Solace
Jan, 2018Views
4727
Likes
Awards
Action Award
Chatter Award
Zenith Award
Contest Finalist in Creative Landscapes Photo Contest vol11
Contest Finalist in Virtual Exhibition Project
Contest Finalist in Inspiring Landscapes Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in An Unforgettable Adventure Photo Contest
Community Choice Award
Contest Finalist in Creative Landscapes Photo Contest vol2
Contest Finalist in Landscapes And Sand Photo Contest
Featured
Contest Finalist in Monthly Pro Vol 38 Photo Contest
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Absolute Masterpiece
Outstanding Creativity
Magnificent Capture
Superior Skill
Virtuoso
All Star
Top Ranks
Top 20 rankTop 20 rank week 1
Top 20 rankTop 20 rank week 1
Top 30 rank
Categories
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Discover more photos See all
Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken at White Sands National Monument, near Alamogordo, New Mexico, USA.Time
We host exchange students every year. We decided to take our student to White Sands National Monument to celebrate New Years Eve differently than most. On December 31st, 2017, with sleds packed and ready to go, we headed for White Sands. We spent the better part of the morning playing - sledding, rolling, and jumping off the sand dunes. Every time I visit White Sands, I have to bring my camera. I took this photo at 1:13pm, as the breeze gently blew in behind me. White Sands is one of my most favorite places to go when I need time to re-center myself (and play a little, too!)Lighting
The sun is always so strong in the desert. However, on this day, there was a lot of sheer cloud cover, which made for some really wonderful and interesting photos. In addition, being that I live in a state with ample sunshine, I really like to capture the strong blues in the sky. The sun and clouds on the last day of 2017 were perfect.Equipment
Since I wasn't just there to take pictures, I didn't bring anything but my camera, a Canon EOS 70d, and my 18-135mm lens and a CPL filter on the lens.Inspiration
Whenever I visit White Sands, I try to capture how I'm feeling in that moment, in my pictures. I was feeling happy and content that day. Happy that I got to spend time with my family - my children, our student, and my mother, and also very relaxed and at peace. The sand and landscape at White Sands is so pure and clean. Crisp air surrounds, even on the hottest of days in the sun. Nature and natural beauty energize me and just looking out into the vast sea of white sand compels me to photograph it. I will never tire of taking pictures like this there.Editing
There were some people playing on the top of the dunes which I removed to give the clean look. Other than that and a little correction to bring out the true blue of the sky, nothing more was done.In my camera bag
As a mother to two very active children and an exchange student, I don't have much time to travel for the sole purpose of taking pictures. Usually, I just grab my camera and go. Therefore, most of the time, I just bring along my camera.Feedback
If clouds are present, pay attention to the clouds. Feel the air, the heat of the sun, and listen to your surroundings. This capture was mostly based on how I felt in that moment. The tire tracks in the sand represent others coming and going - reveling in the feelings I was having in that moment. Another year gone, a new one begins. As a perceptive person who relies on how I am feeling and reacts to how others are feeling, having time to just sit and enjoy the peace and tranquility of White Sands, and then to be able to capture it in one split second - there is nothing else like it. Have patience, too. Sometimes, it can take awhile to connect what one is feeling to their surroundings.
