Deserts

connecting with Deserts...
“We are only seeking Man. We have no need for other worlds. We need mirrors. We don't know what to do with other worlds. A single world, our own, suffices us; but we can't accept it for what it is. We are searching for an ideal image of our own world, we go in quest of a planet, of a civilization superior of our own but developed on the basis of a prototype of our primeval past.“<br/>- Stanislaw Lem
Despite the clear path that draws the eye here, there is no trail leading down into the valley in these badlands.
Contrary to the popular belief that size doesn’t matter, using long, large telephoto lenses allows a photographer to capture some very special moments often invisible to the naked eye.
The ocean that once covered this place retreated 200 million years ago, but it left behind the daunting silence of the deep. That silence lingers here to this day.
Those are the moments when you are eternally grateful to a stranger who hiked the big dunes and helped create something that became one of the most valuable and important pictures I have ever taken.
Almost all dune photographs in the U.S. are taken in one location - the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes in Death Valley National Park. There are several reasons for this - easy access, short hikes, minimal elevation gain, and firm sand. Grand Sand Dunes National Park, on the other hand, offers none of these. Add to that the 8,000-foot elevation at the base of the dunes, which hits you immediately if you’re unacclimated. But the Colorado park gives you something the other dunes lack - the “Grand“ in its name perfectly reflects the feeling you get when spending time there.
Here should be some sophisticated text about how gorgeously photogenic my wife is, but hey... you can see it yourself!
Warm pre-sunrise colors gave an extra reddish hue to the already colorful badlands of Death Valley.
While I might look so peaceful and balanced on this photo, I might actually be in panic mode, worrying about my tripod being knocked over by a sudden wind blast.
Some might say it’s just mud and clouds. Others would call it a piece of art created by nature. Neither is more right or wrong than the other.
The dry and hot conditions of Death Valley can sometimes result in a spontaneous combustion effect.
Other themes:
Golds gallery
Golds
Landscapes gallery
Landscapes
Rocks gallery
Rocks
Seascapes gallery
Seascapes
Skies gallery
Skies
Trees gallery
Trees
Waterfalls gallery
Waterfalls