dunes day
march 2018, november 2019, october 2020, august 2021 | great sands dunes np and death valley np
NIKON D850
Nikkor 16-35mm f/4, 50mm f/1.8, 80-200mm f/2.8, Sigma ART 85mm f/1.4, Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8
During these uncertain times, life altering change has been thrust upon us. Dunes always allow me to reflect on where we are and where we are headed. Dunes are as breathtaking as they are harsh. They drive me to think about how natural it is for there to be difficult times where you want to give up or accept a status quo, ignoring or fighting back change. When climbing dunes, every step feels like a lifetime: a slow trudge over ever-shifting sand that keeps pushing you back down. From afar they look innocent - welcoming, even. Warm, golden. But, while seemingly impossible to overcome, the challenge is worth the reward.
As we are, as the world always is, dunes are in a constant state of change. We will remain in this state, for our brief moment in eternity here on our lonely planet. We all are in constant motion, in perpetual dance, bounded by our nature, longing to survive. All change is relative, but must be overcome. Dunes remind me of these truths and offer perspective.
These photographs span many different visits to my two favorite sets of dunes in the US - those in death valley national park, and those in great sand dunes national park, California and Colorado, respectively.