This post is accompanied by a video – check it out below
0. Warm Up
To get to Alamosa we took the scenic route. There was supposed to be some snow over the passes nearby on the day we drove out. Along the way we stopped a few times to get some nice sunrise and dreary snow photography in.
The conditions were pristine, a fresh coat of snow and less people out and about than I expected for that time of year. After photographing the sunrise, we began to make our way towards Fairplay. Along the way we stopped and I photographed some power lines and the undisturbed snow of the remote corner of Colorado we were heading towards.
I. Snowy Sand
As was the case north, southbound Colorado had also got snow that morning. We were given the rare opportunity to photograph the sands in snow – it was challenging, but the results are wholly unique from other photographs I’ve seen of the dunes.
That first evening we hiked out to one of the higher dunes in the park which we reached just before the sunset. This light on the mountains faded in just four brief minutes.
After this it was time to head home.
The belt of Venus made a brief appearance after the sun had set. Not wanting to miss the chance to capture it, we stopped and I snagged the photo you can see here.
After that it was a cold and dark hike down the dunes to get back to our car. We had to be careful as we went because the snow on the dunes had no staying strength. If you stepped on it you were sliding instantly. But we made it down safe and sound, and before long we were back at the hotel having dinner.
II. Where No One Has Gone Before
The following morning we had gone into the park for sunrise. I didn’t think the dunes would work well at sunrise as the sun would be rising behind the Sangre de Cristo mountains blocking it from hitting the dunes. I was right, but I managed to get this image of one of the surrounding mountain ranges on the drive in.
On the ride home, we pulled off as the sun peaked over the mountains – illuminating the nearby prairie of the San Luis Valley.
That evening, we went back for sunset, the goal being see parts of the park we hadn’t seen the night prior.
That meant that on the way in we actually drove a route we hadn’t taken the first night to get to the park, and along the way we saw this cool abandoned house. I couldn’t help but stop and take a picture.
Before long though we were back in the park and making our way up the dunes. We didn’t really have a plan – I just chose a dune and we began making our way towards it.
For quite some time the dunes were challenging to photograph and they never really became “easy”. However there were some moments of clarity photographically which produced some of my favorite work from the trip.
This image of the striations in the sand is interesting to me. It reminds me of the Icelandinc rivers typically photographed from above.
It’s incredible how quickly the light faded this evening. It came in for a few brilliant moments between the cloud banks but it was gone just as quickly, only offering us a brief 13 minute window to photograph the dunes with their best light.
III. A Quick Stop Before Home
Just over a dozen hours later we found ourselves waking up and packing to hit the road.
Before we left though we wanted to get a small hike in and there was one final location near the park which we had yet to visit.
Off we went to the falls that the locals had recommended – they said that while it’s cool seeing it in the spring or summer, the real magic is in the winter when it freezes over.
They were right!
After a really short hike to reach the area we reached the river, and it was frozen solid.
Both Sophie and I wanted to be careful, but we began slowly making our way towards the cave the falls are in – and my lord was it spectacular.
The falls were the thickest and bluest ice I’ve seen in years, it was gorgeous. It was a complete departure from the high alpine or desert landscapes we’d been shown prior that weekend. Both images from this morning are composites from three different exposures. The impact of that is that we’re able to retain the highlights and so much of the detail in the shadows without muddying the image.
Great Sand Dunes
A unique take on a unique place is double the fun, but also poses quite a challenge.
In the end I’m proud of some of the work I captured in the Dunes however I’d like to try my hand in the park again some day. I think camping among the dunes and focusing on observing them all throughout the day would be an incredible treat – and the ultimate way to photograph this corner of the state.