Archive 2022 · The Challenge of White Sands National Park
p.1 #1The Challenge of White Sands National Park
Congratulations to Ross Martin for winning Feature Thread of the Week with 9 votes - View Previous Winners
For many years I put off visiting White Sands due to the out-of-the-way location from where I lived, and finally worked it into a Southwest trip. I found it quite challenging to create here, first because the dunes do not have the dramatic high peaks of those in Death Valley where I’d shot before, and second because the larger number of visitors mars the dunes with tracks. I needed to hike out further at White Sands to find clean compositions, shooting until after dusk. But then the stress kicks in as I have to book it back to the truck in near dark as quickly as my legs, lungs, and heart would allow at 4,235 feet elevation before the ranger kicks out late visitors and locks the gate.
Thank you for checking out the series.
Best,
Ross
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Edited on May 03, 2022 at 05:18 PM · View previous versions
May 03, 2022 at 02:01 PM
p.1 #2The Challenge of White Sands National Park
Great collection of beautiful and lovely images
May 03, 2022 at 04:58 PM
p.1 #3The Challenge of White Sands National Park
You have a lot to be proud of in this series, Ross! I have photographed White Sands before and I concur with your declaration on the difficulty of creating compelling compositions. Considering that this is a National Park, I think their visitor hours are quite strange and very inconvenient for us serious photographers. My favorites are #5 and 6 from the bottom. Excellent work!
David
David
May 03, 2022 at 05:30 PM
p.1 #4The Challenge of White Sands National Park
junglialoh wrote:
Great collection of beautiful and lovely images
Jung, thanks for you comment.
Great collection of beautiful and lovely images
Jung, thanks for you comment.
May 03, 2022 at 06:01 PM
p.1 #5The Challenge of White Sands National Park
A wonderful collection from your first visit.
May 03, 2022 at 06:18 PM
p.1 #6The Challenge of White Sands National Park
Starfire8 wrote:
You have a lot to be proud of in this series, Ross! I have photographed White Sands before and I concur with your declaration on the difficulty of creating compelling compositions. Considering that this is a National Park, I think their visitor hours are quite strange and very inconvenient for us serious photographers. My favorites are #5 and 6 from the bottom. Excellent work!
David
Thanks David! I’m glad you know what I mean about the challenges there, and I agree the visiting hours are weird (maybe something to do with the adjacent military complex).
You have a lot to be proud of in this series, Ross! I have photographed White Sands before and I concur with your declaration on the difficulty of creating compelling compositions. Considering that this is a National Park, I think their visitor hours are quite strange and very inconvenient for us serious photographers. My favorites are #5 and 6 from the bottom. Excellent work!
David
Thanks David! I’m glad you know what I mean about the challenges there, and I agree the visiting hours are weird (maybe something to do with the adjacent military complex).
May 03, 2022 at 06:29 PM
p.1 #7The Challenge of White Sands National Park
Beautiful images. Inspiring!
May 03, 2022 at 11:28 PM
p.1 #8The Challenge of White Sands National Park
Ross,
This project you have of seeking substantial perspectives on specific geographic areas is admirable. It conveys a sense of place and creates unity in your body of work rather than just an exercise in acquiring a random set of "pretty" photos. Taken together this is an outstanding set. The image of the lone tree set against the dunes (#8) is especially evocative.
This project you have of seeking substantial perspectives on specific geographic areas is admirable. It conveys a sense of place and creates unity in your body of work rather than just an exercise in acquiring a random set of "pretty" photos. Taken together this is an outstanding set. The image of the lone tree set against the dunes (#8) is especially evocative.
May 04, 2022 at 04:26 AM
p.1 #9The Challenge of White Sands National Park
Beautiful images!
Thanks for sharing
Thanks for sharing
May 04, 2022 at 06:56 AM
p.1 #10The Challenge of White Sands National Park
wlpelzmann wrote:
A wonderful collection from your first visit.
Thank you so much @wlpelzmann
A wonderful collection from your first visit.
Thank you so much @wlpelzmann
May 04, 2022 at 08:09 AM
p.1 #11The Challenge of White Sands National Park
Great set of photos Ross. There's a lot to like in there. The first and 3rd black and white photos really jump out at me.
May 04, 2022 at 08:12 AM
p.1 #12The Challenge of White Sands National Park
Great job, esp. given the limitations. I've never made it down there for all the same reasons you give and am not sure when or if I will. I sure like many of the images I've seen from there and you have an excellent collection here, the second B&W with the distant mountains stands out for me. How many days did you visit to get these?
May 04, 2022 at 09:18 AM
p.1 #13The Challenge of White Sands National Park
Fantastic set, Ross! Especially, the lone yucca plant against the dunes.
May 04, 2022 at 10:30 AM
p.1 #14The Challenge of White Sands National Park
Dan Bell wrote:
Beautiful images. Inspiring!
Thanks for enjoying, Dan, I appreciate it.
Beautiful images. Inspiring!
Thanks for enjoying, Dan, I appreciate it.
May 04, 2022 at 12:04 PM
p.1 #15The Challenge of White Sands National Park
Incredible shots! The way the dunes pick up colors is really amazing. Thanks for sharing!
May 04, 2022 at 03:18 PM
p.1 #16The Challenge of White Sands National Park
Rajan Parrikar wrote:
Ross,
This project you have of seeking substantial perspectives on specific geographic areas is admirable. It conveys a sense of place and creates unity in your body of work rather than just an exercise in acquiring a random set of "pretty" photos. Taken together this is an outstanding set. The image of the lone tree set against the dunes (#8) is especially evocative.
Rajan, I really appreciate your thoughtful comments, very meaningful to me. I feel an almost childlike sense of awe and wonder when I am out in the landscape, and I always hope I can convey some of that emotion through the images.
Ross,
This project you have of seeking substantial perspectives on specific geographic areas is admirable. It conveys a sense of place and creates unity in your body of work rather than just an exercise in acquiring a random set of "pretty" photos. Taken together this is an outstanding set. The image of the lone tree set against the dunes (#8) is especially evocative.
Rajan, I really appreciate your thoughtful comments, very meaningful to me. I feel an almost childlike sense of awe and wonder when I am out in the landscape, and I always hope I can convey some of that emotion through the images.
May 04, 2022 at 05:16 PM
p.1 #17The Challenge of White Sands National Park
These are fantastic!
Joel
Joel
May 04, 2022 at 06:19 PM
p.1 #18The Challenge of White Sands National Park
RichP42 wrote:
Beautiful images!
Thanks for sharing
Thanks Rich!
Beautiful images!
Thanks for sharing
Thanks Rich!
May 04, 2022 at 07:32 PM
p.1 #19The Challenge of White Sands National Park
Nice work on these, Ross. I share your frustration with the challenges. I once arrived there at first light only to find it was closed for the morning due to a missile test. I especially like the b/w versions.
May 05, 2022 at 06:24 AM
p.1 #20The Challenge of White Sands National Park
Ross, I like the way you capture your images of particular area. This set displays beautiful landscape of the area. All the different views you have presented here is truly brilliant. All are great images but the one with the lone tree is my favorite. YGMV 👍🏻
May 05, 2022 at 08:11 AM