The Last Light
Great Sand Dunes NP, CO
The Last Light
A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE LAST LIGHT
Colorado is known for its beautiful snow-capped Rocky Mountains and vibrant golden aspens in the fall. However, it is also home to the tallest dunes in North America, which rise over 750 feet at their peak. Even more impressive than their height is their sheer size, as the dunes cover more than 30 square miles. The Great Sand Dunes National Park is a landscape photographer's playground, featuring unlimited curves and shapes visible in every direction.
Through my years of photography, chasing dunes is similar to chasing Aspens - finding the perfect shot can often be elusive. However, under the right conditions, Great Sand Dunes National Park can provide unforgettable abstracts and vistas.
Images and location summary by Tim Wier
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DATA POINTS INCLUDED WITH THE LAST LIGHT SUMMARY
I rate the difficulty of this trail between 1 and 5 on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being most difficult). The location of this shot is directly off the road.
Photographing the dunes at the GSDNP is like a kid in a candy store. There are shapes, curves, vistas, and abstracts everywhere you look. Hiking into the dunes is great, but to get away from the footprints and visitors, you will need to hike at least a half mile from the dune entrance area (large parking lot). As the sun dips on the horizon, you need to move quickly to capture your shot under the best lighting.
Another option is to photograph the dunes from the road leading into the park. This vantage point provides excellent views and allows you to scan the dunes for potential compositions more easily. However, the distance from the road to the dunes is at least a mile or more, depending on your chosen location. This means you'll need an extremely long lens, with a minimum focal length of 500 mm, as well as a very sturdy tripod and ball head.
The image above was at 560 mm (400 mm + 1.4 extender), just a few moments before sunset, which allowed for the highlights on the dunes, with a hint of the shadows in the background. With a very long lens, the scene is compressed, which can help to emphasize the wonderful lighting at sunset. Other lighting options include dappled light, which can occur later in the afternoon on an overcast or cloudy day. Moments when the sun peaks through can produce very nice lighting effects.
The image above was taken from a location more than a mile away from the dunes. There are many compositional opportunities available, ranging from wide vistas of the dunes to isolated abstract shots. For this particular image, I used a focal length of 560 mm (400 mm with a 1.4x extender) and then cropped it by about 50%, giving it a 1,000 mm lens equivalent. At this distance and focal length, achieving precise focus is crucial. I initially used autofocus and then switched to manual mode, using focus peaking to ensure the best possible focus.
8,113 Ft. Elevation
Other Resources Available with Membership
KMZ Trail File
Directions
Best Time of Day to Shoot
Best Time of Year to Shoot
Equipment Needed
Permits Required
Direction of Shot
Google Maps Birds-Eye-View
Number of Photographers to Expect
Cell Service
Overnight Lodging/Camping
Nearby Restaurants
Area Guides and Workshops
Other Resources
LOCATION SUMMARIES WRITTEN BY PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS
