Sand Dunes, Death Valley Nat'l Park, CA

Canon 5DMKII ~ f/11 ~ 115mm ~ 1/125sec ~ iso100

Located in the heart of Death Valley Nat'l Park lies the Mesquite Flat Dunes.  Despite being very arid, only 1% of Death Valley's total area contains sand dunes.  I was excited to shoot the dunes because, prior to my visit, I didn't have any sand dune images in my portfolio.  These were relatively easy to access, but, did require an early rise due to travel distance to get to them.  I knew I wanted to photograph the dunes in early morning light.  There were so many compositions to choose from...everywhere you looked was another potential image.  It was very overwhelming.  However, I came across this composition and liked the colors and leading lines. The early morning light gave the dunes a warm glow and revealed the intricate textures in the sand.  This combination of elements led to a scene I couldn't resist shooting and makes a great calendar photo in the warm summer months.

Photo tip: Shooting when the sun is at a low angle will add depth and texture to your image.

Good Light,

Bill

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