Archive 2014 · Great Sand Dunes NP

FarmerJohn
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Great Sand Dunes NP

Went to the Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado a few weekends ago.
For backcountry camping, the ranger said "hike over the first ridge and then camp anywhere you want."
I was hoping for some open skies for star photography but it was cloudy the whole time. It was super windy too, but it's a great place to be camping and taking photos. Hiking on sand is a great workout!

#1 - Evening

#2 - Evening

#3 - Sunrise - One of my first tries at long-exposure photography

#4 - Sunrise - One of my first tries at long-exposure photography

Apr 30, 2014 at 10:42 AM

Travis Rhoads
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Great Sand Dunes NP

I really like this set, there is a sense of isolation that really comes through in them. Especially that last one...I bet it would be pretty cool to camp there. The first looks like it would make a nice B&W too.

Apr 30, 2014 at 10:58 AM

JimFox
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Great Sand Dunes NP

Hey John,

Great Sand Dunes is still on my list, sadly I have driven by it too many times!

I like the way you worked the soft light in all but #2. And actually #2 would be my favorite but for the blown out clouds. Hopefully you exposed for the highlights and you have an exposure without the clouds being blown? That one could be super sweet if you recovered the clouds.

Jim

Apr 30, 2014 at 11:45 AM

Jeffrey
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Great Sand Dunes NP

#2 for me, too, with a fix on the cloud. Good that it was windy, or there would be no dunes at all.

Apr 30, 2014 at 11:48 AM

Scott Kroeker
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Great Sand Dunes NP

Lovely series John. #1 is my fav. #4 tells a great story. I like number #2 as well but the cloud looks a little over exposed. Maybe a bit of highlight recovery for the cloud will help. Thanks for sharing.

Apr 30, 2014 at 11:57 AM

edwinIII
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Great Sand Dunes NP

Great set, really like #2 and agree that the cloud could be recovered a bit. Could make a really nice BW also.

Apr 30, 2014 at 12:44 PM

FarmerJohn
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Great Sand Dunes NP

Hey everyone, thanks very much for the feedback, and I'm really glad you like them. I highly recommend the trip for anyone who hasn't been.

I agree on #2. Thought the cloud looked okay when I uploaded it, but I agree it looks pretty blown out now. I was experimenting with some manual focus stacking and blending (one for the close in mini-ridges, one for the big dunes, and one for the clouds mountains), so I guess I missed the highlights. I do have some other exposures, so I'll try to re-process it and upload a new one later.

Apr 30, 2014 at 01:13 PM

FarmerJohn
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Great Sand Dunes NP

Here are two more:

#2 - Edited for highlight recovery

# 5 - Same view as #2, later in the evening

May 01, 2014 at 09:44 AM


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