Furnace Creek, Ca

Photographer's Note

Eureka Sand Dunes in the remote Eureka Valley of Death Valley National Park.

If you want to get away from it all and practice your landscape photography, this particular part of Death Valley National Park offers much solitude and fascinating photo opps. But like many of Death Valley's finer treasures, you have to earn them by traveling great distances - in this case you'll have to drive about 40+ miles of dirt roads after probably already driving about 200-300 miles from the Los Angeles area.

Fortunately there are ample accommodations so you can stay the night after so much driving - a sandy primitive campground with pit toilets and no water. And of course all free of charge.

This particular shot was taken right after sunrise and I used a 2 stop graduated color filter to even out the foreground and sky. I've been to Death Valley a few times and this was the first time I had any clouds in the sky. Parts of the park average less than an inch of rain per year and it's not unusual for some years to be rainless. So I felt a little fortunate to catch these clouds this morning.

Regards,
Doug

bakes888, syd1946, gracious, salvator, plimrn, macondo, brevbrev14, pboehringer, robertosalguero, kmarscher, stego ha contrassegnato questa nota come utile

Critiques | Translate

bakes888 (18499) 2007-11-01 23:41

Hi Doug. Love the BW treatment you have given this shot, I feel it has bought out the patterns and textures on offer. Fortunate with the sky also. Well composed and thanks for sharing.
Cheers, Paul.

syd1946 (1167) 2007-11-02 0:00

Hello Doug,
You can find beauty to this deserted landscape...A piece of art in the nature.
Great tones and contrast adding much more to enjoy!

Greetings,
Thomas

baba_flies (8829) 2007-11-02 0:31

Well yes, it is the morning clouds that make this photo unusal but also the wind-swept pattern on the sand with the tiny remainings of life. I have only been to this area once but of course (as a typical tourist) in the middle of summer (July!) so you could hardly step out of the air-conditioned car (yes I know ... I should have suffered). Lucky you to be able to visit areas in less-frequented times, and be able to catch a different light than a normal tourist would. Sehr gut ... very good ... Barbara.

gracious (20025) 2007-11-02 1:12

Hello Doug,
Excellent composition in B/W format!
perfect pov with all the beautiful pattern and textures
A very artistic presentation and well pleased
TFS
cheers
Tony

salvator (19110) 2007-11-02 2:10

Hi Douglas,
Very nice my friend. I watched death valley on National Geographic some time ago, and it must be interesting to shoot there. The choice of the b&w, the contrast and punishing clouds hovering above seem superb.
Best regards. Salvator.

plimrn (21344) 2007-11-02 3:52

Hi Doug,
The sweeping clouds provide perfect balance for the swirl of the windwaves in the sand. Both give evidence of the force of the wind in this very dramatic composition. In the early morning of December, I expect it was cold. Glad you found such cozy accomodations. Telescope Peak is a favorite trek for our son.
HLJ, Pat
HLJ,

macondo (20449) 2007-11-02 5:32

Hello Doug.
A starkly effective shot, giving the sky all the drama but showing well the ripples and grasses in the sand, despite the subdued light. The silhouetted line of hills make for a great border between the dunes and the sky. The cloud formations look great. Good choice of b/w, and great use of that filter.
Regards,
Andrew

denisn72 (8314) 2007-11-02 13:10

Hello Douglas
The black and white goes well with the Death Valley. Amazing sky and I like the lines made by the wind on the sand.
Good work!
Best regards
Denis!

clic (23804) 2007-11-04 14:10

Hi Doug
These rare herbs appear dryer and sand more sterile because of your transformation and of course sky turns out as an infra-red exposure!
An ambiance of total solitude is convied by this appealing picture.
Please see your email.
Best regards.
Robert

pboehringer (770) 2007-11-05 11:13

Doug,
the scene and atmosphere are quite uncommon for the Death Valley, although I have to say that I was once there a night after a huge storm that swept away part of the road to Bad Water.
Good composition with the dune leading up to the cloud carried sky. Looking forward to have some experiences like that next spring.
regards, Peter

robertosalguero (292) 2007-11-05 22:53

Hello Doug,

The ripples almost make the sand look like water. Very nice dual tone composition. The sand patterns remind me of snow up on a glacier being blown away by wind. Good sharpness and angle to compose the mage. Thanks Doug :-)

Roberto

brevbrev14 (140) 2007-11-06 1:05

Hi Doug, a good landscape image..
i like the choice of BW and the great contrast on the sky..
well taken!
ciao!
Valeria

kmarscher (2887) 2007-11-06 11:05

The cloud pattern is impressive and almost overpowers the foreground, if possible, in this striking B/W. In spite of the neutral grad, I wonder if a tad more contrast to the foreground would even out this minor imbalance? Such a small matter and maybe, not of interest to you. I'd just like to see those sand rills pop a bit more as I think this shot is astonishing.
Regards,
Kathy

stego (24132) 2007-11-08 17:43

Hi Douglas,
Truly amazing compo! I like the sense of "symmetry" that it isn't and contrast between the sand and the sky and the great definition and depth.
Regards, José.

kensimage (8563) 2007-11-10 14:20

The scene has a nice mood of barren open space, Doug, with those scraggly dry weeds everywhere and the interesting sand textures in between. The sky looks really great! I do agree with another comment that the sand could use more contrast, but the overall look is pleasing. Regards, Ken.

derek3755 (2341) 2008-07-20 5:36

Hi Doug

Quite dramatic with the clouds and the dark mountains in the background, love the ripples in the foreground leading you in.

Regards
Derek