Kodak Moment
White Sands National Monument
Posted by B. Thomas (Arlington, Texas, United States) on 24 April 2009 in Landscape & Rural and Portfolio.
August, 2005 New Mexico
My husband and I were heading out to see White Sands when we drove into a blinding rainstorm. We thought it would be a wasted trip and almost went back to the hotel, but decided we'd at least go to the Visitor Center and see the exhibits and little movie.
It was getting late, but once there we were told that we should hang around since these storms passed quickly, so we waited.
It did pass, and as we walked around on the dunes we had a very dramatic sky and beautiful sunset. I thought it was well worth the wait.
Bill Jennings from Los Altos (Bay Area Northern Calif), United States
Stunning. Your story is so true. Just when all is lost, you wait a few moments - and the best shot possible becomes available. You do the desert at White Sands justice with this image. Well done.
24 Apr 2009 5:15am
@Bill Jennings: Thank you.
Hidalgo from Herunen, Finland
I am admiring that astonishing sun! All the landscape You captured in "blue" is worth to be examined.
24 Apr 2009 5:45am
@Hidalgo: Thanks. The sun just peaked out from under the clouds for a moment.
@Marzieh: It was cool that night in the desert. ;-)
Eric Cousineau from Sherwood Park, Canada
Definitely worth the wait Barbara! Bravo! ;-)
24 Apr 2009 12:29pm
@Eric Cousineau: Thank you!
@Eleftheria: Glad you like it. ;-)
The Big Guy from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Interesting shot. Where I'm from when I first looked at this I thought snow, but that sand is something else!!! Nice capture on the sun, well done B. Thomas.
24 Apr 2009 2:26pm
@The Big Guy: That it could be snow or sand was one of the things I liked about the shot too. Thanks.
@Veronelle: Thanks.
Laura from Birmingham, United Kingdom
wonderful refracted light. Lovely - I also thought this was snow at first glance
24 Apr 2009 8:49pm
@Laura: It does look like a windblown snow scene. Thanks.
Fotoptikon from Warsaw, Poland
Outstanding... Was this a special filtre for this star effect?
24 Apr 2009 8:56pm
@Fotoptikon: No special filter. I have a star filter, but never seem to have it with me when I want it. It was just that a small spot of the sun peaked out from under the clouds, and by shooting right into it, it created the star burst. Glad you like it.
Lee from Fort Frances Ontario, Canada
It was most definately worth the wait. I read your narrative and looked back at the shot, and like some others I still thought it was snow. White sands for sure. Bravo.
25 Apr 2009 2:43am
@Lee: I will probably post some more shots from there later on, and they will look more like sand I think. Thanks for your comment.
Bethany from Michigan, United States
Fantastic! The lighting and clouds make for a dramatic photo.
25 Apr 2009 3:31am
@Bethany: Thanks for the comment.
@nestor: Thank you.
@Tracy: Glad you like it. Thanks!
Barbara from Florida, United States
Outstanding! Beautiful light casting blue over the landscape. I too, thought it was snow at first. Snow or sand, either way it is magnificent. Glad you stuck it out for this shot.
25 Apr 2009 4:37am
@Barbara: Thank you. It was really worth the wait. I have a couple of other shots from the same evening coming up later on.
DarkElf from Perth, Australia
beautiful shot! fantastic light and colours! the white sands do really look like snow... very interesting photo!
25 Apr 2009 9:38am
@DarkElf: It even looks a little like snow it the bright sunlight, but not as interesting then.
JanW from Rotterdam, Netherlands
The right shot at the right moment. Great picture.
25 Apr 2009 10:35pm
@JanW: Thanks.
@Val: Thank you.
Tarolino from Espoo, Finland
Absolutely amazing shot. It looks like snow. How can sand be that white? The sun is a perfect star. How does one get that effect, I wonder.
26 Apr 2009 2:44pm
@Tarolino: I can only get the star if there is a tiny part of the sun right into the lens.
@Magda: Thanks. Glad you like it.
CMLDigitalDetails from NA, United States
I like this shot a lot. The warm sun rays radiating over the cold wintery landscape. Very nice.
28 Apr 2009 3:48pm
@CMLDigitalDetails: Everyone said it looks like snow, but it was desert sand late in the evening and it was very warm. ;-)
Photosanity from Folsom, United States
A stunner for sure - well worth the wait. WOW!
1 May 2009 6:22am
@Photosanity: Thanks you so much.
