Desert Flames
Swept
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Sandstorm
Some landscapes just leave you speechless standing there. Here I was speechless from the amount of sand I was choking on. Nonetheless, when that sun crept closer to the horizon, that sandstorm glow was a shooting experience I’ll never forget. When I saw that weather report with 30+mph winds there was no question where I needed to be. Goggles, facemask, earplugs...check! Some of my favorite times out on the dunes.
Spacewalk
A different view from the back of Boot Arch on a freezing 17 degree night. Was well worth the light show and the feeling of being on a different planet.
Swoosh
There's nothing quite like how the light plays on the dunes, from the little wind blown lines to the large swooping dune curves. A nice black and white treatment can really bring out these lines and textures. With my camera on a timer, I climbed around the backside of the dune and into position.
Into The Hills
The unique rock formations of the Alabama Hills at sunset with moonrise.
DUNESDAY
I’ve shot in difficult conditions before but this day was a whole different ballgame. Sitting in our car, we were debating on if we should even head out into this monstrous glowing cloud of sand that had completely engulfed the Mesquite dunes of Death Valley. You couldn’t see a thing. Of course, lacking any sort of suitable gear for constant 40+ mph winds, I pulled my buff over my entire face and put my sunglasses on and wrapped my camera in my plastic rain sleeve and went for it. WOW, not only was I mostly blind from my homemade facemask, the blowing sand and deafening wind was absolutely nuts. We must have looked like blind zombies roaming out into the dunes. It was slow going and we couldn’t hear each other at all. A few times we’d walk into dip in the dune that funneled all the wind right through it and we’d have to turn back. I can’t even guess how fast that wind was. I laughed at the thought of trying to set up my tripod so I just turned into the wind and started firing away with my 70-200mm. Interestingly, the wind was so powerful it had carved up the dunes and you can see some of the deep cuts revealing the deeper wet patterns in the sand from the rains weeks before. In no time the sun crept behind the mountains thanks to our speedy arrival. Literally choking on sand at this point, we headed back. It took a week to get the sand out of our eyes and teeth and lungs. It gave me a weird sinus sound to my voice which was a nice touch. Just the experience alone makes it one of the more memorable photo ops I’ve ever had.
Mud Fang
Zabriskie Morning
Sunbomb
The best sunset I've ever seen.
Dunes & Blooms
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Silver Lining
A few hours after sunset on the peaceful Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes of Death Valley. A perfect night under the stars as color of the dunes cool down.
Escape the Flames
Another image from the Racetrack in Death Valley. This morning, after enduring a frigid night in the car we were rewarded with a very nice burn—one of the more intensely colored skies I've seen. I set up at a rock I had previously scouted which had the best—and longest—trail I could find, complete with a nice curve in the distance. The lighter toned ground really soaked up that sky color nicely.
Swept
Mesquite Sand Dunes of Death Valley... Incredible lines, textures and compositions in every direction. Had some interesting patchy light here around sunset. Love how quickly the dunes change color and how the light plays on every little wind carved line.
King of Sands
Sunset on the Mesquite Dunes of Death Valley.
Fire On High
A fiery sunset over the mountains of the Mesquite sand dunes.
Zabriskie Dawn
Manly Beacon at Zabriskie Point before sunrise with the moon setting over the mountains.
Moonwalk
The Racetrack in Death Valley, where strange rocks move slowly across the ancient lakebed, just centimeters a year. An interesting place for sure, so I wanted to add a little more extraterrestrial feel to it by taking 30, 3 minute exposures and blending in post to get these star trails. After locating the north star I took a different composition here, as most get the rocks moving towards them with the rock trails in the background, but wanted it to look as if it were being drawn in by the stars.
Transitions
The smooth lines and soft tones of the Mesquite Sand Dunes just after sunset.
Allure
The last light hits Lake Tenaya along the Toiga Pass just before this area closes down for the winter. A long exposure allowed for movement in the low, fast-flying clouds and helped calm the lake. more info
Last Kiss
Mile marker 61 off the Pacific Coast Highway in Big Sur, California. I hiked to a farther point just in time for sunset and was able to capture the incredibly vibrant vegetation along the cliffs in October—like red lips kissing the sun goodbye. more info
