Dance of dunes.
Nov, 2019Views
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Awards
Zenith Award
Spring 21 Award
Contest Finalist in Celebrating Nature Photo Contest Vol 7
Contest Finalist in One Is Beautiful Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Image Of The Month Photo Contest Vol 51
Contest Finalist in Monthly Pro Photo Contest Volume6
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Absolute Masterpiece
Outstanding Creativity
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WhenLeeIsFree
April 19, 2020
I'm coming across your standout images across several challenges. The always speak to me. Great work
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Behind The Lens
Location
This was one of my first semi-local creative expeditions as I began my exploration of photography. I took this photo atop the wandering Kelso Dunes in California with my friend Rachel.Time
The sun was just slipping behind one of the dunes right as we arrived. You can see it’s massive shadow creeping into the left of the image. It was essentially halfway through golden hour.Lighting
Sometimes lighting scenarios are unpredictable. I had never been to these dunes so I had no idea what to expect. Upon arriving, I assessed the scene and what we could play with as nature slowly shifted around us. The shadow of the other dune created a soft wall of darkness that creeped towards the model. I had her dance off towards the light, waving her red cloth as if beckoning the shadows like a bullfighter.Equipment
This was shot on a Sony A7rII with a Zeiss 35mm 2.8 lens. I also shot a roll of Portra 400 while I was there.Inspiration
Part of my process is working directly with nature. I’m working on a book that for the most part explores the parallels of the feminine form with the forms of nature. I felt the sweeping shapes of the dunes would compliment the curves of the body in a beautiful way. I also had a plan to shoot after dark, capturing long exposures of the sculptural model under the untainted sky. But it got very cold as soon as the sun set so we began our hike back. (And got very lost in the desert) Support my book at Kickstarter.com/projects/soulcraft/alchemy-of-AlignmentEditing
For this image I brought in a bit of magenta into the shadows using curves and shifted the sky to a more cyan color. I also kicked up the luminosity and saturation of the red cloth. I had been playing with infrared films like Aerochrome and loved what it did to the colors but wanted it more subtle. This is what I ended up with.In my camera bag
My bag was filled with 4 batteries, my cam body, a 35mm and a 70-200 lens (with an adapter that rolled all the way down the side of the dune when I reached the top), a Nimslo 3D film cam, my Olympus OM-2n, and a box of candles. I was also carrying a giant bag of fabric during that trip. It wasn’t easy getting up the dune with one free hand carrying all that weight.Feedback
If you’re heading to the dunes, make sure you get there earlier and bring snacks and water. You need an hour to hike in and it would be nice to schedule in some time to take a breather after the hike. I was completely out of breath and I’d say I’m in pretty good physical condition. Also bring lighting if you plan to stay beyond sunset. I got plenty of shots but by the end I was digging heavily into the ISO during blue hour and the grain is pretty brutal.
