Eureka Sand Dunes Photo

Photographer’s Note

After several Ireland posts, I was in the mood for a dramatic u-turn from my recent posts. The numerous desert landscapes in California seem to be as far from the Emerald Isle as possible. So I whisk you away to the desert now..

The trail to the top of the Eureka Sand Dunes in Death Valley National Park, one of the highest dunes fields in the United States, can be easy to see but devilishly difficult to follow. For each step up in the steep sinking sand you'll slide back at least a half step. What looks like a moderate hike up winds up leaving you very winded.

I made the trip to this remote section of Death Valley NP in December which turns out to be a fine time to visit. At this time of year, the days are still very sunny and daytime temperatures hover around 72F (22C). That allows you to comfortably climb these sand dunes barefoot and the sand is very cool and refreshing on the feet. Compare this to the summer when the temperatures might be pushing 115F (46C) and I guarantee you won't be walking barefoot on that sand.

This section of Death Valley is somewhat proximate to Big Pine on highway 395 that runs north/south at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Eastern California. A dream itinerary for the photo-touring landscape photographer might be to combine these dunes with a visit to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest out of Big Pine. This itinerary could probably only be carried out during summer months since the road to the Bristlecones is closed in the winter.

Hope you enjoy!
Doug

robertosalguero, bakes888, salvator, jcdurka1, kri54, feather, captainsgirl, gunbud, stego, plimrn, cfreire, edytungkal, jmcl, ilghiz, Nic-n-Jen_Inc trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

robertosalguero (110) 2007-10-15 23:23

Hello Doug,

Yes this is different from your previou posts. I like the combination of colours and the foot steps leading up to the top. I wonder what is like to hike in a desert but I be=it is a nice experience. Thanks Doug.

Roberto

jasmis (50901) 2007-10-16 0:19

Interesting exotic place shown in mild colours. Fine vertical frame.
Regards.

bakes888 (18327) 2007-10-16 0:29

Hi Doug. Wow! Dramatic colours and POV. I’m pleased you added metric temps as I’ve forgotten how hot “deg F” feels. Love the footsteps, hints at mans endeavours and then disappears with the wind. Well composed and thanks for sharing.
Cheers, Paul.

salvator (18855) 2007-10-16 1:20

Hi Douglas,
Superb image with almost surreal colors. Very impressive and beautifull composition.
Best regards. Salvator.

jcdurka1 (1940) 2007-10-16 1:45

Very graphical with great contrast of light and color. What does Armstrong said: One small step for the man...
Nice shot,
Jean-Claude

servane (629) 2007-10-16 3:00

This contrast of colors is amazing.
Nice composition which illustrates very well loneliness, enormous and endless .

TFS

Servane

denisn72 (7039) 2007-10-16 3:51

Good morning Douglas!
Those lonely footsteps and the wide landscape give an impression of solitude. I like the contrast between the blue sky and the white snow.
Congratulations!
Denis!

feather (50070) 2007-10-16 4:18

Excellent composition where those footsteps carry the eye to the horizon. In fact I had to read your note carefully to be sure they were footsteps and not some geological feature. The soft sand has turned them into holes to be filled in with the next wind. There is a wonderful colour contrast with the blue, blue sky and the sand.
I was thinking the Teva sandles would be no good in the hot sand but I see barefoot is possible in December. Good work
Kath

captainsgirl (3448) 2007-10-16 16:24

Hi Doug,
Wait, is that the moon? :o) Love the shot, Beautiful blue sky and the footprints, desolate, lonely..very moody. TFS
Donna:o)

gunbud (28121) 2007-10-16 20:30

Hi Doug,
Amazing contrast between the pink fine grain sand and the deep vibrant blue sky. Wonderful clear details with exceptionally clear colors and great sharp detils to this lovely desert landscape.
Regards, Tom

Cormac (26455) 2007-10-17 6:51

I like the clean lines and minimalist appearance of this. No distractions, just the sand, the footprints and the sky - it doesn't get much more elemental than this. Wonderful detail too, which makes for a more interesting visual. Excellent work!

JPeixe (92) 2007-10-17 12:52

Great composition!

stego (22400) 2007-10-17 13:40

Hi Douglas,
A great example that we don't need that much elements to make an impressive photo. Just an expanse of sand, some foot steps and an intensely blue sky with thin clouds... The rest is the eye of the photographer working... Gorgeous!
Regards, José.

psychache (1831) 2007-10-19 3:14

Hi Douglas,
I like this photo so much. Footprints on a dune look like going to blue sky is very impressive effect. Greetings

plimrn (19694) 2007-10-20 8:38

Hi Doug,
Pure magic!! The rosy glow of the last/first(?) light against the velvety blue sky is amazing. Then there are those great curves of the dune and that single track of little moon craters with their curves, curving across the hillside.

clic (4065) 2007-10-21 5:55

Hi Doug
The magnificence of .....desertic hostility from a clever angle!!
Best regards.
Robert

baba_flies (8081) 2007-10-21 8:39

Hello Doug! It started to snow ever since I got up this morning and has not stopped since ... what a way to start my fall vacation and I certainly did not expect to walk in the snow so early in the year (well this all happens where we have a cottage so this is pretty high up and you have to take warm stuff along otherwise "bad surprise"). This might be one of the reasons why I chose some sand for tonight :) Very well chosen angle to give us an idea what you went through stepping through the sand all the way up. I like the not much here always bringing out more than a thousand little "this and that". This is certainly another excellent way of showing Death Valley. Have a great Sunday, dinner time here, Barbara.

kensimage (8543) 2007-10-21 10:01

A great composition here, Doug. You got really close to that closest footprint (it looks like a wider angle than 24 mm) so the eye is really led into the image well. Simple and graphic, that's what sand dunes call for, and that's what you got here. I like the wispy clouds in the sky, too. Is the sand really so pink there? Regards, Ken.

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cfreire (11667) 2007-10-22 6:13

Hi, Douglas.
Very beautiful and creative capture. You made a work just using two elements of the nature that resulted an artistic photo. The blue's sky is fantastic and good sharpness. Well done. Best Regards, Consuelo

edytungkal (4519) 2007-10-24 1:09

Hello Doug,
A superb colours between the sky and the f.ground, the foot steps really a nice focal point going up to the unlimit distance. Best quality with nice colours, thanks

daniel

jmcl (14097) 2007-10-29 17:15

Hi Douglas,

Tremendous effect .. the textures are wonderful .. the vastness even in a vertical format is incredible .. the sky is intense and wonderful .. as you mention to Ken .. the tone of the sand is really interesting. Very nice .. hope you and the wee one are doing well.

take care,

John

mightyweed (1290) 2007-11-09 4:56

Hi, Doug...I like the photo of your new born baby...can you post it in the larger size? The best wishes for your enlarged family. I like the subject and the composition of this photo, however, the sky seems to be too dark and too blue...