Death Valley

[David L. Robertson]

[attachment=5568:attachment]I captured this image in Death Valley on the sand dunes located near Stovepipe Wells.  Please provide comments.  Thanks, David

[wolfnowl]

I like it. I think it's an intriguing mix of angles and light/shadows, with different senses of scale that make you think about what you're really seeing.

Mike.

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

I agree with Mike.

When I was first at Stovepipe Wells, I was a bit disappointed to see bushes and other "things" sticking up out of the sand. I wanted pure sand! But I soon discovered, as you have, that those other things make excellent compositional elements.

I was also annoyed at the large number of footprints, but again I found myself including them deliberately in some images. In other images, I have spent hours cloning the footprints out. The footprints are fairly easy to ignore in your image, but since thay aren't as strong as the bush or playa or shadows, I'd be tempted to try to remove most of them. It is tedious work, however.

Nice image.

[David L. Robertson]

Thanks to both of you for taking the time to look at the image and comment.  I have been torn by the footprints as well, but decided to leave them in as another design element and clue as to scale.  I have had people ask if the bush was a stand of trees until I pointed out the nearby footprints.  What amazed me about Death Valley was the absense of sand dunes.  I had an expectation of miles of endless sand.  However, the diversity of scenes and altitudes quickly makes up for the lack of anticipated sand.

[larkvi]

I think that the way you incorporated the footprints into this image, they are an asset, not a hindrance to enjoyment of the image and location.

[hs0zfe]

I like the technical side, but not the composition. I would have wanted to see more of the top of that dune. Maybe memories of Ansel Adams interfere? In addition, I am alsways trying to have something at the fore ground.