Thunderstorm Over the Dunes
Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado - July 2009

I’ve written this before. Dramatic weather is always a good thing for photographers. It is a great thing if it includes strong winds and you happen to be photographing sand dunes. A month’s worth of tracks can be erased in a matter of minutes leaving the photographer with a pristine set of dunes just waiting to be captured.

This was definitely the case the afternoon we arrived at Great Sand Dunes National Park. The storm was just beginning to form as we arrived at the visitor center. Within a half hour, thunder and lightning sent hundreds of people streaming out of the dunes to find shelter from the storm. The wind and rain followed shortly thereafter.

Dramatic Skies
Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado - July 2009

These dunes, the highest in North America at over 750 feet, can be brutally hot in the summer. I can remember frying the bottom of my feet here as a youth. Anyone seeking relief has two choices: keep moving; or bury your feet in the sand.

Waiting for the Storm to Pass
Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado - July 2009

Out on the Sand
Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado - July 2009

So much for track-free dunes, huh? These sand dunes are so high that the lowest dunes on the leeward side of the dune field are protected from even very strong winds.

Sand Dune Perfection
Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado - July 2009

Once I reached a higher elevation, things were dramatically different. The wind had done its thing – no tracks – and the evening sun broke through the clouds to provide beautiful, warm light.

The Cleansing Wind
Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado - July 2009

It isn’t obvious from the previous image but the dune “cleansing” was still in progress. The blowing sand was stinging every inch of exposed skin. Clearly, changing lenses was not going to be an option.

Fading Light
Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado - July 2009

First Light
Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado - July 2009

The next morning I arose before sunrise to hike up the Dunes Overlook Trail. As impressive as the previous evening had been, the sunrise was a bust. Clouds blocked the earliest rays of light. The overlook itself was also a bit disappointing; it was overgrown to the point that it lacked an unobstructed view of the dune field.

The Sun Makes an Appearance
Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado - July 2009

The sun finally made an appearance as I made my way back down to the campground.

Shadows on Sand
Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado - July 2009

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