Uploads from Mike Berenson - Colorado Captures, tagged dunes

Milky Way Gold From Sand Dunes Colorado

nobody@flickr.com (Mike Berenson - Colorado Captures) — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 20:55:21 -0700

Mike Berenson - Colorado Captures posted a photo:

I've been meaning to get back to the Sand Dunes and improve on one of my favorite early night-time captures. Before I really knew much about what I was doing (with night photography), I found myself chasing a vision of the milky way south into the San Luis river valley and finally caught the image shown below. I captured the same golden light pollution glow over the little town of Alamosa, Colorado with the Milky Way above.

Yes, this is a composite image, but I did the work to get it. My wife and I did a scouting trip into the park in the afternoon where I recorded the gps track. Then that night in complete darkness (without even any moonlight), I ventured out following my recorded track. And here, my friends is where this took some real nerve (at least for me).

As I left the parking lot to head out onto the dunes, I entered a zone where the darkness became a bit freaky. I'm used to hiking in the dark, but this was really dark. And I realized that I'm used to having my headlamp light up most everything I need to see - trees up close or forest a little further away. In this case, it was much more wide open with at least a mile of visibility - to those who could see it. I could only see about 100 feet (if that). Add to that the herd of mule deer running around as I left the parking lot and I got a good reminder that I'd entered the domain of the wild.

So thanks to the gps track, I got to explore most everywhere I wanted to get to - while scouting earlier in the day. And I decided that gps track was so important that I don't think I would have been able to reach a spot anywhere near as cool without it. Route finding was still a pretty good challenge because of the limited visibility, but I thought the reward seemed well worth it. I got another shot of Milky Way Gold - only this time it wasn't just close to the dunes, it was from the dunes! :-)

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Nature's Line in the Sand

nobody@flickr.com (Mike Berenson - Colorado Captures) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 14:51:19 -0700

Mike Berenson - Colorado Captures posted a photo:

Wind creates some fascinating lines and patterns in the sand. This image was taken in Great Sand Dunes National Park near Alamosa, Colorado.

Oasis in the Sand

nobody@flickr.com (Mike Berenson - Colorado Captures) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 14:51:59 -0700

Mike Berenson - Colorado Captures posted a photo:

Prarie Sunflowers grow in abundance in the low valleys between the sand dunes. This image was taken in Great Sand Dunes National Park near Alamosa, Colorado.

Unfortunately, the flowers didn't seem to pose well for me. They all pointed the wrong way. Beyond that, I just felt like I was struggling with how to include them in a good composition... I may just have to go back again some day and try again.

Going for a Hike on the Dunes

nobody@flickr.com (Mike Berenson - Colorado Captures) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 22:02:08 -0700

Mike Berenson - Colorado Captures posted a photo:

An unknown visitor starts her hike up the sandy inclines of Great Sand Dunes National Park near Alamosa, Colorado. See The Details

Dunes and Deer

nobody@flickr.com (Mike Berenson - Colorado Captures) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 22:01:00 -0700

Mike Berenson - Colorado Captures posted a photo:

A small group of bull deer search for an evening meal and become a great foreground for this shot. This image was taken in Great Sand Dunes National Park near Alamosa, Colorado. See It Bigger

Great Sand Dunes Sunset

nobody@flickr.com (Mike Berenson - Colorado Captures) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 22:03:17 -0700

Mike Berenson - Colorado Captures posted a photo:

Explore #19: August 29, 2009

A colorful sunset shows its last light over Great Sand Dunes National Park near Alamosa, Colorado. View Large On Black

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nobody@flickr.com (Mike Berenson - Colorado Captures) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 22:06:20 -0700

Mike Berenson - Colorado Captures posted a photo:

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nobody@flickr.com (Mike Berenson - Colorado Captures) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 22:24:43 -0700

Mike Berenson - Colorado Captures posted a photo:

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nobody@flickr.com (Mike Berenson - Colorado Captures) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 22:23:18 -0700

Mike Berenson - Colorado Captures posted a photo:

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nobody@flickr.com (Mike Berenson - Colorado Captures) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 22:21:46 -0700

Mike Berenson - Colorado Captures posted a photo:

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nobody@flickr.com (Mike Berenson - Colorado Captures) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 22:25:53 -0700

Mike Berenson - Colorado Captures posted a photo:

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nobody@flickr.com (Mike Berenson - Colorado Captures) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 22:20:17 -0700

Mike Berenson - Colorado Captures posted a photo:

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nobody@flickr.com (Mike Berenson - Colorado Captures) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 22:09:08 -0700

Mike Berenson - Colorado Captures posted a photo:

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nobody@flickr.com (Mike Berenson - Colorado Captures) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 22:02:45 -0700

Mike Berenson - Colorado Captures posted a photo:

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nobody@flickr.com (Mike Berenson - Colorado Captures) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 22:04:16 -0700

Mike Berenson - Colorado Captures posted a photo:

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nobody@flickr.com (Mike Berenson - Colorado Captures) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 22:05:15 -0700

Mike Berenson - Colorado Captures posted a photo:

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nobody@flickr.com (Mike Berenson - Colorado Captures) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 22:01:18 -0700

Mike Berenson - Colorado Captures posted a photo:

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nobody@flickr.com (Mike Berenson - Colorado Captures) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 22:07:41 -0700

Mike Berenson - Colorado Captures posted a photo:

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nobody@flickr.com (Mike Berenson - Colorado Captures) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 21:58:31 -0700

Mike Berenson - Colorado Captures posted a photo:

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nobody@flickr.com (Mike Berenson - Colorado Captures) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 21:59:50 -0700

Mike Berenson - Colorado Captures posted a photo: