Digital BW, The Print

Hi-

I'm planning a trip to the Kelso Dunes in Majave National Preserve in 
mid to late October.

Any reasons why this might not be a good time of year to go there?

Any advice on time of day to shoot the dune? Sunrise or sunset? or 
both?

Any "secret" spots to get great shots from ????

Thanks,

Tom O'Connell

I went there quite a few years ago and concur that both sunset and  
sunrise are both fabulous! We had a motor home and stayed right by  
the side of the road. There are no motels or anything out there. And,  
it's 35 mi. from Baker, the nearest town. So, you might think about  
renting a motor home.

My best shot was taken at almost the top of the second highest dune  
at sunset. Not a secret, but quite a climb. Take a flashlight to get  
back to the road - takes about a half hour and it'll be dark.

Good luck,
Barbara White
On May 12, 2006, at 12:04 PM, Tom OConnell wrote:

> Hi-
>
> I'm planning a trip to the Kelso Dunes in Majave National Preserve in
> mid to late October.



http://www.barbarawhitephoto.com
barbara@...

Hello Tom,

>I'm planning a trip to the Kelso Dunes in Mojave National Preserve 
>in mid to late October.  

Mojave Natl Preserve is one of my favorite places to photograph.  Been
there twice, in 1994 and 1999.  I've got a photo from Kelso Dunes, and
another from the Preserve, "Mojave Rock Formation", on my web site

    http://www.cjcom.net/cal94-a.htm

...a really magical place.  But don't limit yourself to just the
dunes.  If you have time, there are many other good places to explore
(Providence Mtns, Hole-In-The-Wall, etc).


>Any reasons why this might not be a good 
>time of year to go there?  

Should be cooled off by then, probably cold at night.  I was there in
January both times.   The temp varies greatly between day and night.



>Any advice on time of day to shoot the dune? Sunrise or sunset? or 
>both?

Both are good.  The secret to good dune shots is low sun when the
shadows grow long.


 
>Any "secret" spots to get great shots from ????

Unless something has changed since my trip, the closest you can get to
the dunes by car is down a 3-mile dirt road off of the paved road
south of Kelso.  From there it's almost an hour walk until you're
really deep into the dunes.  If you go for sunset, give yourself
plenty of time to get there before the good light (that was my
problem, I started too late and ran out of light before I got into the
deeper dunes).  Also have flashlights because when the sun goes down
it gets real dark real fast, so the walk back to the car will be dark.
 Also will be much colder after sundown.  It changes rapidly. 
Wouldn't hurt to have a compass if you don't have a real good sense of
direction or if it's cloudy.  You'll be out of sight of the car and
everything will look pretty much the same in all directions.

Most important thing is give yourself plenty of time to get into a
good area before the light gets good.  Once that happens everything
changes rapidly.  You can see a great shape, fiddle with the camera a
bit too long, and when you look up it's changed.  You have to work
quickly.  There's a certain period of really good light and then it's
over.  

That's all I can think of.  It's a wonderful place to photograph, I'm
sure you'll have a great time.  I always feel a tug to go back.


Regards,
Clayton


Info on black and white digital printing at    
http://www.cjcom.net/digiprnarts.htm

Clayton, Jim & Barbara-

Thanks... great advice and what I'd hoped to hear.

Great shot of dunes, Clayton...will be quite happy to bring home a few 
like that!

Won't have a motor home, Barbara, but will have an SUV so will drive 
in as far as they let me...with flashlites <g>.

Yes, Jim... you will see some<VBG>.

cheers,

tom