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RDVPhotography

Dune Photographer

A photographer friend walking out across the dunes looking for the perfect shot and he gave me the perfect shot with himself all lined up on the curve of a dune...
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A photographer friend walking out across the dunes looking for the perfect shot and he gave me the perfect shot with himself all lined up on the curve of a dune.
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Canon EOS 5D Mark II

settings

Aperture 16/1 ISO 320 Shutter 1/320 Focal Length 40/1

upload_date

Dec, 2016

Views

1611

Likes

+358

Awards

Featured

Peer Award

+578

Superb Composition

+15

Top Choice

+11

Absolute Masterpiece

Magnificent Capture

Outstanding Creativity

Superior Skill

Virtuoso

Genius

All Star

Emotions

Impressed

Happy

Top Ranks

Top 10 rank

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Behind The Lens

Location

This image was captured at White Sands National Monument. Myself and a fellow photographer had been on a trip to Big Bend National Park and we decided to extend the trip and go to White Sands for a couple days. We must have walked miles into the dunes trying to find compositions with no tracks. We decided to spread out to cover more ground and finally reached an untouched area when I notices this nice dune with a curve. It was not until I later developed the image that I saw I had also captured my friend in the shot walking across the sands.

Time

It was early evening, about 5:00 PM when I captured this image. We were quite a ways out from where we were parked and looking for a good spot for sunset without any foot prints in the sand. It was a blue bird sky and we never did get a good sunset shot but it was worth the walk to capture this image. You just never know how things will turn out.

Lighting

The lighting was not good as it was a clear sky but the sun was low enough to give a good shadows in the dunes. What I was aiming for in this image was the shadow and curve of the top edge of the dune along with ripples of sand in the lighted area. Finding out later I had also captured by friend was a real surprise and added bonus. Like I said before you never know how things will turn out so go out and explore.

Equipment

For this image I used a Canon 5D Mk II with Canon EF 24-105 f/4L IS USM lens mounted on a Gitzo GT2531 Tripod with Really Right Stuff BH-55 LR Ball Head.

Inspiration

My inspiration for this image had nothing to do with the name I gave this image "Dune Photographer" as I really did not know anyone was in the frame of the shot. I was inspired by finally finding a nice dune with shadows on one side and nicely lighted on the other with visible ripples of sand and a nice a curve with no human footprints in the sand. I was just plain lucky for the curve to take the eye of the viewer to my friend walking across the dunes.

Editing

I followed my usual method of development in Lightroom followed by On1 Effects. In Lightroom the first thing I do is Lens Correction then cropping if needed. I did crop this image to align the dune compositioinally. I then make noise and sharpening adjustments followed by White Balance then adjustments to Highlights, Shadows, Whites & Blacks. I then do some tone adjustment followed by color adjustments. For this image the only color adjustments was an a blue luminance reduction. I then went to the spot removal tool to get rid of a couple of dust bunnies. I then took the image to On1 Effects where I made a Tone adjustment using a clarity filter. Had there been clouds in the sky I probably would have used a Dynamic Constrast Filter.

In my camera bag

I have two bags and each has a purpose. The bag with my 5D MkII (Full Frame Camera) has my 16-35mm f/2.8, 24-105mm f4.0 and 70-200 f/2.8, mainly for everything except wildlife. The other bag is mainly for wildlife and holds my Canon 7D Mk II along with my Canon EF 100-400mm f/4-5.6 L IS USM and my Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Maco lens. If I am traveling by car I take it all, which was the case for this trip. If traveling overseas only bag one goes unless going for wildlife, for that I take bag one with both cameras and swap 70-200 for the 100-400mm f/4-5.6 L . I also carry a full set of 4 Lee Graduated ND Filters as well as two Reverse Grads for Sunrise and Sunset work, a Lee Circular Polarizer, Lee Big Stopper and Lee Little Stopper for long exposures.

Feedback

Mostly I would say plan ahead. Know what you are looking for and where to find it. Do research on the web using Google Earth, Google Maps, and look at other peoples work. The reason to look at other peoples work is not to copy their work but to gleen information of when they took a particular shot that appeals to you and how they did it, what equipment they used. Make sure all your equipment is ready to use; clean lense, clean sensor, batteries charged and extras in your bag, and the right filters for the job. Also use applications on your mobile phone such as Photographers Ephermis (by far my most used app). Other apps I use are DOF Calculator, Lee Stopper App, Plan It and Google maps along with a compass and trail map to find my way back to the car. But most important of all is to always look around. Do not get to focused on just one composition. There have been times I was working on a sunset and turned around to see what was happening behind me and finding the most amazing light in the opposite direction. Also sometimes it is just nice to step back and just enjoy the view. Have fun and be safe.

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RDVPhotography

RDVPhotography

Dune Photographer

A photographer friend walking out across the dunes looking for the perfect shot and he gave me the perfect shot with himself all lined up on the curve of a dune... Read more

Behind The Lens

See more amazing photos, follow RDVPhotography

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A photographer friend walking out across the dunes looking for the perfect shot and he gave me the perfect shot with himself all lined up on the curve of a dune...
Read more

Share photos. Enter contests to win great prizes.
Earn coins, get amazing rewards. Join for free.