of the frame which provides balance to the image. The rain adds another dimension to the scene.

Gorgeous light and shadow. The lines of rain are a fantastic addition at a great shutter speed

Magestic!

Nice image and a great story! Just shows you gotta get out there. I have a similar story that ended in tragedy. Here if you want to check it ---> http://www.naturephotographers.net/articles0112/kl0112-1.html

I really enjoyed your blog post on this! Ive been in similar situation and well, relating to people is always fun!
As for your image, awesome. I love the shadow on the left side of the dune, that really gets me going. Following where the light and dark meet, the crest taking me all the way out to the sun.
Thanks for sharing this with me Jared!